ArtistEducatorPhotographer

My name is Justin Weinmann. I’m an artist and teacher from Houston, Texas. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I have fond memories of sitting in front of the TV with tons of crayons and paper, following along to Mark Kistler’s Secret City. Since then, art has been an extension of who I am. Now, as a teacher, I want to help others develop their passion for creating.

  • What is your passion?

    My passion has always been drawing with pen and ink. However, I began painting because I love the colors. As digital art emerged, I knew I had to get involved, and Adobe apps such as Photoshop and Illustrator offered more mediums for me. Learning Photoshop meant I dove into the world of Photography. Learning Illustrator meant I jumped into the world of Design. Everything introduced me to a new passion and I spend each day meandering throuh each and every one of them.

  • What’s Your Inspiration?

    Before the rise of CG, I grew up watching B-movies with bad action, worse dialogue, and practical effects featuring grotesque creatures. I developed an affinity for monsters, robots, aliens, zombies, and anything else that would be fun to draw. As my artistic skills improved, I sought to add meaning to my creations, so I dug into my other interests to add new subjects to my art. I’m fascinated with the mysteries of the past, the dreams of the future, natural oxymorons, unnatural juxtapositions, and the complexity of the simple.

What about teaching?

Surprisingly, teaching wasn't originally part of my plans when I was in college pursuing a Social Science degree that focused on History and Political Science.

My goal back then was to prepare for Law School. However, I found myself working as a substitute teacher while studying for the LSAT, and fate had a different path in store for me. Within a week of the school year starting, I was asked to step in and teach a US History class for an absent teacher. What began as a one-week gig turned into an entire year, and during that time, I discovered a newfound passion for teaching. I realized how much I enjoyed it. As soon as I had the opportunity, I started incorporating my artwork into my classroom, allowing me to combine two of my passions.

What do you teach?

I am currently the publications adviser at a high school outside of Houston. In that role I get to combine so many of my passions and I absolutely love it. 

I spend most of my time taking pictures of school events with my students. Then it's off to the lab where I get to bring my passion for art and design into all those Adobe apps that I grew up loving.