Rodney Thompson is a fine artist living in Bend, Oregon. As a Texas native, he grew up finding inspiration in comic books. That inspiration later evolved into a love of realism and surrealism which led him to pursue a career in fine art. Thompson will complete his BFA in Fine Art in May 2021 at the Academy of Art University where he has also been accepted as a graduate student in the MFA program. In 2014 his drawing, “Antecedent,” placed first in Drawing Magazine’s Shades of Gray Competition. Rodney received a Certificate of Excellence in 2015 from the Portrait Society of America’s Annual International Portrait Competition for his drawing “Chrysalis.” In 2017 his drawing, “Attention,” was accepted into the Academy of Art University’s Annual Spring Show. Thompson’s current work delves into mental health by depicting figures and portraits wreathed in fire and interacting with an inattentive society. He hopes that his current body of work inspires more creativity and mental health awareness.