Art Review: illustrator Christopher Cruz by Ashley Robinson

Christopher is a digital artist who primarily works with pixel-based programs like Procreate and Aseprite. His art often explores identity, emotion, and social commentary. One of his standout pieces is Dysfunctional Abnormality. Shortened to “Dys-abnormality”. It features an original character named Outer Entropy. The artwork shows a large figure towering over a man that is skull-faced, surrounded by upside-down hearts. Which is a visual reference to Undertale, where upside-down hearts represent monsters while humans are just regular hearts. This haunting pixel piece creates a feeling of unease and tension through its  use of shape and space.

Another artwork is titled “Pussy a Weapon” was created for a Women’s and Gender Studies course called Women, Hip Hop, and Social Change. The piece shows a woman lying on a bed, with the word "Decision" written on her leg, symbolizing sexual freedom and personal agency. Condoms, a pregnancy test, and a clock over her crotch further reinforce the message that all sexual choices belong to her and on her time. The artwork uses everyday objects to challenge traditional ideas about female sexuality in a bold and clear way.

Christopher also experiments with style. In one untitled piece, he combines his usual preference for circular shapes with angular forms inspired by another artist. This blending of styles shows his openness to collaboration and growth. In “Sequential”, he depicts multiple figures in motion, each with a different color palette. Curvy panels help guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of flow and movement, similar to ballet. This piece highlights his interest in capturing motion and emotion in still images.

He explores darker themes as well, like in a creepy character design based on Sonic’s Lord X. By altering facial features, like adding an extra eye, he creates an eerie, unsettling feeling. This interest in facial distortion appears in other works too, showing his fascination with shape and emotional reaction. Another untitled piece references Genshin Impact’s character Arlecchino, with an x-shaped eye and a paw print, symbolizing his love for dogs. He even includes the character's sister’s handwriting and paint splashes for added eyecatching-ness and personal meaning.

While the artist was doing a commission he made another piece inspired by media. A cutie mark design, from the show My Little Pony, for an astronomy fan. It features two intersecting comets and three stars requested by the client. Simple but effective, the design proves he can create art for others while still keeping his style. 

His color theory assignment, inspired by the Underverse series, shows an alternate version of Sans using only two complementary colors. The image feels abstract, like an inkblot test, and demonstrates his understanding of color relationships and emotional contrast.

Overall, Christopher’s art is full of symbolism, emotion, and his own personal voice. He is comfortable using his own original characters, making fan art, and doing commissions. Whether exploring social themes, experimenting with style, or just expressing himself, his work shows clear thought and artistic growth. His unique approach to pixel art and character design makes him a creative and versatile artist.