Cherry Bombs and Cartoon Dreams

Stephen Hinton, or as he is more affectionately known in artistic circles, Prince Gnarls, is both a fascinating artist and a fascinating human being. Combining the regal splendor of Prince Charles with the platinum soul sheen of Gnarls Barkley, the moniker Prince Gnarls evokes an appropriate image of the artist: a man of distinct talent and style who understands that art can be profound and still have a sense of humor.

Like so many artists, Stephen began his journey as a child, drawing renditions of his favorite comic book and anime characters in addition to more standard art class fare. Drawn to pursue a career in such creative endeavors, he went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco to study Traditional Illustration. Upon earning his degree, however, he found himself feeling somewhat disenfranchised with the opportunities available in that particular branch of the industry. The work was too static.

There was too little freedom to express himself in ways that he perceived were meaningful. It was a tumultuous period of his life, one marked by uncertainty, long bouts of extensive exploration, and hours of deep personal reflection. His epiphany came when he realized that what he really wanted to do was follow in the footsteps of artists he admired such as James Jean and George Condo. In order to do so, however, he would need to master the art of painting. He had dabbled in it, of

course, while attending art school, but there was much still to learn.

And so, in 2011, Stephen shifted his focus to painting and developing what would become

his style. Partially influenced by those masters he so respected, and informed by his early love of comics, anime and pop culture, Stephen Hinton perfected his technique and transformed himself into Prince Gnarls, the exciting, vibrant and cutting-edge artist he is today. Done mostly in acrylics on canvas, his pieces virtually jump off the wall, demanding your undivided attention.

Teeming with color and sass, the images are playful, fun, and somehow both modern and nostalgic at once. With his pseudo-realistic approach, signature anime-styled characters, and brilliant selection of pop culture references, Prince Gnarls is a name that will be on everyone’s lips in the coming years.

Since 2023, he has shown in group exhibitions at a number of venues in both Salem and Portland, and in 2024 had his first solo show called “Cherry Bomb Newsstand (at the Ford Gallery in Portland). Currently, he is part of a group exhibition in Salem called “Erotica: An Exhibition to Arouse” (at Salem on the Edge Gallery), and has multiple shows on the horizon.

Stephen Hinton (a.k.a. Prince Gnarles) is an exciting up-and- coming artist. He also happens to be an incredibly warm, kind, and relatable human being. Support local artists! Check out his website: artxprincegnarls.com