My name is Austin Howlett and I am a Maui raised artist now living and working in Los Alamos New Mexico and I specialize oil painting. I primarily derive my inspiration from the people and environments that surround me so that I can create paintings that explore emotional vulnerability and self discovery. I am very much inspired by the inherent flaws found in humanity as a whole and in us as individuals and the small steps we can take to become better people. I love working as an artist because with every painting I feel as if am an adding to a sort of imagined world in my head and it allows me to connect with others through shared emotions and thoughts. Nothing brings me more joy than having a stranger really connect with a painting that I’ve created and that painting allowing us to have an open and honest conversation about life. Creating imagery has always been the best way for me to communicate with others and I feel honored to speak through my art as a career.