I was one of those artists that was slow to adopt the digital tools that became widely available in the 90's like Photoshop and Illustrator. As a storyboard artist I was used to using the tools of the trade-pencil markers with colored pencil and opaque white. I also used a little airbrush to give my work a slicker look and make it seem like I worked harder on the project.
The first time Photoshop really made an impression on me was when I viewed the coloring in the early issues of Image comics.
Love 'em or hate 'em Image advanced the era of digitally colored comics. Eventually Marvel and DC followed suit and now it's the industry standard. I was inspired and got a copy of Photoshop 4 or 5 from a friend, but was too busy or too cheap to take a class to learn how to use it. I would try, but ultimately got frustrated and went back to markers, paint and airbrush.
Then a project came along that promised great riches, but had to be colored in Photoshop. I taught myself enough in a weekend to create decent samples(shown above) to get the job. Sad but true-it took the lure of a big paycheck and a deadline to send me hurtling into the digital art realm.

As a kid I watched pro wrestling on a black and white TV in the days of Dick The Bruiser, The Crusher and BoBo Brazil.  It was full of action and the wrestler promos were enthralling. Many years later my lovely wife to be, Jean, turned me into a fan again at the dawn of the Hulkamania era. One of my favorite independent comics of that time - Love & Rockets by the Hernandez brothers featured story lines involving female pro wrestlers.
Needless to say when I opened my first online  print on demand store the first t-shirt design  I posted and the first one that sold and continues to sell was “Elbow Drop!” Many other designs have followed in that vein.