"I don't like to categorize what I do," Justin Dunford said. "I enjoy changing platforms. To me, it's all just a means to be heard. It's getting a story to an audience - that's what I like."

About

While most artists pick one material to explore, Justin Dunford has a more varied repertoire. He draws, paints, prints and sculpts –-- and he also is an actor, director, scenic painter, carpenter, prop builder and puppeteer.

Dunford'’s artwork invites viewers to ponder; his imagery sparks further investigation. And if his paintings seem to hint at an underlying narrative, that'’s because Dunford is first and foremost a storyteller -- no matter which medium he decides to use.

Dunford, a 35-year old Kingwood resident, has known he wanted to be an artist since kindergarten. "“Art is just something that I’ve always done,"” he said. "“It’'s in my nature.”"

He doodled and sketched nonstop as a child – and he has never stopped. He started painting seriously in high school, when his grandmother bought him a set of beginner oil paints as a gift.

Dunford'’s theatre career also began early on. He enrolled in drama as an elective in middle school. “He then studied theatre and minored in art history at the University of Houston, graduating in 2005.

He started working with Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre – and has since participated in a about 15 shows, building sets, creating puppets, writing and acting.

Dunford also joined forces with classmate Philip Hays to co-produce plays. The duo have acted and directed alongside each other for years.

He has worked behind-the-scenes as a set builder and scenic painter for a number of local theatre companies from Mildred’s Umbrella to Opera in the Heights. He also served as assistant to the technical theatre department at the Kinkaid School from 2012 to 2016.

Dunford has also taught puppetry, theatre and art workshops for children through Bobbindoctrin and Talento Bilingue de Houston.

In 2012, Dunford started Red-Handed Productions is a new production company, specializing in puppetshows, theatre and art events.

Justin Dunford is represented by Cadence Enterprise, an artist marketing and public relations firm. For more information about the artist or how to purchase his art work, visit www.cadenceenterprise.com or call281-636-1361.