Not your typical makeup artist, Ian started taking collage level art classes at the age of 10. He began working as a professional makeup artist at the age of 17 where he ran the prop and special makeup shop at Collage of the Siskyous. Before his 19th birthday Ian moved to Los Angeles to attend The Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts where he had received a scholarship. After being mentored by Marvin Westmore, Ian stayed at the Academy to teach for a brief period. Ian founded Rogue Planet Laboratories in 1998. Rogue Planet is a boutique special makeup and effects company that caters to the private sector, medical industry, and other working makeup artists. In the early 2000's Ian was recruited by the international corporate espionage firm "Panoramic Consulting" located in Hong Kong. Panoramic Consulting specializes in anti counterfeiting and has been feature in numerous National Geographic specials. For more than a decade Ian spent much of his time working with various overseas firms and the US military, using his skills as a makeup artist to create solutions for field agents and soldiers. When William Tuttle retired, Ian inherited his class "Make-up For Motion Picture" in the film department at the University of Sothern California. Ian continues to teach at the University where he helps young artists grow.