Rob Stelboum
Most of my artistic training has been in drawing, painting and printmaking. (I also spent a short time working in video). My personal work tends toward expressionism (which might be another way of saying I don’t have the patience to be a realist). My day job is in advertising, where I juggle managing an art studio and being an art director/designer.

In one way or another, I’ve always worked as an artist, but I’ve never had so much fun creating art as I have as part of the 4traits. Creating art (not advertising) is a solitary process. Standing, staring at your empty canvas, tentatively applying that first brushstroke. It’s an immensely satisfying and individual process. But I’m a social creature. Creating a 4trait is about as social and eventful as art gets. Each and every piece is a collaboration between the 4 of us. We share ideas, vision, and technique, and we do it all without words. The art speaks for itself as it passes from artist to artist. Which, of course, allows actual conversation to be about anything-with each other or with our subjects. Laughing while we create art. Who would have thunk it?

WooHoo!!!!!

Yen-Wen Chau
For my two younger brothers and I, sleeping was the last thing on Earth when we were at ages 9, 7, and 6. Nights full of imagination have just begun after the lights were putting out by our mother.

We hid under the comforters with flash lights and comic books that we purposely collected for their poorly drawn illustrations and uneventful stories. Redrawing over the originals and editing the scripts to be our own had become such exciting play that we pursued for many years. During the play each of us would recreate 1-2 frames before passing it on to the next person. Although our young eyes got tired from the poor light we see things clearly for their full potential.

Suddenly, I was on my way to years of art schooling and competition.
Decades of exposure to various mediums allowed me the freedom to pick and choose tools to suit an idea while pressure to reach perfection increased. However, not for a moment has my love for the crisp sensation of graphite trailing faded.

Besides drawing digitally as a full-time multimedia artist, I draw using a twig on the ground as landscape designer. 4Traits triggers childhood memories and the sense of selflessness by letting go and simply immersing myself in the synergy.

Brad Ulreich
From the first moment I heard the sonorous drones of my grade school teachers, I found the margins of my notebooks, and filled them with sketches. I then found that other kids thought I was “cool” because I could draw. Being skinny, small, and easily beat on, I leapt at this form of social protection, and never looked back. Fast-forward to now, and I’m a fine artist in Washington DC.

When you boil it all down, though, art is about picking up a pencil and drawing, and that’s what I love about being a part of the 4traits. For, if I had to chuck all my art supplies aside save for one implement, I’d keep a pencil. I simply love to draw, and I love to draw people, on top of that. The 4traits give me the opportunity to do both, and from my point of view, that’s an awesome thing. I also write, play and produce music, and do the occasional graphic design gig.

Alex Slater

now that all the hardcore art critics and pompous fine artists who think i’m tainting this pool of talent are gone i will tell you what i know. i’ve always been artistic, but without the opportunity ($$) for such a luxury as art school. i’ve been a piano mover, landscaper (aka “yard monkey”-that’s what my boss called us), assembly line tech, medical research assistant, 1/3 fireman, designer. the last one is where i fortunately landed. most of my art therefore takes shape on the computer screen, making 4traits a great outlet to excercise more traditional methods. i can tell you i most enjoy being either the 1st or last artist on a “4trait”. also, i try to get a game of Mario Kart in at least once a day.

Ming Yi Sung Zaleski

I feel that one artist cannot be too comfortable with a particular way of making art. Being a 4Trait is a great opportunity to set my artist’s ego aside and humbly learn and absorb the other three’s artistic energy. We challenge each other in the practice of 4Traits.

Brandon Bloch
My training as a portrait artist began with drawing caricatures of my teachers in the margins of my class notes. #2 pencil on college-ruled paper was my bread and butter. Since then it’s been clear… no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, I must create art. Over the years I’ve been steadily adding to my repertoire – now I use artsy pencils on artsy paper. Plus I’ve learned graphic design, motion graphics, oil painting, screenprinting, photography, and filmmaking. Whatever media I need to employ to bring my creative vision to life, I’ll learn it. During the day I work as a documentary filmmaker… and I’m also pursuing a master’s in filmmaking at American University.

Working with the 4Traits has been a great adventure since our first impromptu session in a DC café. I’m thankful I found a great group of artists to work with – we keep each other active, constantly learning from each other’s diverse artistic approaches, feeling open to take risks as they come. Also, with only five minutes to make my mark on each portrait, I’m learning to work faster… no longer contemplating each individual mark for minutes on end, like I tend to do with my personal work. Above all, being with the 4Traits has been a great way to bring my artwork to the public. Our work is really only as good as our models, and with such enthusiastic kids and adults at every event, we can’t help but make some really great portraits!