MIXED MEDIA | ILLUSTRATION

ILLUSTRATION TELLS STORIES. In its most familiar format it includes painting or drawing to illuminate a text – often in a book, magazine, or other published work. However, illustration is not necessarily two-dimensional. I consider my mixed media work illustration because I am using these images to amplify and express concrete ideas, stories, and personal writings (even when they don’t accompany the work). The line between “fine art” and “illustration” is a blurry one, and the two are often distinguished by whether the work is commercially viable or conceptual. However, I feel the term Illustration best describes my work.

CONCEPTUAL STORY TELLING

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ABOUT THE WORK

Animals and plants are the primary characters in many of the stories I want to tell. Animals especially make great subjects – they are easy to use in metaphor and yet people identify and relate with them intimately. Sometimes it seems people are indeed too personal – the natural world beyond humanity gives us a way to talk about ourselves without any human bias. 

I am also deeply fascinated by the microcosm and so medical or scientific imagery often feature in my work.

SKETCHBOOK

My sketchbooks are full of small incomplete drawings or paintings. Many images are lifted from dreams or layered in a steam of consciousness method, others may be drawn from life. My sketchbook includes a mix of graphite, ink, watercolor, and digital exploration. 

 

Illuminated Initials

Watercolor & Gilding

 

This ongoing series of illuminated initials allows me to explore simple concepts and gilding techniques quickly. Keeping the illustrations small allows me to try different substrates, pigments, and gilding sizes without  fear of failure. These watercolor illustrations incorporate various flora and fauna and are each inspired by friends and family members. This body of work is a continuation of previous letterfrom projects such as my small edition book, Luminous.

 

 

Illuminated Initials

Watercolor & Gilding

 

This ongoing series of illuminated initials allows me to explore simple concepts and gilding techniques quickly. Keeping the illustrations small allows me to try different substrates, pigments, and gilding sizes without  fear of failure. These watercolor illustrations incorporate various flora and fauna and are each inspired by friends and family members. This body of work is a continuation of previous letterfrom projects such as my small edition book, Luminous.

 

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