TRANSFERRING CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY ON TO CANVAS

Todd White doesn't smoke. He's not flirtatious. And he rarely drinks anything stronger than iced tea. Yet, he'll spend hours each weekend in bars and nightclubs. So what's the big attraction? The 33-year-old artist is people watching - listening, observing, looking for a humorous social scene to capture, sketch and transfer onto canvas.

Fueled by a fascination for revealing his characters' innermost thoughts, he watches people interact, creates a story in his mind and infuses their expression, character and personality into his interpretation of the social scene. Using bold colors and exaggerated features, he paints a striking and insightful portrayal of his subjects. White reveals that he must conceptually see the story in his head before he ever begins painting... even naming the piece before a brush touches the canvas. When creating that story, he doesn't spend time on inconsequential backgrounds. Rather, he focuses on what's essential to the painting. Hands are a focal point, and according to him, a telltale expression of the subject's state of mind. "Take Al Pacino - without his hands, he's not nearly as interesting to watch," he remarks.

White is inspired by humor - the type of humor you find where friends, lovers and work mates gather. The artist maintains that our public persona both reveals and hides who we really are. White captures those subtleties with such amazing precision that his artwork is captivating, almost infectious. His unique, Rat Pack-meets-Picasso style has sparked the interest of numerous art galleries, collectors and celebrities.

White, who worked in animation for 13 years, was the lead character designer for the hit cartoon series, SpongeBob SquarePants. After four years with the show, he was ready to move on. Feeling like "a professional athlete in a minor league club" White made the transition from animation to fine art, a leap he says is typically unheard of in the industry. Though he has no desire to return to animation, he says the experience truly honed his drawing skills and taught him how to create expressions and capture personality with a pencil.