Greg 'Craola' Simkins

About

Greg 'Craola' Simkins, born in 1975 in Torrance, California, began drawing at age three, inspired by cartoons, animals, and books such as Watership Down by Richard Adams, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Rabbits and other animals from his childhood menagerie frequently appear in his surreal paintings. At 18, he started graffiti under the name 'Craola,' which developed his skills in perspective, color theory, and large-scale work, later translating to acrylic paintings. He earned a B.A. in Studio Art from California State University, Long Beach in 1999, then worked as an illustrator for clothing companies, bands, and video games at Treyarch/Activision, including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X, Spider-Man 2, and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Pop-surrealism / Lowbrow art blending graffiti influences, pop culture, nature, and classical elements with imaginative animal narratives