For as long as he can remember, art has been a part of Dominique’s life. His grandmother, Jacqueline Merritt, was a local oil painter in Michigan with a particular interest in landscapes of shacks and barns. As an elementary student, Dominique drew for hours, and his childhood interest ultimately became part of his career when he became a mechanical designer, using computer-aided drafting software to “develop innovation for all sorts of industries.” “The designs I did were very artistic, as well as functional,” he says, remarking that he saw the artistry in designing from a young age.