I’m Caryn, but my “art persona” revolves around the name Coma White, or RxComa as a username. Coma White was the name I started using for gaming when I was 17 (it’s very edgy, I know) so I got used to people calling me “Coma,” especially in my World of Warcraft days. I used to only use my real name for professional representation, and while I still do in some cases, I wanted to go back to a name that felt more personal and suited to the darker art that I wanted to make. While using your real name is standard and professional in the art world, it’s also unassuming. Pair that with unassuming pet portraits, and you get a bit of a surprise when you see the rest of my art. So I aim to resolve that by starting with my name – I’m a dark artist first, but still love painting fur babies!

Also, Coma White matches my real initials, which is how I sign my art. It’s a win-win.

I grew up very obsessed with music, generally in the vein of Marilyn Manson (clearly – “Coma White” is their song), Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Skinny Puppy. Psychological horror games like Silent Hill and American McGee’s Alice also had a huge influence on me. I knew I wanted to go into music or video games as a career, much to the dismay of the adults in my life since I excelled in STEM classes and could have been “normal.” I decided I wanted to be an artist after seeing illustrators like Brom and Ron Spencer doing dark art for tabletop games, card games, and video games.

I graduated high school a year early and attended an atelier-style art school, studying under a master artist for four years with an additional curriculum focused on concept art and illustration for video games. I worked as an artist in the game industry for a couple of years before deciding I didn’t want it as a career. I still work in games as a day job, but now as a Game Producer using those math and tech skills. I maintain my art as more of a freelance side gig.

Aside from games and art, I also do bellydance, weightlifting, and lots of gardening and homesteading. I grew up on a farm. You can’t take the country out of me.