Authors and Artists

Alice Absolutely

Alice Absolutely is a third-generation Floridian with a deep love for the swamps, springs, and storytelling traditions of her home state. Her creative life weaves through the wild and the whimsical—whether capturing Florida’s quiet beauty through the lens of her camera or carving bold, textured paintwork.

Alice’s paint carvings have been exhibited across Central and South Florida, and her art is known for blending natural history with imaginative expression. As both an artist and writer, she is passionate about preserving the stories, landscapes, and creatures that make Florida unique.

Her second book, Florida Field Guide Volume 1, is currently under contract with Hane Lake Press for a Winter 2026 publication date. Her first book, illustrated by Kostar, Where The Florida Things Live, was released in December of 2025.

www.aliceabsolutely.com

@aliceabsolutely on social medias

Ron Bell

Ron Bell is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, tattooer, and muralist whose work centers on bold visual storytelling and the simple goal of creating happiness for others. Working across tattoos, murals, hand-painted signage, and original artwork, his practice reflects a love of craftsmanship, color, and expressive design. Bell’s work often blends traditional techniques with contemporary energy, resulting in pieces that feel both personal and visually striking.

Based in Central Florida, Bell is known for his hands-on, community-driven approach to art. His creative output emphasizes connection and joy, whether through large-scale public work or intimate custom designs. More than just visual impact, his art reflects a playful confidence and a genuine passion for making meaningful, engaging work that resonates with people. Ron's book, The Reasons For The Seasons is planned for release in November of 2026.

www.ronbellart.square.site

(@ronbellart on social medias)

Hiroshi

Hiroshi (also known as Chef Ron) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in storytelling, nature, and hands-on craftsmanship. Working across watercolor, acrylic, oil, wood, and metal, he creates pieces that honor the materials themselves: often incorporating fallen wood, reclaimed metal, and found objects into jewelry, sculpture, and functional art. His creative practice is intuitive and expressive, guided by movement, texture, and emotion rather than strict realism. Hiroshi is also a co-author of Clown Paint and Gator Bait with Amanda McCallister to be released in the Fall of 2026.

Beyond the studio, Hiroshi is the creator behind Oshi Lures and Himes Treasures, blending art, design, and the natural world into objects meant to be used, worn, and experienced. His creative sensibility extends into the culinary realm as well, where his background as an executive chef informs his approach to composition, balance, and craft through Your Chef’s Table. Across every medium, Hiroshi’s work reflects a deep respect for process, place, and the beauty found in making things by hand.

Kostar

Kostar (Brian Kostar) is a self-taught artist known for his "Art for the Beautifully Weird," a captivating blend of familiar imagery, clever puns, pop culture references, and wordplay. Often, his pieces subtly incorporate Florida wildlife, adding a local touch.

A signature element in every Kostar original painting or drawing is a skull. This isn't just a design choice; it's a nod to the profound influence of Dia de los Muertos on his artistic journey. The vibrant colors of this holiday inspired him to transition from black and white pen and pencil art to the bold, colorful painter he is today. The skull serves as a constant homage to the inspiration that shaped his distinctive style. At its heart, it's a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. In a world often focused on division, recognizing our common ground is more crucial than ever. It's a hopeful message that our similarities can ultimately bring us closer

Kostar has become a thriving presence in the St. Petersburg and Bay Area art scene. He is the illustrative force behind the 2025 release of Where The Florida Things Live with Alice Absolutely. He has been featured in galleries, magazine articles, and live TV interviews. His prints, stickers, and original art can be found in various retail locations throughout Florida or on his website.

www.kostarkustoms.com

(@kostarkustoms on social medias)

Amanda McCallister

Amanda McCallister is a Florida-based writer and photographer whose work explores memory, obsession, and the uneasy beauty of place. Her debut book from 2024, Lake Front: At the Edge of Nature and Nostalgia, blends black-and-white photography with reflective prose to examine Florida’s Chain of Lakes and the emotional landscapes tied to them. Drawing on her background in fine-art photography and a lifelong fascination with Florida’s contradictions—wildness and development, intimacy and danger—McCallister’s fiction carries the same atmospheric intensity and psychological depth, rooted firmly in the landscapes and myths of the state she calls home. Her second book, Clown Paint and Gator Bait, co-authored with Hiroshi is set for release in Fall, 2026.

Her writing is shaped by close observation and a deep sense of place, often lingering in the quiet spaces where beauty and menace coexist. McCallister lives and works in Central Florida, where the state’s heat, history, and uneasy allure continue to inform her stories, blending lyrical restraint with a slow-building psychological edge.

www.amandamccallister.com

(@amanda.mccallister.photography on social medias)