Artist (Group) Highlight: Art Identity Expo

The Art Identity Expo Underground (AIX-Underground) is a celebration of diversity within the Washington DC Metro Area for the Popular Art scene. AIX-Underground will give Artists an opportunity to highlight artwork from Comic Books, Graffiti, Urban Creations, Spoken Word and Live Music along with contributions from local clothing brand and geek chic boutiques. Gallery exhibitions of selected Artists are allowed to display and speak about their artwork. AIX-Underground will also offer live Art demos that are performed by participating Artists. During the demos attendees are encouraged to sit and create some amazing artwork with us.

AIX-Underground will have a pop up shop/ kiosk, selling prints and merchandise that were created by the participating Artists. In addition to this Artist’s will be able to participate in the Panel Talk Show that provides them time to speak about current and future art projects. AIX-Underground has partnerships with local Podcasts Shows, YouTube TV Shows and Café’s around Washington DC.

We've partnered with Artist Independent Expo (AIX) to honor Hispanic Heritage Month with a month long Gallery Exhibition that will culminate in AIX Underground and AIX Kids Day. Stop by participating locations U Street Cafe and Tynan Coffee & Tea at both their NoMa/Capitol Hill North and Columbia Heights locations to see fantastic art from Hispanic and local indie artists throughout the month of September. 

Artist Highlight - Phil Cho

 

Phil Cho is a freelance illustrator, web comic artist, and superhero enthusiast. He aspires to work in the comic book or animation industry, and continues to hone his craft through personal projects, commissions, and freelance work.

website: www.philchoart,com

deviantart: www.phil-cho.deviantart.com

web comic: www.teenwonderobin.tumblr.com

Artist Highlight: Reynaldo Quinn

Reynaldo Quinn is an Art Educator originating from Newark, New Jersey. After receiving his degree in Fine Arts from Seton Hall University, he relocated to the DC Metro area. He is the founder of QuinnEssential Arts.

Quinn is known for StaROFoam Art, an idea that came about from a daily routine of coffee drinking. One day he found himself drawing a portrait of Muhammad Ali on his recycled coffee cup at work. This eventually led to a daily routine of sketching different, influential people or “stars” from musicians to athletes to public icons and more on the recycled Styrofoam cups. He found a challenge in drawing on a round surface and trying to manipulate this unusual medium. Over time, his creative process evolved from sketching on the cups to inking, painting and transforming them into unique sculptures by utilizing other recycled Styrofoam materials from his daily breakfast meals.

He has participated in several themed group art shows throughout Washington DC and landed his first solo art show last April entitled, “One Man’s Trash.” His creative process of turning trash into treasure continues to evolve with the goal of thinking of new ways of turning a recycled Styrofoam cup into a unique piece of art.

Artist Highlight: Khuong Huynh

Oh, well hello, didn't notice you there. My name is Khuong Huynh. Yes, I'm an Asian Pacific Islander. My love for art varies; ranging from charcoals and graphites to watercolor and oil. Art is therapeutic and I'd like to express it to audiences of this world.

Artist Highlight - Tasha Fuller

First time children's book author Tasha Fuller is taking the world by storm, with a story every mother and child can relate to - bath time!  With the release of her first book, "It's Bath Time Baby", this stay at home mom transformed her daughters daily bath time routine into a melodic nursery rhyme. Filled with beautifully illustrated images inspired by her daughter "It's Bath Time Baby" is a must have for every baby's library and ideal for early readers. Tasha also owns Your Go-2 Girls, a full-service event, management and consulting firm that specializes in Fund Raising, Business Management Consultation and Event Management. 

Artist Highlight: Ashley Gonzales

My name is Ashley Gonzales.  I currently attend The Art Institute of Washington as a senior with a focus in Character Design. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a little girl, and art was always something that I wanted to do. I tend to draw fantasy themed people, creatures, and animals, and I have realized that Character Design is where my heart truly lies. I mostly stick to Sci-fi and Fantasy themed characters, although I can do a variety of themes. When it comes to my artwork I like to keep liveliness to my characters by leaving in some of my sketch lines. Though I am able to draw both organic and mechanical forms, drawing things of an organic nature is what I love most. Because I am pushing forward towards my career, I am always learning new things, and I’m always excited to gain new inspiration from other aspiring artists. I also love to inspire others and help them find the motivation to work harder and continue to become the very best artist they can be.

Artist Highlight - Tyrone Barnes

Tyrone Barnes, II works as a Multimedia Designer at Lockheed Martin. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and a Minor in Interactive Design/Game Development from Savannah College of Art and Design. Tyrone currently attends the Academy of Art University, San Fransisco, CA, where he is earning his Master of Fine Arts in Illustration.

Tyrone's technical proficiencies include Photoshop, Flash, Visual C++, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, CSS, ActionScript 2/3 along with a list of others. He specializes in Manga and Anime.

Visit the website below for more information:
Deviant Art
Facebook

Artist Highlight - Darren Soto

Darren Soto is a young aspiring artist whose unique style is influenced by anime/ manga art. He is currently a senior at the Art Institute of Washington and has committed himself to using his artistic ability to help the community. Between his studies, Darren showcases and teaches younger artists the techniques of Character Design through Art Way Alliance.


Darren is a kind and patient instructor who is willing to go the extra mile to help aspiring artists understand and persevere through rough areas while motivating their personal style. Darren’s vast experience will benefit and guide aspiring artists through the various aspects of the design process.

Artist Highlight - Keir Lyles

Keir Lyles is a freelance artist based out of Southern Maryland specializing in traditional and digital comics. He formed Apocrypha Comics Studio in 2005 to publish his first webcomic, Fallen Angels. Since then, Keir and Apocrypha Comics Studio have debuted the dark, superhero comic, The Repellers, and released Fallen Angels as a print comic. He has developed classes on drawing and writing comics for Art Smart! Studio in Charles County and the Art Way Alliance.

Artist Highlight - Chris Pyrate

This month, we wanted to highlight one of our first artists.  Chris Pyrate is a multi-media artist specializing in both digital and traditional art and is based in NYC. He currently has work published and available through Image Comics, the third largest comic book publisher; Kindle Book App; and Comixology. Chris is also a Design/Print Specialist. He has worked with clothing companies such as Up Against The Wall, where he did T-shirt clothing designs in the late 1990”s before the company ended. He still creates T-shirt designs between the Washington D.C. and New York City areas.

Chris's newest venture is Ahumanfly, an artistic manifesto from the mind of a comic book artist/cartoonist. With the help and partnership of Wes P, this very manifesto has gained legs (or wings) by being hand printed on T-shirts and all types of apparel.

Now as the saying goes:
BE SUBTLE
BE OBSERVANT
BE WINGED
#BEAHUMANFLY