Ryan Heshka’s illustrations are inspired (and fueled) by antiquated comics and pulp magazines, natural history, graphic design, music, movies, and animation. Though formally trained in interior design, the self-taught artist got a name for himself as an illustrator, with features in publications like Vanity Fair, Wall Street Journal, Esquire, and the New York Times.
“I went from interior design to animation to illustration and ultimately into personal art,” he told Flaunt, recalling his artistic journey. “I have always drawn and created, and when I left interior design, I got the illustration bug. However, it took me about seven years to get my foot in the door (with illustration representative Kate Larkworthy (NY)). In the interim, I worked in animation doing character clean up and layouts (by hand). My interior design experience still plays a big role in my art in terms of special awareness and color usage.”
It took him some time the get where he is today, but with gallery shows across North America and Europe, appearances in American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, and Communication Arts, as well as more than 40k followers on Instagram – there’s no slowing down for Heshka.
Based in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, where he shares a home with his wife Marinda and cat Louis, Heshka is currently working on picture book projects for children as well as adults.
Take a look at some of his work in the gallery below:
