About the Artist
Hello! My name is Cheyenne Knehans and I am a freelance artist who enjoys illustrating the characteristics of stories. After completing undergraduate degrees in theatre arts and studio arts, I have worked in gallery curation and professional theatre as a scenic charge artist and properties master. These professional experiences provided me with insight on how to effectively deliver an artistic vision while establishing strong project management and leadership skills.
After acquiring my MFA from CalArts, I have explored careers in visual development within animation and themed entertainment. Having a strong background in color theory and art history, I inspire to bring stories to life through the use of character design, environmental design, and prop design. I hope to one day work on creating a story that relates to an audience and motivates them to go after their own passions, just as many animated stories have done for me.
CV
Professional Experience
Producer California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Drag Ball: The Queerest Wrestling Event April 2023
Scenic Designer Coffeehouse Theaters Santa Clarita, California
Pretty Filthy: The Musical April 2023
Assistant Scenic Painter California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Men on Boats January 2023
Background Designer Awesome + Modest Animation Los Angeles, California
Unannounced Hulu Documentary November 2022
Creative Producer/Director Personal Project Los Angeles, California
Medusa May 2022
Character Designer Freelance Valencia, California
Sovereignty of the Body: A Card Deck February 2022
Colorist Freelance Valencia, California
Unannounced Alex Rohr Development February 2022
Production Designer California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Cucumbers and Commitment March 2022
Visual Specialist National Willa Cather Center Red Cloud, Nebraska
November 2020-Current
Art Director California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Beyond the Veil: Murder Mystery Train Immersion May 2021
Substitute Teacher Various Public Schools Various Locations in Nebraska
High/Middle/Elementary Art August 2020-May 2021
Concept Artist Freelance Los Angeles, California
Battle Born March 2021
Assistant Scenic Painter California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Men on Boats January 2023
Background Designer Awesome + Modest Animation Los Angeles, California
Unannounced Hulu Documentary November 2022
Production Assistant University of Southern California West Hollywood, California
A Distant Land February 2022
Character Designer Freelance Valencia, California
Sovereignty of the Body: A Card Deck February 2022
Colorist Freelance Valencia, California
Unannounced Alex Rohr Development February 2022
Production Designer California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Cucumbers and Commitment March 2022
Visual Specialist National Willa Cather Center Red Cloud, Nebraska
November 2020-Current
Art Director California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Beyond the Veil: Murder Mystery Train Immersion May 2021
Substitute Teacher Various Public Schools Various Locations in Nebraska
High/Middle/Elementary Art August 2020-May 2021
Art Production Assistant American Film Institute Los Angeles, California
Like Us January 2020
Scenic Artist California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Uncle Vanya March 2020
Oedipus February 2020
Machinal December 2019
King Lear November 2019
Assistant Scenic Artist Disney Burbank, California
The Little Mermaid Live! November 2019
Charge Artist/Properties Master Seven Angels Theatre Waterbury, Connecticut
The Who's Tommy April 2019
Tom Sawyer April 2019
First Date March 2019
George and Gracie: Pt II February 2019
The Bikinis January 2019
Earlene's Diner December 2018
Goldilocks & the Three Bears November 2018
Ripcord November 2018
Altar Boyz October 2018
Charge Artist Hastings Community Theatre Hastings, Nebraska
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum August 2018
Carpenter/Painter/Properties Theatre West Summer Repertory Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Aladdin: Kids! July 2017
The Secret Garden July 2017
