John Jude Palencar | Fairview Park, Ohio

Palencar was born in Fairview Park, Ohio.

He developed an interest in the subject matter of horror and science fiction early in life; dressing up as an alien with a homemade custom latex masks and exhibiting a fascination in both scaring others and being scared himself.

In the third grade, his family would move to Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

He would win his first award in art in fifth grade with a three-colour block print for the Cleveland’s Plain Dealer newspaper calendar contest.

He went on to attended Midpark High School. It was in high school that the artist came under the art training of Frederick C. Graff, who up until today is a established award winning artist, primarily in watercolor.

After winning numerous art awards and selling a few paintings in high school, Palencar decided to pursue a career in art.

He attended the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) on scholarship, receiving a BFA degree in 1980.

During his college years he worked for the American Greetings Card Company and freelanced, establishing a list of regional and national clients in editorial, advertising and corporate art.

As a senior at CCAD he won the top cash award at the Society of Illustrators Student Exhibition and was also presented with a scholarship to the Illustrators Workshop held in Paris, France.