Brad Hicks

55 x 100“ Photography and acrylic paint on masonite.

Living Water… 1990 ~ 2007

 Growing up in the Los Angeles area, I was keenly aware of the changing of colors, because of our lack of water. Most of the year,  dusty brown dry brush spreads across the landscape. When the rare winter rains come, new life appears in shades of green. This color quickly fades in the undeveloped areas, unless there is a water source. How did this desert wasteland become one of the largest cities in the United States of America? The gold rush brought the people to California, but the engineering of water made L.A. one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Like a Hollywood backdrop, the manicured landscape of the sprawling population is a façade from the truth of the natural weather patterns. The redirection of multiple water sources to supply Southern California’s sprawling population makes this façade our reality. I conceptualize this reality to my faith in the Holy Bible, the word of God, also known as the living water. Jesus said in John 4:14, "whoever drinks of the water that I will give them shall never thirst; the water that I will give them will become in them a well of water springing up to eternal life." 

I had the opportunity displaying this large body work at Forest Lawn Museum 2006 and Torrance Museum 2007 focusing on, “Our Oasis”. This body of work parallels the physical exploration for water, juxtaposing a spiritual search to quench our dry souls.

My first in-depth understanding of opaque watercolors ( Designers Gouache ) began while working on the feature film, The Swan Princess. We painted the entire film using the old Disney masters Gouache techniques. Later I developed painting outdoors from an easel using this medium. I also taught these techniques in various workshops and classes.

All but a few of these paintings have been previously sold.

While working at Walt Disney Feature animation studios, in 1996 I started designing and constructing biannual sets for children's musical theatre at Rolling Hills Covenant mega Church.

From 2003 to 2021, I was contracted by RHCC to worked as the Art Director and Set Designer for the living art presentation (Modeled after the Laguna’s famous “Pageant of the Masters”), "Pageant of Our Lord" Choosing art that communicated clearly the biblical message, I adjust the scale and graphic impact in Photoshop. With my team of volunteers, we build sets to hold live models, sculpting additional props and figures to reproduce the exact image. I oversee casting the models, designing the lighting, makeup and costumes, bringing the experience of the original paintings or sculpture to life with in human proportions. During this biannual 3 week production, there was 14 presentation, and I have the privilege of managing over 150 volunteers. With a variety interns and skilled carpenters, welders seamstress we manufactured some 36 living art sets over the years. 

Set design is illustration on a life size scale for live audiences to enjoy.

The joy of reading text and then visualizing your own personal images, is seeing a different side of a moment.

From 1992 , I worked as a Background Artist in various feature animation studios. Color matching and emulating the exact style of painting was some of the challenges. These are only a small example of hundreds of background paintings I have accomplished over the years. It was always a joy working with the team of artist matching each others paintings so that we communicated in harmony.

Eventually working digitally in Visual Development designing color keys, layouts, matte painting, and texture design for the 3-D modelers.

Currently, I'm passionate about inventing my own stories, designing, illustrating for the Picture book market.

Courageous Freckle Mc Free wants to make a difference to the town folks below. He pleads with the Mayor, “If only the people would notice our tree, we all could be happier don't you see”. This environmental awareness children's book is full of rhymes and reason. Soft watercolor technique with pen and ink. The process of finding the right publisher is now passionately in motion.

An enthusiastic youth experiences a spiritual awakening. Her soul moves in faith towards a life-changing discovery. This is a moment she will never forget, finding an unquenchable joy she will never lose .

Here are samples of my children's book, ‘Butterfly Wings’scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2025. Writing, rhyming, and rewriting this manuscript, finally has matured with clarity. Fully story-boarded I am in the process of illustrating in soft pastels, this picture book of 48 pages.

Click on this YouTube clip to view my character sculpture, running home. BFW Character sculpture

In my youth, a study of Ad design began at my living room coffee table. Life and Readers Digest magazines Ad’s interested me more than the featured articles. Looking for ways to make pocket cash in high school I begin painting Christmas Windows, advertising whatever the given store had to offer. This forced my hand into the art of lettering, and my mind in commercial advertising. While attending college, I took up sign painting and graphic design to pay my tuition, while running towards my goal as professional illustrator. Here's just a tip of the iceberg of my development in Ad design over the years. Does anybody still call it Ad design?.. OK, now it's Branding.