movies and television were another influence, in particular Star Wars, Robotech, and Mtv. In college, Soto discovered and was inspired by artists such as Max Ernst, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Amedeo Modigliani, Van Gogh and Paul Cadmus. More recent influences include Soto's contemporaries- Dave Cooper, David Choe, Mario “Mars1” Martinez, the Clayton Brothers and Camille Rose Garcia. Work Graffiti In 1989 Soto found a book while looking through the Riverside Downtown Library's art section called Street Art. The book showcased early illegal art in New York as well as hip hop based subway graffiti of the 1970s. Inspired by this book, he began stenciling his “Sotofish” design on walls and signs. The following year he and a friend created a graffiti crew called CIA (Criminally Insane Artists) which attracted several other writers from their high school. Soto adapted the moniker of “KILO”, "TREK" as well as “Sotofish” and started to tag, bomb and piece. In 1991 he met the artist Maxx242 and they began painting together. In 1995 they formed Bashers Crew which included members from Riverside, Los Angeles and Long Beach. In 1999 Soto took a break from all aerosol painting, citing health reasons, boredom with the limitations of the spray can and conflict among graffiti writers. Ten years later in London, Soto visited artists D*Face and Word To Mother. Seeing their work in person inspired Soto to begin painting on walls again. Since then, Soto has reconnected with his graffiti roots and painted murals in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Miami, London and Paris. In 2010 he participated in the Underbelly Project, an illegal art gallery beneath the city of New York. In 2011 he completed his largest wall painting to date- "Les Chat Terrible" in Lyon, France. Soto claims he is not a graffiti writer or street artist, rather he calls himself “a muralist with an occasional urge to do some graf”. Illustration In 2002, Soto began working as a freelance illustrator specializing in editorial work. Some of his clients include Entertainment Weekly, Sony Music, Rockstar Games, Saatchi & Saatchi, United Airlines and Disney. His work has adorned magazines, books, albums, and advertisements. Soto created illustrations to be the album art of releases by two post-hardcore bands; Finch's Say Hello To Sunshine in 2005 and Halifax's The Inevitability of a Strange World in 2006. In 2010, Soto began creating gig posters for various bands including Pearl Jam,