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 Brien P. Hicks was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on March 5th, 1980. Art seemed to come with him right out of the womb, and he began studying it in grade school; accepted into Bemis School of Art, he studied there for 4 years. It was also there that he developed his own unique style. In his elementary learning years, he succeeded in producing 3 pieces of work that were awarded and put up for display by the tender age of 6. Although Brien had been chasing his passion from a young age, it wasn’t until he was a junior in high school when he was granted his own display and won several awards for his artwork. He attended Doherty High School and had a gallery put up for him there. This was not the only time his talent was on display for others to enjoy. He also had 4 pieces of work and accompanying awards in the art gallery at Pikes Peak Community College art show where he pursued further education. On piece titled "Blue Pumpkin" and featured on local television and he has drawn 2 pieces for an auction at the Southern Colorado Aids Project. {S.C.A.P.}. His talent proved beautiful and beneficial.
Unfortunately not all can enjoy his work with their eyes as his work has been stolen more than once. In 2004, his portfolio {and some of his other belongings) was stolen out of his car and it took one complete year to redraw and no longer did it take him to redraw his masterpieces than it was stolen again in 2005. This took another long year to redraw. He is now on his third portfolio. Presently it is under construction and in a safe spot.
As disheartening and difficult as these losses were to Brien, he has not given up on his love for art, and the urge to create. No matter how well received his work has been for most audiences, there has always been some naysayers. At the age of 21, Brien tried to submit some of his work to a local free newspaper, the "Independant". Although this magazine it known for its open mindedness and love of creativity, the art director rejected his work. She suggested he did some things in color and said "real artists have a business card". This didn't bring Brien down either as he used this silly advice to further diverse his art.
He started his art in graphite and charcoal, darker and more serious mediums, but he dabbled in all of them. He later discovered that a popular brand of colored pencil was his favorite. In January 2006 Brien visited Hong Kong where he acquired an interest in Chinese and Japanese brushstroke. He is still learning this style but has excelled so far. He holds a great interest in drawing analogies which is very apparent when one pursues his portfolio.
As much as art has been a big part of his past, it is sure to be a bigger part of his present and future. For the past 11 years he has been working 2 to 3 jobs and has decided to do something different. He is presently saving to go back to college to pursue a career in graphic design and fine art. He has never been interested in mainstream art and also become weary of most taboo art out there as well. He is starved to create something different and unique. Anyone who has been lucky enough to view his work has no doubt that he can do just that. Brien is a born creative genius and needs very little help thinking up wonderfully strange things to create.
 Like all great artists out there, he has influences that shaped what he does. Music is also a huge part of his life and he has been influenced by the work of artists such as Rob Zombie, Bjork, Tori Amos, Zwei, Ayumi Hamasaki, and many many others. The earlier artists that Brien admires have been Escher, Dali, Worhal and Edward Gorey. The cinema has also influenced him as he is a huge fan of horror and suspense films both old and new. Brien has also grown up on Tim Burton movies and greatly admires Tim as a creative icon. He also adores Asian cinema and movies from other cultures and countries. One of his biggest inspirations is actually a season. The autumn brings Brien great happiness and he is one of the biggest Halloween fans you will ever meet. The fall brings Brien great inspiration and he looks forward to incorporating this into his works.
I am proud to write about Brien Hicks as he is one of my greatest friends and is one of the best creative and artistic artisans I have ever met. After being a huge fan of his art for years, I am pleased more people will get to see more of his masterpieces. -Jerily Robinson
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