What could be more fun than a soirée Parisian style? Katy Dockrill's whimsical illustration style will help you set the stage perfectly. Designer Timothy Siciliano of Party Partners, asked Katy to create the Let's Celebrate mini cake decorating set to add to the already successful Make a Wish and Queen for a Day party kits.
Want to see more? Visit Katy Dockrill's portfolio.
"To Do or Not To Do" was the inspiration for this cover illustration by Carl Wiens for Global Brief magazine, art directed by Louis Fishauf of Fishauf Design. Carl's illustration perfectly captures the complexity and confusion in the discussion of action vs. inaction when it comes to international crises.
In the same issue Carl was asked to create another powerful piece for the article, "Man and His Economic-Financial Crises." The lowly repairman about to ascend into this massive machine again punctuates the enormity of the issue outlined.
In both pieces, intricate symbolism in the machinery and compasses, a signature of Carl's work, form bold, undeniable visual statements and tell the story in an instant.
See more of Carl Wiens' conceptual illustration. Represented by i2i Art Inc.
Greg Stevenson recently showcased his vector-based line drawing in a feature for Avenue Magazine, art directed by Venessa Brewer. The article on Calgary's growing communities gave Greg the opportunity to capture family fun along with city and streetscapes. Greg's continuous line art, intermingled with photography captures the expression and movement of Calgary perfectly.
Tim Zeltner has now created two incredible covers with art director Lynne Menturweck at Llewellyn Worldwide. Tim’s whimsical illustrations, handpainted on wood, set just the right tone for these novels by Loretta Ross. Let the detail in these beautiful illustrations draw you into the mystery that unfolds within the pages.
Death and the Redheaded Woman, Ross’ debut, can be enjoyed now and Death and the Brewmaster’s Widow is available for pre-order.
Katy Dockrill creates a masterpiece of true Canadian style for the first issue of The Canadianist. Katy's 'perfectly Canadiana' assemblage is one of five gorgeous letterpress prints found in this collection. Her wholly original image evokes the best that Canada has to offer: from rodeos to ice skating, from the first weekend up at the cottage to those crisp winter days when only a fur-lined parka will do.
The Canadianist: Issue 1 is available now. 5, 8" x 10" prints, in black, red 032 and silver foil.
This collection includes the equally charming and beautiful work of Tom Froese (Foodstuffs), Andrew Kolb (Inventions), Jeannie Phan (Flora and Fauna) and Ben Weeks (Colloquialisms).
Janice Kun's latest illustrations for Reader's Digest were a big hit and so we asked Janice to tell us, in her own words, why this assignment was so successful.
"It was a pleasure working again with Annelise Dekker, Art Director for Reader's Digest. As always, she provided clear and detailed direction, and her keen sense for pulling out the perfect combination of my mixed media skills really helped me stretch in this particular project.
For these illustrations, I was asked to take a simple approach, but with a boost in color, and a lighter tone. It was a bit challenging at first to work this way– blending simple line drawings with more fleshed-out painted elements, thrown into colorful planes– as it was counter-intuitive to my usual complex digital layering and subtle palette. In the end, this project really opened my eyes to a new way of adding clean lines, bold colors and a refreshing sense of minimalism to my work."
The article "An Uncomplicated Love", written by Elizabeth Abbott tells the story of our bond with dogs.
An Uncomplicated Love, Joey the Bulldog
Therapy Dog
Man's Best Friend
Janice Kun has been busy creating. Check out Janice's updated portfolio.
In this summer’s issue TroDent magazine tells the stories of some of their military alumni in the featured “The Military Dentists.” Art director John Hobbs wanted a cover illustration that really captured these special individuals sense of duty and pride. Gary Alphonso used a very classic retro style of illustration to create a powerful cover that evokes our patriotism and reverence for the individuals that serve in our armed forces.
Nothing better than catching some live music at the local pub, right? Greg Stevenson has been a regular at Scallywags for quite some time and over the years he’s been responsible for a lot of their terrific poster art. The assignment to brand and help promote their new Open Mic Night was right up Greg’s alley.
Greg used his signature hand-drawn lineart with plenty of color and texture when he designed and illustrated this poster series. Greg’s unique way of contextualizing photos perfectly captures what we know will be a good time.
Check out more of Greg’s illustration work. Represented by i2i Art Inc.
Illustrator Katy Dockrill had the opportunity to contribute again recently to SHE Magazine, published by the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
For this poignant piece on the struggles women still face Katy used the symbol of the quilters. The visual is perfectly paired with a quote by Rosemary Brown, pioneer of 20th century Canadian politics, who devoted her life to the cause of justice and equality for women and minorities.
See more of Katy’s inspired illustration. Represented by i2i Art Inc.
A versatile artist with lots of clever and curious ideas, gives us a glimpse into the world of his art. Introducing illustrator, Carl Wiens, represented by i2i Art.
This self-portrait titled, Work and Play, is a tribute to the life of an illustrator – chasing deadlines and relaxing with a pint at the end of the day. Image created for a group show at the Land Gallery in Portland.
i2i Art: How long have you been illustrating for a living?
