ME

Hi I’m illustrator/muralist Priscilla C. Witte and California made me do it! I moved here at the age of 19 from Upstate NY. I’m talking WAY upstate by the Adirondack Mountains. Not knowing what the future would hold, I had no plans, only $800 bucks in my pocket but had the feeling that anything was possible. It was my first trip to the West Coast and when I landed was immediately immersed in the California beach culture. I felt an immediate need to capture all that was happening around me and a desire to create something of my own. I did need a job though! For ten years, I made money working at many, many different restaurants throughout Southern California. Slinging cocktails and taking orders, which I actually loved because it gave me the opportunity to meet people. I mostly worked at night which allowed me the free time during the day to draw, paint, bike ride by the ocean and figure out what really made me happy. Everything was so new. New places to see, new friends, new adventures, and the constant sunshine. It still amazes me that I came to California for that first summer and here we are 17 years later. Ha!

Eventually I saved enough money to purchase a nice camera and taught myself how to properly take and manipulate photographs. I had a few shows and ended up getting hired for some small gigs but it ultimately left me wanting more. It wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I got back into illustrating. After producing a small collection of works, I had my first show at a friend’s loft space in Venice which to my surprise (and complete delight) ended up being a success. This tiny victory opened my mind to the possibility that I could make people happy through my artwork. Little by little projects both large and small started coming my way. Each one was a learning experience constantly teaching me about my process, my style, and what it takes to be a working artist. This was the case with my first project and is still the case on the projects that I’m working on right now. You never stop learning. You never stop growing. You never stop trying to figure it out! I feel very lucky and blessed that people appreciate my work and want to hire me. Whether it be a small illustration or a large mural.

Looking back, I knew that I had finally found my passion which is drawing and painting. I’ve never had any expectations on how things would unfold and I’ve never been in any sort of rush to get “there.” I feel like it is what I was meant to do in this world. I can’t imagine what else I would be doing if I didn’t live and breathe art all day.

I’ve been very blessed to work on some amazing projects with some great companies. Some big guys include Budlight, Google, Amazon, Redbull, Uber, Warner Music, Puma, Barbie, to name a few. I’ve worked with a few restaurants in LA. Particularly The Rose in Venice, which I’ve illustrated t-shirts, menus, parchment paper, a wine bottle, as well as mural their bathrooms. Love those guys! I’ve also been lucky enough to travel outside of The United States for work. I’ve gotten to be the artist in residence in Lucca, Italy located in Tuscany. I traveled to Croatia (twice) to paint murals and create art for the rooms of a boutique hotel. Flew to Alushta, Russia to paint a lifeguard tower along the Black Sea. I was sent to Bali to paint the bathrooms as well as a yoga area for a boutique home. Those adventures were so amazing. I love exploring different countries and experiencing different cultures. I’d love to do more of that. I am very proud of myself, although I don’t think I’ve ever said that out loud. When I think about where I am now, which I try not to do, I don’t know how I ended up here. I know that I work really hard. I know there’s much more out there for me. I don’t like to get in my head about it though. Ultimately, I want to keep growing as a person and as an artist and keep working my ass off!