Dominic Avant

Dominic Avant received a Bachelor of Fine Art at Rhode Island School of Design in 1991. After leaving school he worked as a free-lance illustrator and teacher. In 1996 he was recruited by Walt Disney Feature Animation where he worked on feature films such as Mulan, Tarzan, Emperor's New Groove, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear and numerous shorts. It was this creative community to which he pays credit for jump starting his career as a painter. While having a deep interest in the visual development of film production he was introduced to plein air painting. In 2004 the Disney Florida studio closed and Dominic's tenacity and passion for painting quickly transitioned into gallery exposure. He presently teaches at Ringling College of Art and has won numerous national awards in the Artist Magazine, Arts for the parks, Portrait Society of America and Best of Show at the Eastern regional's Oil Painters of America.

Dominic's work is a fusion of realism and impressionism. Each painting shows a strong sense of light, vivid color, fluid brushwork and deep emotional content. He strives to evoke in his viewers the same emotions that compel him to paint from the first brushstroke.