Katie Hofgard’s digital paintings are built upon a love of nature, animals, and fantasy. From these small, loosely painted portraits to grand, finely detailed dreamscapes, Hofgard’s paintings express personality at any scale. Each commissioned icon represents a person’s animal character online—in social media, roleplay forums, and more. Her work has earned the admiration of fellow artists who turn to her for help with the intricacies of painting digitally, a medium she defends in the face of those who might not appreciate its form.

Hofgard, who also goes by Eskiworks, trained at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where she received a BFA in Illustration, and transitioned from painting on canvas to painting digitally. She grew up in Colorado, where she still lives and paints.