Illustrator Carl Wiens loves to draw robots. Finding inspiration in the mechanics of the world around him and understanding how things are put together is a big part of his art. When not busy with commercial work or teaching college courses Carl takes the time to fill sketch books (digital and otherwise) with robot creations and mechanical faces.
A collector of dusty old science textbooks, hardware catalogues and technical journals Carl has no shortage of visual information to fire his imagination. Odds and sods, nuts and bolts are configured in new and surprising ways. Human-like traits and expressions come to life from the rearrangement of seemingly leftover bits of scrap metal or discarded machinery. A matching set of dials become eyes, noses emerge from buttons and gauges, a mad scientist is at play!
It’s a great day when Carl’s fortunate enough to incorporate one of his mechanical illustrations into a commissioned piece. The piece above was commissioned by The Kingston Accommodation Partners to highlight the Electric Circuits music festival.
One of the many works commissioned by Signal Brewing Company. The central illustration above was also featured in the recent book by TIME, The Science of Creativity.
"Tipping Point" A response to the 2016 election and subsequent consequences. Recipient of an award of merit in the 3x3 Annual.
Featured in Lurzers Illustration Annual 2018.
Cover illustration for the magazine Global Brief issue about economic crisis.
‘Disruptor’, speaks to the way that machine learning and AI is re-ordering and interfering with our lives.
"Mechanisms no. 97: Jumbo', a playful experiment in a 100 part series.
Poster featuring all unique droids created from the same mechanical tidbits rearranged into different configurations.
View more of Carl Wiens' illustration. Represented by i2i Art Inc.