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