Todd White

became part of the lead design and animation team for the international hit cartoon series SpongeBob SquarePants. During this period White experimented with both style and concept, eventually arriving at a process that now guides him through every piece. Until White can conceptually see the story in his head, he won't paint. He always names his pieces first, visualizes faces and personalities and then develops each person's story. The stark, unblemished delivery of his subjects is very much intended - what isn't necessary to the story doesn't go onto the canvas. Hands are a focal point for White, reflecting the subject's state of mind almost as much as facial expressions. ''Everyone's hands are full of personality'' he suggests, noting for example, how powerfully and expressively the small hand details and gesticulations will amplify an actor's performance. He is a full-time observer, noticing what others don't, always studying and absorbing figures, faces, features, for later reference. Subconsciously, compulsively, he spends his life people-watching, scribbling down sketches whatever the situation (often on napkins, even tablecloths), to record an idea for his next work. White's paintings are captivating, demanding repeated viewings, and often evoking laughter or thoughts of familiar emotions. His desire to reveal his subjects' innermost feelings provide timeless scenes of attraction and intimacy; beneath the exaggerated features and textured skin of his characters there is truth, both ours and theirs. We experience the subjects in White's work every day, but because his perspective is so unusual he alters the way we perceive the people we encounter and the roles we play around each other. He studies body language, utilizing the nuances of his source material to capture the subtleties of what one shows and what one hides. He was chosen from hundreds of artists as the Official Artist of the GRAMMY® Awards in 2007, the world's most prestigious music event, and in 2009, Todd was invited by Warner Bros. to contribute to a major design exhibition celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. Following a string of record-breaking shows in the UK, Todd returned to the US to even greater acclaim, and has since become one of the most collectable and successful living artists in the royal Street.