Lucky Me June 2017
Always, Patsy Cline June 2017
Carpenter/Painter Hastings Summerstage Hastings, Nebraska
No Mother to Guide Her June 2016
Old Nebraska Home June 2016
Carpenter/Properties/Charge Artist/Director Scott Studio Theatre Hastings, Nebraska
The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild April 2018
Broken Hearts/Poison March 2018
Pirates of Penzance January 2018
Z To A: An Alphabet Journey December 2017
Love/Sick October 2017
Eurydice April 2017
Glimmer: The ELF! December 2016
The Madwoman of Chaillot September 2016
Crimes of the Heart April 2016
Monty Python's: Spamalot January 2016
Miss Electricity December 2015
Dinny and the Witches October 2015
Harvey April 2015
Art Production Assistant American Film Institute Los Angeles, California
Like Us January 2020
Scenic Artist California Institute of the Arts Santa Clarita, California
Uncle Vanya March 2020
Oedipus February 2020
Machinal December 2019
King Lear November 2019
Assistant Scenic Artist Disney Burbank, California
The Little Mermaid Live! November 2019
Charge Artist/Properties Master Seven Angels Theatre Waterbury, Connecticut
The Who's Tommy April 2019
Tom Sawyer April 2019
First Date March 2019
George and Gracie: Pt II February 2019
The Bikinis January 2019
Earlene's Diner December 2018
Goldilocks & the Three Bears November 2018
Ripcord November 2018
Altar Boyz October 2018
Charge Artist Hastings Community Theatre Hastings, Nebraska
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum August 2018
Carpenter/Painter/Properties Theatre West Summer Repertory Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Aladdin: Kids! July 2017
The Secret Garden July 2017
Lucky Me June 2017
Always, Patsy Cline June 2017
Carpenter/Painter Hastings Summerstage Hastings, Nebraska
No Mother to Guide Her June 2016
Old Nebraska Home June 2016
Carpenter/Properties/Charge Artist/Director Scott Studio Theatre Hastings, Nebraska
The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild April 2018
Broken Hearts/Poison March 2018
Pirates of Penzance January 2018
Z To A: An Alphabet Journey December 2017
Love/Sick October 2017
Eurydice April 2017
Glimmer: The ELF! December 2016
The Madwoman of Chaillot September 2016
Crimes of the Heart April 2016
Monty Python's: Spamalot January 2016
Miss Electricity December 2015
Dinny and the Witches October 2015
Harvey April 2015
2019 Exhibitions
Featured Artist/Surrounding Soul, On the Brix, Red Cloud, Nebraska
2018 Exhibitions
10 x 10, View Gallery, Old Forge, New York
Reality, Invitational, Kaneko, Omaha, Nebraska
15th CINCF Student Art Show, O’Keefe Elevator Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
Artistic Perception: Paroxysm, Senior Thesis, Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, Hastings, Nebraska
Student Exhibition, Juried Group Show, Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, Hastings, Nebraska
Nebraska
2017 Exhibitions
50th Annual President’s Show: Gold, WNAC Gallery, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
The Walls Have Eyes, Junior Thesis, Kiewit Gallery, Hastings, Nebraska
Recent Work, Scott Studio House Gallery, Hastings, Nebraska
2016 Exhibitions
Student Exhibition, Juried Group Show, Kiewit Gallery, Hastings, Nebraska
Recent Work, Scott Studio House Gallery, Hastings, Nebraska
2015 Exhibitions
Recent Work, Scott Studio House Gallery, Hastings, Nebraska
Publications
2018 Spectrum Magazine 2018: Spring Edition
Figure of Speech Online Exhibition, SquidInk Art Gallery
Awards
2018 Player of the Year, Hastings College Scott Studio Theatre High Honor Award
Outstanding Achievement in Art, Hastings College Senior Award
2017 Alpha Psi Omega Hal Shiffler Merit Scholarship, Theta Psi Chapter, Hastings College
2016 Alpha Psi Omega Hal Shiffler Merit Scholarship, Theta Psi Chapter, Hastings College
Alpha Psi Omega Purple Mask, Theta Psi Chapter, Hastings College
2015 Alpha Psi Omega Red Mask, Theta Psi Chapter, Hastings College
Education
2022 California Institute of the Arts MFA in Scene Design: Applied Arts Valencia, California
2018 Hastings College BA in Theatre Arts and Studio Arts (High Distinction) Hastings, Nebraska
Minor in Art History and Digital Media