Patrick Guyton fuses his experience as an animation background artist and sign painter with ancient leafing and glazing techniques to create contemporary masterpieces.
Whether depicting mysterious women, flitting hummingbirds, or moonlit ponds, Guyton’s artwork is adored by art lovers and collected around the world.
Guyton’s Personal History
Born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania in 1964, Guyton set the groundwork for his artistic career by the age of 6 under the guidance of his parents, a commercial artist and an interior designer. Guyton’s father taught him the tenants of sign painting, such as concept strategies, font design, hand lettering, and pin-striping.
His industrial town’s traditional career offerings didn’t interest Guyton, so in 1984 he attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he studied fine arts, sculpture, and design theory. He graduated with an associate’s degree in visual communications.
Guyton moved to Southern California in 1987. He had aspirations of launching a music career, and to support himself, he worked as a fine and commercial artist, creating airbrush illustration, murals, and signage. Guyton also taught fourth grade art at Vineyard Middle School in Anaheim, California.
In 1997, Guyton joined Linda Jones Enterprises/Warner Bros. as a background painter for legendary cartoonist and animator Chuck Jones. Guyton was also commissioned by Looney Tunes/McKimson Productions where he became the background painter for Robert McKimson, Jr., the son of famous Warner Bros. animator Robert McKimson. Guyton worked on McKimson’s Limited-Edition Sports Animation Cels. Shortly thereafter, Guyton was commissioned by Hanna-Barbera as a background artist and celluloid painter.
During this time Guyton was privileged to study under Maurice Noble. Noble played a role in shaping the animation industry since the 1950s, working on Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Bambi,” “Dumbo,” and “Pinocchio,” as well as the 1966 version of “The Grinch That Stole Christmas.”
“There is no other word than ‘surreal’ for such a thing,” Guyton says. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that seemed to just keep unfolding. I got to work with a lot of iconic animators, background painters, and studios.”
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