Dillon Garner - Pastel Artist

When I was in the 5th grade, my mother noticed I had an unusually strong artistic side. She decided to enroll me into private art lessons in my home town of Idaho Falls to hone in and enhance my ability. I continued to participate in the classes for six consecutive years learning everything from colored pencil to water color and acrylics. It wasn’t until my fourth year that I discovered my true love, pastels. From then on I’ve been hooked on this medium and have thoroughly enjoyed painting with them. I find it exhilarating to mix the pigment on the paper itself, as apposed to a pallet when dealing with standard oil and acrylic paints. It’s challenging yet rewarding when trying to manipulate the chalk into becoming various shapes, colors, blends and illusions after rubbing it onto paper. I’ve entered my paintings in the Eastern Idaho State Fair over the course of many years and have been appreciative and honored to have won many awards for my work. As for supplies, I use a combination of pastels ranging from Grumbacher, Nupastel, and my favorite, Schmincke.

I am, and have always been greatly influenced by music. Music and art go hand in hand, and as far as I’m concerned, you can’t have one without the other. I am an aspiring guitarist and musician, and the deeper I get into music, the deeper I get into art. Bands that have greatly influenced my creative side are Incubus, U2, Coldplay and Third Eye Blind.

I am currently a college student enrolled at Idaho State University where I am double majoring in art and music. I’m a determined individual who wants nothing more than to reach people with my art and music. My goal in life is, and always will be, to create something with meaning, and to always give it my best. I hope to someday be remembered by my art when people notice the high level of hard work and determination that goes into each painting. After completing each piece, I feel as though I’ve imprinted parts of my soul onto the paper. It is my hopes that after I long pass, parts of me will reside forever.