Clute

Born: September 25, 1976

Vallejo, CA

​

Studied at:

California State University Long Beach, CA

Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA

Art Institute Santa Ana, CA



When I was three years old, my mother took me to watch Superman in the movie theater. My feet barely passed the edge of the seat and once the movie started my eyes and mouth widened until the credits had run. This first encounter with fantasy shaped my interest in the visual arts and made me believe that anything was possible. I have always been able to draw with a level of accuracy and realism and grew up believing I would become a comic book illustrator or conceptual artist for video games and/or the entertainment industry.

When I first re-ignited my higher education in art back in the summer of 2008, it was to acquaint myself with traditional and digital mediums in order to pursue a career in video game design. While studying at the Art Institute in Santa Ana, CA I was fortunate enough to have a Typography class led by Mike Hansen where he focused on the mass cultural psychology of language and its connection to the search for self.

Pandora's Box was open and I could no longer limit my practice of illustration to 2 dimensional practices or define the concept of what illustration is by the cultural distinction between commercial and fine art. My educational and artistic rebirth led me to study sculpture under the guidance of Larry Jones, Richie White and Ernie Welke at Saddleback College; and Michael Parker and Jedidiah Ceaser at California University of Long Beach.

While studying at California State University of Longe Beach, my passion for storytelling and love for Illustration and Animation reignited and flourished under the mentorship of Aubry Mintz, Robin Richesson, Everett Peck, Marian Stewart, Jim Dowdalls, Jamie Peterson, Neena Chawla and far too many peers to list. Like the moment after Superman, this introduction into fine art and my 38 years of experience with craft has opened an unlimited number of possibilities for me to approach my work as an artist in illustration.

 

Curriculum Vitae:

Gallery Shows:

4th Street Vine Gallery

“3rd Annual Meta-Muerto Art Exhibition” - Group Show –October/November 2012

Saddleback College Gallery

“2012 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” – Group Show – April 2012

Saddleback College Gallery

“2012 Annual Art Sale” – Group Show – December 2012

Saddleback College Gallery

“2011 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” – Group Show – April 2011

 

Publications:

2015 "Jax Icycles"; "Long Beach 908" Jan. 2015

2013 "Obviously Oblivious";  "CSULB Daily 49'er", IJan. 2013 - Mar.2013

2012 "Savate"; "WALL Literary Journal Vol.XII" p.71