Carl Wiens: I’ve been drawing pictures for as long as I can remember. I started illustrating full time 26 years ago. That sounds like a long time, but my work has evolved an grown over the years. Even after all this time I am always looking for new directions and sources of inspiration.
This signature piece is titled, The Dragonfly Effect: How to use social media for social good. Cover image for the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
i2i Art: Describe a dream assignment?
Carl Wiens: It’s hard to pick a favourite; I work on so many different projects. I like to get involved with a series of images or dive into a book project.
A couple of years ago, I was contacted by publisher Brian Kaufman, and offered the chance to illustrate an entire issue of a magazine, cover-to-cover. SubTerrain is a Canadian arts and literary review, offering short stories, poetry and art. Its tagline is ‘Strong Words for a Polite Nation’. I haven’t had the chance to work illustrate fiction and poetry very often. I reviewed the articles, scribbling down the images springing to mind. I wanted to create strong images to go with the words.
Working on this project was like a night at a gourmet restaurant. One tasty dish after another, each with a different flavour. The work I did for the magazine was recognized by The Society of Illustrators and published in their annual, Luerzer’s 200 Best Illustrators and won a gold medal from the Western Canadian Magazine Awards. Here’s my favourite piece, for a short story by Lee Kvern called ‘Detachment’.
i2i Art: What would be an illustration assignment that you’d love to land?
Carl Wiens: I would love to work on a book project, illustrating a novel or developing visuals of characters and settings for a fictional novel. I have done some fantastic cover assignments for Tor.com and worked with writers like John Scalzi, Rudy Rucker and Bruce Sterling. If I could find the right vehicle, I would love to see my Mecanismos characters developed into a book, animation or app.
Loco – Cover image for a Science Fiction short story, involving organic memory storage, scientists and exploding heads – for Tor.com
i2i Art: What personal interests have most affected the direction you’ve taken with your art?
Carl Wiens: When I started out in the business, I was interested in whimsical illustrations and cartoons. My work matured as I moved through my career, and I was able to add more depth and conceptual strength, expanding into serious subject matter and op-ed illustrations. At a certain point I returned to the subjects that have inspired me throughout my life and decided to focus on nature, science and collage. I alsogot back to producing prints and creating art for gallery shows. That focus has driven my work to new levels and allowed me to establish new assignment work along with greater creative satisfaction.
I like the idea of an eccentric scientist, creating experiments in the lab, as a model for my creations. I think that sense of curiosity and playfulness still informs what I do.
Title: Wavelength – Illustration for NPR calendar – these are the little beings that live inside your radio.
i2i Art: How do you get started with a creative brief for an assignment?
Carl Wiens: It is critical to sit down with paper and pencil and allow things to flow. Sometimes the act of drawing can bring to mind associations and concepts that lead to a series of visuals that solve a problem or arrive at an image that never would have presented itself. I also have an extensive library of old ephemera, encyclopedias and reference books that I can pour through to get inspired. I collect a lot of obscure manuals, vintage textbooks and other sources of odd and unconventional ideas.
i2i Art: Tell us a bit about your process?
Carl Wiens: I work primarily in Illustrator. I know my work doesn’t necessarily look as though it’s vector-based, but it is how I developed my technique and prefer to work with. Vector illustrations give me the flexibility to edit and experiment with colour and balance. I also like the way that the final illustrations can be scaled up or down without compromising detail and resolution.
I always start with pencil sketches and usually present initial concepts as such. I fill in the details once sketches are approved. I ink the drawings, scan them, then vectorize the linework. I can add in other elements from my large collection of vectorized vintage objects and textures. The mechanical elements in my illustrations come from my archives. I spend a lot of time balancing the elements and getting them to work together as a whole. So yes, the finished pieces are often a hybrid of traditional and digital work. I don’t want the pieces to look to digital, unless I am working on small icons or on a quick-turnaround assignment.
i2i Art: You created this illustration for the Work/Life series published by Uppercase. Tell us about this image?
I worked in construction and have done a lot of hands-on labour over the years. I bring a workman-like approach to the things i do. It’s important to understand process, and how to build and image, to plan things out and bring all of the elements together to produce the final. I built my last studio in a dusty old barn. I cleaned it out, re-framed the inside, put in the drywall, wiring, windows and trim. When it was finished, I took a lot of pride in what I accomplished It’s important to have a space you feel is your own, where you feel comfortable and can make things happen.
i2i Art: What was the inspiration behind it this image, which you have available as a print?
I love to cycle, so drawing a bicycle and creating a print was a natural fit. I used a pair of old kids’ bikes as a basis for the drawing. I overlapped the images and screen printed them in different colours on a collaged background. There is a faux 3D feeling to the pieces. Remember the feeling of freedom and joy you had as a kid riding a bike? Those memories get fuzzy over time and this piece is meant to evoke that.
i2i Art: Have you ever worked in animation with your art or had a client animate it?
Carl Wiens: I did some character design for Nelvana when I started out in the business. I also helped to develop and design segments for a show called Freaky Stories. My work lends itself well to motion and it is something that I intend to develop. I recently did a test, with a walking cycle for one of my mechanical collages.
