Andy Hoyos — Bio / Artist Statement

I was born in Los Angeles and now I call Indio California home where I work and live with my wife Michelle.

Beginning my art career in 1972 as a graphic artist and illustrator for NBC television Studios in Burbank California, I went on to do production art and design for commercial animation studios as well as film advertising design. In 1989 I accepted an art directorship with the cutting-edge computer game company Sierra Online. The next 20 + years of my life was spent art directing and creating conceptual art design for computer games.

Since leaving commercial art design the focus of my work has become more personal. Inspired by the natural world, I paint traditionally with acrylic on panel and canvas as well as digitally painted works that are printed to etching paper and ‘stretched’ onto wood art panels not unlike stretching canvas onto stretcher bars.

I also create mixed-media sculptures. One of my passions is to create environments of serenity and beauty in miniature. For me, these tabletop sanctuaries are a respite from the realities of much of contemporary life. They are artworks that give me comfort, that put me at peace and that give me pause.

My mixed-media works are created from a variety of materials including driftwood, crystals, high density foam, concrete, hand sculpted polymer clay elements and natural and artificial plants. These works are not an attempt to recreate nature as it is. Rather, nature is a jumping off point, an inspiration from which to explore inner realities of my creation.