Grab your boxing gloves, wipe the sweat from your brow, and head back into the fighting ring with this week’s Featured Artist, Brian M. Viveros. The beloved DBH veteran returns with his iconic self-titled “Dirtyland” style to portray “powerful defiant […] warrior” women who demand respect and refuse to be sidelined by society. Viveros aptly dubs each of these women a “Woman of Power.” His beautifully painted works of art – delicate yet gritty – proudly places each woman in the forefront as the warrior, the survivor, and ultimately as the triumphant victor.

The internationally respected artist is known for his distinctive Dirtyland style, as well as his expertise in acrylic, oil, airbrush, and ink mediums. He depicts each woman’s struggle in a poignant yet authentic way. Brian returns to the DBH stage to share that he has “progressed a lot as an artist and business since we last spoke.” As his business has evolved, he admits that it is a “juggling act” and jokes that “you have to really be disciplined and try to stay focused or your head will explode like in Scanners.” He reminds other artists to not take anything for granted, to keep going, and to “treat yourself to a nice drink” occasionally too!

Viveros was interested in art as a young child when he imagined stories about his toys and then brought them to life in drawings. Nevertheless, he confesses, “I wish I would have started painting at an earlier age.” It wasn’t until much later in his life that he took an interest in painting; he has been teaching himself ever since. However, storytelling has always been at the core of his creative passion. He shares, “I'm starting to go back to my roots which was storytelling and filmmaking.”

Today, he is eager to pursue film again and is excited about a new television pilot that he is writing. He says, “I've always had the story in my head but now was the right time.” He believes that everything in our past pushes us towards where we need to go and he’s looking forward to what the future brings. He says you must “ride that out and see where things go.”