I'm an artist based in Nebraska, born and raised, with a deep-rooted love for drawing and art that began in my childhood when I immersed myself in the Sunday paper's comic strips. This passion gradually led me to explore comic books and graphic novels, focusing on the captivating art styles often associated with the "low brow" genre like comics, tattoo, and graffiti.

To pursue my artistic aspirations, I attended The Creative Center, a college specializing in graphic design and illustration, where I graduated in 2001. While I highly value my design background, I eventually decided to shift my focus more towards illustration. In 2004, my childhood dream came true when a major comics publisher recognized my talent and published my work as a colorist. Throughout my career in comics, which lasted until 2010, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and other notable publishers.

After accomplishing my goal of working in the comics industry, I felt a desire to explore and expand my artistic horizons beyond the realm of comics. I ventured into various forms of artistic expression, branching out from comic art. Currently, I'm increasingly experimenting with digital and traditional arts, blending different mediums and exploring my newfound passion for photography. Sculpture, acrylic painting, ink and watercolor painting, metalworking, screen printing, and photography are among the areas I'm actively exploring, following my artistic instincts wherever they may lead. However, my heart will always be drawn back to the timeless combination of ink and paper.

Photography has emerged as my latest passion, constantly pushing me to discover new shooting techniques, subjects, and approaches. I formerly had my own studio space where I delved into constructing sets, experimenting with lighting arrangements, and capturing diverse subjects. My new favourite subject is space and all the wonderful things like stars and nebulae that’s out there. A highly technical type of photography which is fun to learn.

Join me on my artistic journey and witness the paths I traverse. While I'll periodically update my website with finished pieces, you'll find more frequent updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of my creative process on my Instagram. Feel free to follow me there too: instagram.com/rickhiltbrunner

Thank you for your interest, and I eagerly anticipate sharing my artistic endeavors with you.

Rick Hiltbrunner