I started making these odd creatures about 18 years ago and since then they have had many different iterations. Their development is not something I ever planned. I don't even remember how they started and if you asked me what kind of art I create, I would never include illustration as art form I employ, but here they are - my weird drawn characters - insisting to make themselves seen. So, I thought I would dive into how they are created and why, I think, so many people are intrigued by them.
I do think the expression of emotion is a huge part of the creation of art and the appreciation of art. I have heard people say that they would rather not own art that evokes emotion but then I am quite sure that what they hang on their walls is just color and not art.
For me, the art I am drawn to always evokes some kind of emotion. More often than not, I am unable to put those emotions into words, but usually it is something that makes me think, surprises me, makes me laugh or I feel amazed. I like art that I haven't seen before.
When I sit down to create these characters, I never have a plan in mind. I draw out the face quite quickly with pencil and right away I can see what she wants to say. I draw over the pencil with a thin ink pen and then fill in the eyes and mouth with paint. Watercolor paint creates the best expression in the eyes but sometimes I like to use acrylic paint - they eyes get a more flat look, but this can also be interesting. The longer I create art, the more I realize I get bored of doing the same thing over and over again, so these characters always come out differently. Sometimes I add a lot of collage elements and other times, I keep things more simple with a more monochrome background allowing the character to take more center stage.
I often add text to these works and this often pulls all the elements together. The words and phrases I choose can come from the books I read, a film, things people have said that have made an impact. I even found a phrase from a old letter my grandfather had written to his family in the 50's.
These little creatures of mine hang in children's rooms, kitchens, living rooms and offices. They are purchased as gifts for christenings and name days, birthdays and even just as little reminders for a personal space.
Contact me if you would like to commission a piece.
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