See more of Carl Wiens’ work. Represented by i2i Art.
It always pays to be prepared! Owl Magazine, art directed by Jill Monsod, has put together a pretty handy guide to the 'great outdoors' for their Summer issue. i2i Art illustrator Monika Melnychuk knew quite a bit about this topic already, spending much of her leisure time biking through the backwood trails in Whitehorse, Canada.
And Monika's illustrations give a humorous twist on those all too important survival lessons. Have a quick read and smile along the way as Monika's characters show us a thing or two about those great outdoors.
See more of Monika's endearing characters and illustrations. Monika Melnychuk is represented by i2i Art Inc.
Mark Hoffmann, New Hampshire resident and illustrator, knows there is nothing better on a nice summer day than some fresh fish on the waterfront. Chip Allen, art director of The Square Magazine and Meganne Febrega, author of the article "Hit the Decks" knew Mark's folk art style would capture the scene perfectly.
Hit the Decks by Mark Hoffmann
With Mark's distinctive lettering, whimsical imagery and sophisticated color palette used to highlight the premier eateries, you will want to book one more road trip this summer--I certainly did!
See more of Mark Hoffmann's work. Mark is represented by i2i Art Inc.
Food is a favorite subject matter for Clare Owen so when given the opportunity to contribute her illustrative talents Cooking Light's Summer Cookbook Clare was thrilled.
The "Farmer's Market" edition was art directed by Sheri Wilson and showcases three fabulous city markets every foodie should know: Portland's market at PSU, Chicago's Logan Square and Philadelphia's Headhouse market.
Clare's main illustration accompanies an article on "how to shop" and features all the elements you look for in a great farmer's market. Clare's rich color palette and use of texture brings the 'scene' to life. Her contemporary style shows just how hip shopping at the market can be.
Summer Farmers Market illustrated by Clare Owen
What's happening in Chicago, Philly and Portland illustrated by Clare Owen
Hungry for more? View Clare's complete portfolio. Clare Owen is represented by i2i Art Inc.
Amy Sawchenko, art director at apple Magazine recently commissioned Janice Kun to illustrate a six-page feature on summer activities for all ages. Amy definitely wanted to capture the fun and excitement the season brings.
Janice combined photography with her bright and beautiful watercolor backgrounds to create these playful and exciting digital collages.
Janice always strives to create the perfect composition; balancing hand-drawn elements and watercolors with photography and other mixed media. Her photo-illustrations range from somber to evocative to fun.
View Janice Kun's portfolio, represented by i2i Art Inc.
Scott Knudsen, art director for Ensign Magazine, came to Gary Alphonso with a story of faith and sacrifice. Looking at the opening paragraph, the metaphor that inspired these beautiful pieces was clear -- "A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for."
The article, "Faith to leave the harbor" showcases Gary's classic, digitally rendered, scratchboard style and the nautical theme highlights Gary's real ability to capture motion and light in his illustrations.
Will your kids be happy campers this summer? From Spanish immersion to paleontology camp, D Magazine handpicked some of the most exciting options in the Dallas, TX area. All that was needed was a terrific illustration to draw the reader in.
Art director, Jamie Laubhan-Oliver, decided on Mark Hoffmann for the job. Mark let his imagination lead the way, resulting in this playful, folksy piece that is sure to put a smile on your face as you remember those long days of summer past.
Thom Sevalrud had the pleasure of illustrating yet another cover for The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association this past month. Art director Lotte Gronneberg chose the prefect topic for Thom's style.
Thom's piece depicts how technology will change the role of patient care in the years to come. As Thom often does, he gives us the sense of the enormity of these decisions and how very personal they can be.
See more conceptual illustration by Thom Sevalrud. Thom Sevalrud is represented by i2i Art Inc.
When tech collides with the standard way of doing things. Illustrator Dave Murray is often asked to visually interpret this concept. Most recently, art director Tony Delitala of Delitala Design, assigned Dave to illustrate two high tech articles for the Canadian Bar Association's National Magazine.
Dave's strong use of symbolism, conceptual intelligence and graphical style invites the reader to dive into these stories.
Check out more of Dave's work. Represented by i2i Art Inc.
With ever-changing rules and regulations, remodeling you home or office is no picnic. Remodeling Magazine tackled this topic in the feature article "Watch Your Step" for their March 2015 issue.
The design team at Hanley Wood knew a conceptual solution would be best to illustrate the fine line contractors walk between safety and regulations. Illustrator Eric Chow worked closely with them to come up with this clever tightrope analogy.
Looking for a new way to tell your next story? Visit Eric Chow's complete portfolio at i2i Art.
The Wine & Spirits 26th Annual Restaurant Poll is out this month with their famed list of the top 50 wines Americans love most. This year's cover showcases the elite bunch of sommeliers that help make these decisions. The sophisticated playfulness of Monika Melnychuk's illustration style couldn't have been a better choice to capture the group's likeness.
Armed with all the pics art director Michael Rush could get his hands on, Monika meticulously drew each somm's portrait, happily revealing a little (or a lot) of each personality and style.
