Van Arno

Van Arno (1963–2021) was an American figurative painter, illustrator, and art instructor based in Los Angeles, California. He was associated with the Lowbrow art movement and known for his dramatic paintings featuring heroic figures in extreme postures.

Early life and education

Van Arno was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1963 and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child he spent time in public libraries, where books on mythology and history—particularly the pirate illustrations of Howard Pyle—first drew him to drawing. He attended Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles.

Video game work

Arno created all the artwork for Return Fire (1995), a critically acclaimed vehicular combat game originally released for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. This was his first video game project and his first time working with computer art. Game creator Reichart Von Wolfsheild specifically recruited Arno for his distinctive artistic style, teaching him to use a computer despite having no prior digital art experience.

Death

Van Arno died in 2021.