What if I told you that I play chess at least 5-30 times a day… Would you believe me? Hello my Name is Achille Barbel but feel free to call me A.J. for short and yes I serve people checkmate as a hobby in a culinary chef expert manner. I was born in the USVI St. Thomas and raised in Florida and parts of Chicago. From a young age, I’ve always had an unusual interest in detail, which translated into a love of drawing. Since grammar school, I’ve used my art as a weapon, seizing every opportunity to showcase my work in front of the class. Over time, I’ve combined my foundation in illustrating and visual crafts with graphic engineering. I often explain my art visually rather than verbally, and I draw inspiration from artists such as Salvador Dali, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, and many others who use symbolism in their work. Symbolism continues to be embedded in my work, whether it is subtle or evident. I’ve come to understand that art, like life, can be perceived in many ways, and the art of living is intertwined with the way we create. With that being said, I hope that something on this page can add some joyous paint to your life journey. I’ll leave you with this thought from writer and educator Cesar Cruz: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”