ARTIST BIOS
Asha White
Independent Artist
Asha is a Cincinnati based artist born in Cleveland Ohio. Her preferred medium is acrylic or oil paint on canvas. Although she does many realistic pieces, she prefers to paint surrealist imagery. She is inspired by the work of Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo in the way that they use dream like symbols to tell stories of their lives and the world around them. Asha tells her own story of growth and personal exploration in all of her abstract work.
website
Ciara Cruder
Independent Artist
Ciara Cruder hails from Columbus, OH, and has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati. She directed and produced Mind the Method, a short documentary series that features independent music artists in the Cincinnati area. She loves the arts and hip-hop culture and her future goals are to direct a feature-length documentary and manage a community creative space for artists.
Destiny Turner
Independent Artist
Destiny M. Turner is from Racine, Wisconsin. She worked there redesigning furniture for Main Gallery. Destiny was also a part of ACTSO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) through the NAACP where she participated in national drawing and poetry competitions. Destiny recently graduated from Eagles International Training Institute’s Prophetic art course. She gives God the glory for cultivating her creative gifts and opening doors for her to paint live, create website materials, ministry logos and flyers.
Drea Brison
Independent Artist
As an artist I don’t really stick to one type of style of art, I like to explore outside of what I’m used to doing and that’s sketching on paper with pencil. I usually paint and draw whatever comes to mind which all of it is self taught. But being with soul Palette they have made a huge difference and have taught me a lot of new things and techniques that I use and will continue to do so.
Eric Barber
Independent Artist
Eric "E" Barber is a self-taught Artist based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eric developed a passion for art beginning at a young age by his mother encouraging him to read. While doing so, he fell in love with the artwork in comic books and anime which developed his dream to one day become a cartoon artist. His favorite artists include Alex Ross, Aaron McGruder, and Masashi Kishimoto. After high school, Eric attended Central State University and majored in Early Childhood Education. After realizing that formal education wasn't for him, he left and found a passion in working to mentor youth in his community; but his love for art never left him. Today, he continues to work to inspire youth with art and has enjoyed creating unique pieces that portray some of his favorite characters, motivational messages, and promote self-love. He is currently extending his talents to digital and paint pieces.
When Eric isn't working creating, he still finds joy in mentoring, spending time with his wife Breana, watching movies, and being a committed Boston Celtics fan.
Eric joined the Soul Palette team in 2019 and looks forward to continuing to inspire youth through art as well as being a part of making art a fun experience for others.
LaNeitra Stroud
Independent Artist
LaNeitra Stroud has been drawing since her youth. In 2006 she assisted Brandon with painting a mural on the side of their church, Tryed Stone New Beginning. Completing this large-scale piece of art led to many others around the city. LaNeitra decided to try her hand at digital art. Once she began taking college courses in media, video production, and photography her natural gifting for the creative was truly awakened. She is now a lead media director at Tryed Stone New Beginning.
Sharon Smith
Independent Artist
Sharon Smith, a native of Cincinnati was welcomed to the team in 2016 and has truly enjoyed being apart of Soul Palette. She gets a thrill from helping those who are concerned about how their paintings will turn out. She always ensure them with belief they'll have a masterpiece in no time. She is currently studying at the University of Cincinnati to become a licensed Social Worker. In hopes of bridging the educational system for minorities and tackling homelessness. We have had the privilege of knowing Sharon for many years as our childcare provider. She is someone who is not afraid of expressing herself through fashion with her bold and colorful prints. When she's not making crafts, scrapbooking and poetry she's traveling the world seeing and meeting new faces.