Dustin Bailard grew up in Churches, which he said his imagination was always alive. He developed a deep appreciation for anything spiritual or supernatural. He describes his large canvas pieces to be a 'representation of emotions, longing and loss tied to the fierce beauty of wildness of nature'.  Bailard began as a successful makeup artist, and explored many different mediums before finding his passion for oil paint. 

Bailard has inspired my project massively, in many different ways. I find his paintings so interesting to look at, because of the unusual features he has given the women. They all have similar faces, with their big eyes, dainty noses and prominent cheekbones. I love his use of colour, and the smooth appearance his paintings have. Apart from being inspired by the visual aspects of his work, I also find his enthusiasm for his work very interesting. He's influenced by fantasies, by things that aren't real, which it gives him the ability to really play on his imagination. Bailard is creating these creatures from his own ideas, and on his website, he has given the character a story. I think since I have a similar idea of making my own fantasy, making a world that I feel comfortable in, I think Bailard is one of the best artists to support my work.