Having grown up on an island in the Seattle area, Blaine “Fontana” Hogg made his way
through Otis and received top honors with the “Best in Show” award.
While still in school, he worked as an art director at a cutting edge design firm
(Abound LLC.) and also at a fashion/lifestyle magazine (Metro.Pop); he has since worked
as an Art Director for a young men’s apparel company (Drifter). In January of 2003
he opted for self-employment as a fine artist and designer. “I wanted to put my own
voice and vision out there,” says Fontana, “so I left the company and starting working
on my own projects. I haven’t looked back.” ...
Fontana’s work is featured in a monograph that samples his work from 2002-2006. Drawing
on elements and experiences as diverse as Asian calligraphy, found objects, and the
vibrant color palette of graffiti, Fontana integrates the urban and the natural worlds.
His particular vision invokes religious myths, worldly folklore and contemporary social
observations that result in work that harmoniously integrates the organic and inorganic,
the physical and metaphysical, order and chaos.
Fontana’s freelance lifestyle affords him some extra time to commit to RTEA (Reaching
To Embrace Arts), an L.A. organization that raises money to buy supplies and fund
art programs for seven inner-city elementary schools. Fontana has worked as an art
director/curator and web master. “I became aware of the tremendous under-funding of
art programs in our public schools,” says Fontana. “RTEA is helping the next generation
get the encouragement they need. Art opens a young person’s mind to the things that
are beautiful in this world. Art programs help round out a person’s life experience.
My life has been better because of art, and I want to share this opportunity with
others.”
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