Artist of the day

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Artist of the Day, November 14, 2026 : Mike Hernandez, an American painter, illustrator. (#2678)

Mike Hernandez is a distinguished native Angeleno painter and animation industry veteran whose mastery of color and light bridges the gap between rugged landscapes and urban grit. His foundational journey began at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, where he immersed himself in rigorous training focused on composition, color theory, and visual storytelling. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998, this elite education provided the technical excellence and creative discipline necessary to launch a high-impact career spanning both fine art and commercial entertainment.

Following his academic success, Hernandez transitioned into a prolific tenure at DreamWorks Animation, where his strategic vision shaped several blockbuster franchises. Serving in pivotal leadership roles as a Production Designer, Art Director, and Concept Artist, he was instrumental in establishing the atmospheric tone and visual identity for iconic films such as Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Turbo, and Penguins of Madagascar. His unique ability to translate natural light and complex physical environments into digital world-building significantly elevated the studio's cinematic storytelling capabilities.

Today, Hernandez leverages this rich professional background as a highly sought-after workshop instructor and a member of the elite Plein Air Painters of America. His corporate pedigree and artistic versatility make him a prominent figure in the contemporary art community, with works held in private global collections. Whether through his cinematic contributions or his breathtaking plein air canvases, his professional trajectory reflects a rare synergy between commercial success and fine art prestige.

© 2026. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Mike Hernandez or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only

Mike Hernandez

2012-13 Lovrovich Net Shed, Gig Harbor

2012-16 Koi

2016 6th St. Bridge, Downtown L.A

2016 Fourth St. Bridge, Downtown L.A.

2016-17 Rocky Shores, Heisler Park

2017 Fourth and Mission

2018-22 Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse / San Juan Island

2019 Barn

2019-23 Old Man Barn

2019-25 Waterfall. Class Demonstration

2021 Minaret Lake

2021 Iguazu Falls, Argentina

2021 Ireland Cliffs

2021 Washington Creek

2021-23 Eastern Sierra

2022 Digital Barn Painting Class Demonstration

2022-23 Heraklion Greece

2022-23 Illumination

2023 Night Ryder

2024-25 Tre Cime di Lavaredo Digital Landscape Demonstration

2024-26 Abalone Cove, Palos Verdes, CA

2024-26 Twin Sails, Turks & Caicos

2025 From Blah to Bold / Old Mine Class demonstrationemo

2025 Heisler Park

2025 Rocky Scotland Coast

2025 The Bend

2025 Where the Tide Rest

2026 Rosario Beach Plein Air Study

Friday, November 13, 2026

Artist of the Day, November 13, 2026 : Clancy Riehm, an American emerging artist /painter

Clancy Riehm is an accomplished, full-time professional illustrator and graphic designer based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Born in the United States, she spent her formative years on Pine Island before establishing her career in the Tampa Bay area. Her educational foundation includes a 2020 graduation from Ringling College of Art and Design, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration alongside an Associate degree in Graphic Design.

Riehm operates at the intersection of traditional drawing and advanced digital rendering, using both mediums to craft structured, commercial-grade imagery. Her signature style is defined by playful geometric compositions, vibrant color palettes, and approachable narrative themes that frequently incorporate nature, stylized objects, and dynamic human poses. This seamless blend of modern graphic design and illustration allows her to produce highly engaging public-facing and corporate visual content.

She is widely recognized as a prominent emerging artist in the regional contemporary scene. This status was cemented when she was selected as a featured emerging artist by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, capturing widespread community attention.

Her professional accomplishments include high-profile corporate partnerships and civic public art installations. She has collaborated on creative projects for the US Open, designed a Black Heritage collection for the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL franchise, and executed branding initiatives for the Tampa Bay Rays. Her portfolio also spans the official City of St. Petersburg Commemorative Poster, public utility box designs, and large-scale exterior murals. A major career highlight is her proven ability to integrate bold corporate design with local sports culture, demonstrating the broad commercial viability of her artistic vision..

© 2026. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Clancy Riehm or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only