title: Esao Andrews
text: # Esao Andrews
  
  Esao Andrews is an American painter, working with oil on wood panels. His work blends Gothic grotesque, erotic and surrealism.
  
  ## Life
  
  Andrews was born and grew up in Mesa, Arizona where he attended Red Mountain High School. He designed skateboards for Baker Skateboards.
  
  ## Work
  
  Andrews has exhibited in group shows; one with John John Jesse, and another with Travis Louie and Tara McPherson. He has produced cover art for all of Circa Survive's official releases. .
  
  Andrews recently had a story published in the original Fables graphic novel 1001 Nights of Snowfall. He cites Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Alfons Mucha, and Joe Sorren as influences.
  
  Andrews has said, when asked about possible work as an illustrator;
  
     ...I’ve never actively pursued it. I submitted for American Illustration last year, but didn’t get in. I was aiming for book covers.
  
  Andrews participated in the 2002 BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
  
  On the subject of the diversity of his work, Andrews states that he is constantly looking for new subject matter as he does not want to become known for one subject. Andrews also stated when asked about 'good vs evil' in his work that he thinks more along the lines of dominant versus subordinate; that he is attempting to catch a moment of mystery or deviousness in his work.
  
     ...I'm afraid of becoming labelled. I'm young and I'm early in my career, but things have been picking up, and I've become obsessed with this issue. Like, I don't want to be known as one of those people that paints wide-eyed girls. I've been trying to diversify my subject matter and not necessarily always include funny elements like I usually do.
  