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. 

 

Cytology

Expressive Cells

 

These layered, paper relief sculptures were created in response to a set of cytology images I received from my pet’s vet. The images were both beautiful and distressing as they showed potentially cancerous cells and tissue major death. Transparent cellular images are layered with opaque ones to give a sense of depth and evoke the vibrant beauty that is often visible underneath the microscope.

 

 

Cytology

Expressive Cells

 

These layered, paper relief sculptures were created in response to a set of cytology images I received from my pet’s vet. The images were both beautiful and distressing as they showed potentially cancerous cells and tissue major death. Transparent cellular images are layered with opaque ones to give a sense of depth and evoke the vibrant beauty that is often visible underneath the microscope.

 

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