After growing up and graduating High School in Palos Verdes, CA, Willard graduated with an MFA in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. He has been a prolific artist his whole life, trained in printmaking, graphic art, painting, metal fabrication, ceramic sculpture, and just about anything to do with art. He is also well versed in art software like Photoshop, Illustrator and other computer languages. He taught Computer Graphic Design and Website Design for many years at the college level.