When COVID-19 shut the world down, Division I athlete Travis Turney returned to a familiar refuge: painting. Then at the University of Portland, he began creating new works in March, and within five months, he was featured on his hometown news station, KSEE 24.

Five years later, he faces a new kind of pressure: corporate America. Once again, he turns to the canvas not just to escape, but to reconnect with what matters most, keeping his inner child alive. This time, he brings new skills in photography, videography, and art direction honed through a Master’s in Advertising at the Academy of Art University and as the lead content creator for Pepperdine University.

These creative lenses help him better tell the stories behind his paintings, bridging the gap between imagination and expression.