Rick Blanco is an artist whose collection of dark little characters are meant to intrigue, entice and perhaps cause a bit of anxiety. While his experience in commercial art as an award-winning designer spans nearly 30 years, his love of fine art has existed since he was old enough to hold a pencil. His style is greatly influenced by his work in entertainment having served as a lead creative for companies such as Disney, Mattel, Cartoon Network and Xbox. But his true passion is derived from a love of Halloween, horror movies, femme fatales and all things macabre.

While well versed in digital software, his art is created traditionally using acrylic or oil on canvas or wood panels. "I prefer the tactile quality of creating art from an analog space. There is no 'undo' button so the stakes are higher and the impact of technique, material and even weather conditions is critical to each piece."

Rick relocated to Peoria, Illinois in May 2020, where he tools around in a spooky old home, crafting creepy new creations.