Luis J. Medina Torruellas

I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1982, where I discovered my love for art at an early age and have been drawing ever since. My early training began in school and continued at Ponce High School under the mentorship of Puerto Rican artist Luis “Tato” González, where I also participated in my first exhibition at the School of Fine Arts in Ponce.

I later continued my artistic development at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, earning a bachelor’s degree in visual arts in 2007. During this time, I apprenticed with artist Luis Borrero, where I strengthened my artistic discipline and deepened my understanding of traditional art methods. While I explored a range of mediums, including printmaking and sculpture, I remained most connected to painting and drawing.

My work has been exhibited throughout Puerto Rico, and my career naturally expanded into comics and illustration. I began with ARTIFICE in 2008 and later spent over a decade contributing to the Gravestone™ graphic novel series with Utopixia Studios, focusing on digital color and visual storytelling. After relocating to Florida in 2013, I continued to grow both as an artist and educator, teaching at the Crealdé School of Art and later working as a K–5 visual art teacher. These experiences continue to shape my approach, blending technical skill with a passion for sharing art with others.

More recently, my work has expanded into children’s illustration. In 2025 and 2026, I collaborated with author Gretchen K. Webber on the Beanie the Weenie series, illustrating chapters such as Frank the Tank and Stanky Frankie. I am currently developing my own fully hand drawn and watercolor painted children’s book while completing my master’s degree in Illustration at the Academy of Art University since 2024.
My work reflects a lifelong dedication to storytelling through image, combining traditional techniques with contemporary illustration.