Artist’s Statement:
“I have felt the love of God strongly throughout my life, particularly through stories. As a storyteller I strive to grow closer to that love, and hope that my stories will share it with my audience.”
Bio:
Bryan has maintained a lifelong interest in the creative arts. As a teenager he played professionally as a jazz saxophonist and studied with Dr. Ray Smith—director of Brigham Young University’s “Synthesis” Jazz Band. He graduated early from high school and enrolled at BYU with the plan of continuing his musical development.
However, as an experiment Bryan enrolled in an introductory level animation class his sophomore year. The art of storytelling impacted him so strongly that he changed his major and focused on his drawing abilities. He would later go on to work directly under artist and animator, Professor Ryan Woodward—director of the acclaimed short film, “Thought of You.”
By his junior year Bryan was finding great success: he was paying his way through college as a commission-based artist; his painting, Rapunzel, was featured on the CD cover case of Corel Painter software; and his character design work had garnered him the Kirchoff/Wohlberg Award from the New York Society of Illustrators—one of the highest national-level accolades a student can receive.
He graduated from BYU with a BFA in Illustration, moved to New York to intern for Richard Solomon - Artist Representative, and was soon contracted as one of Richard’s assistants. During the time Bryan worked with Richard Solomon Bryan had the opportunity to interact and work on a frequent basis with many of Richard’s artists, including Brad Holland of the NY Society of Illustrator’s Hall of Fame and Marshall Arisman of the School of Visual Arts, New York.
After two years Bryan resigned from his work with Richard Solomon in order to focus full-time on creating his own stories. For the next two years Bryan turned down nearly all offers for work and instead lived frugally on his savings account while teaching himself the art of fiction writing.
At the end of those two years Bryan approached Chris Schoebinger, editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing, with an idea for a mixed-media, middle-grade novel. Chris accepted the pitch and they signed a contract for publication. Further details about the story have yet to be released.
When not working on his stories Bryan enjoys spending time with his siblings and practicing mindful meditation. He lives in Provo, UT.