ɪn hˈaɪ skˈuːl, hiː wˈʌn ˈɜːli ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən fɔːɹ hɪz tˈælənt fɹʌmðə skəlˈæstɪk ˈɑːɹt ænd ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ ɐwˈɔːɹdz ænd stˈʌdid wɪð dʒˈoʊsəf fɪtspˈætɹɪk.
In high school, he won early recognition for his talent from The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and studied with Joseph Fitzpatrick.