Illustration West 57 Is Ready For You!

www.illustrationwest.org

Preston Craig

Painting and drawing allows me freedom to address some of the social ills that plague our modern society and to paint what I feel, not necessarily what I see. Having grown up in a rural setting and having had opportunities to travel and live overseas, I decided to paint what I saw in my mind’s eye while referencing what I experienced around me.
The nature of my work is that through the use of varied imagery, classical and digital painting techniques and humor, I sometimes utilize teddy bear images to address contemporary, social issues that are relevant and that affect the human race on a physical and spiritual level. Some paintings are a result of investigating my Native American roots (Choctaw), while others are a result of my spiritual quest and studies in Jungian symbology, Shamanic practices and Aboriginal Dreamtime myth. Through my Twisted Teddys” series and other imagery, I hope the viewer is inspired to be more aware of their global connections to each other and to take personal responsibility for effecting positive change in society.
I’ve worked with drug addicts, the homeless, victims of sexual abuse, young people who have been incarcerated, and have friends in the porn industry so I have definitely seen some of the seedier side of life. I’ve seen how people can make a bad decision and get trapped in that decision. They are unable to figure out how to get out of the situation in which they find themselves. With that in mind, my artistic goal is that I aspire to achieve positive social change with my art.

Denissa Kiehl

Hi! My name is Denissa Ursula Kiehl. Inspiration for my art usually stems from my love for: admiring nature, exploring the world, recalling my childhood memories, and studying the mysteries of life and the universe. My art has a whimsical quality with vibrantly colored details and a varying combination of realistic and fantasy elements, which are based on what would best serve each project. I work with acrylic paint, oil paint, pencils, pastels, Photoshop and mixed media. I am interested in work involving book cover and children’s book illustration, art to be used for children and adult products (such as clothing, school supplies and decorative items, etc.), and mural paintings (see images of my mural series at Edinburg Children’s Hospital below and on my main website).

I am currently based in Los Angeles. If you wish to contact me about my work or a new project, please send an e-mail to: dukworld@att.net . To see more of my artwork visit my main website: www.dukworld-studio.com .

Naomi Ruiz

My work ranges from the surreal and emotive to nature-based and calming. I am a fantasy fiction writer working my way up to the intricacy and nuance of fantasy fiction illustration, but for now I am happiest drawing animals and nature as well as dreamscapes and women in fantastical settings.