The definition of an artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and /or demonstrating an art. This is also the definition associated with Darren Boerckel of Long Island, New York. Mr.Boerckel is a rare find in the art world today Never having been formally schooled in the arts Darren is not only self taught but offers skills that transcend both the commercial and fine art spectrums. Most impressive is his ability to legitimately claim to have made a livelihood in new york based solely on the art he has produced since his junior/senior of attending high school. A visionary of the times, Darren pioneered the airbrush industry turning what was once an under garment into a coveted walking billboard offering personal voice to the public with his customized t-shirts. The speed, skill and seeming ability to paint anything you desired free hand caught the attention of local business owners, who sought his talents to transform their venues into trendy hot spots. The talent displayed on the walls of their venues gained nationwide attention, giving way to "do his magic" in 7 states. His total immersion in this art forum as a career was as free flowing and self evolving as his own art. through its transgression we can see Mr. Boerckel's development as an individual artist. It illustrates how the commercial art world in turn provided the means for him to pursue his personal goal to further his craft into that of a skilled contemporary gallery artist.