Monty Preston

I am a physical and digital painter, and photographer, based in Los Angeles, CA.

Regardless of medium, I try to capture by the way light interacts with its environment, creating a snapshot of expressions and physical gestures. I work primarily in oils for the vibrancy and texture that they bring to a piece, and use my iPad to experiment with concepts and color palettes.

I source selfies and other superficially driven images from social media as reference material for my paintings, which subvert the artificiality of those moments by emphasizing immersive atmospheric elements such as very hot sun or a poolside breeze.
I want the viewer to remember the physical sensations of a moment created by the natural world, rather than filters on their phones.

My aesthetic is influenced by everything from Betty & Veronica comics to vintage swimwear campaigns, and I'm inspired by artists including David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, Cindy Sherman and Alex Colville.

Self-taught painter, photographer, illustrator.

Female Eye Film Festival (FEFF) - Juried Exhibition | Toronto, Canada 2017
Maui Arts & Cultural Center - Juried Exhibition | Maui, HI 2016