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.
Hipsters: known for ransacking vintage stores, perfecting their beards and gentrifying neighborhoods with their artisanal food stores. It seemed likely they should revitalize some old school hobbies while they are at it. Like bird watching.
This month's Reader's Digest article, "Birders Unite!" written by Julia Zarankin, dives into the phenomena of the bird watching millennials. Needing to combine the tattooed with the wilderness, art director Annelise Dekker picked the perfect artist in Dave Murray.
Caution: These are not your grandfather's illustrations:
Uniquely stylized, award-winning illustration. We invite your to check out more of Dave Murray's illustration.
teNeues has published a lovely new collection of all things Paris. Everyone Loves Paris is edited by the talented Leslie Jonath--who fell in love with Clare Owen's Paris illustrations. Leslie artfully curated this wonderful collection from renowned illustrators around the world. Needless-to-say, Clare (a self proclaimed Francophile) was delighted to contribute her art!
teNeues has this to say about the collection, Everyone Loves Paris includes tributes from over 50 illustrators from around the world. From grand landmarks—such as the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, and the Louvre Pyramid—to the small pleasures of daily life, each image expresses the joys of this marvelous city through the perspective of each artist’s brush...Everyone Loves Paris is a delightful meander that will inspire you to view the City of Light from a new angle and in a multitude of styles."
Feast your eyes on Clare Owen's delightful portfolio.
It's never easy to explain a complex theory, never mind making it an enjoyable experience. When Editor Terry Bullick at apple magazine was tasked with a story about brain development she turned to illustrator Rémy Simard to help her communicate this intricate topic to her readers.
Rémy's fun, lighthearted, comic book style was the perfect way to break this story down into easy to understand concepts. A quick 5 minute read and you too will be an expert on brain development.
Visit Rémy Simard's portfolio for more examples of his unique illustration.
Typically Tim Zeltner paints his illustration on wood, but when the Desert Caballeros Western Museum approached him to paint on a leather boot for the annual Cowgirl Up award, he was up for the challenge! This boot would become the 'glass slipper' to be awarded to a woman who captures the spirit and the lifestyle of the West each year at the popular springtime exhibition.
The 2015 exhibition is opening today. Join the Desert Caballeros Western Museum as they celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Cowgirl Up! As a special offering this year, the museum asked Tim to paint another boot with a 10th Anniversary painted on it! Check back--we'll share more news and pics of the event next week.
Check out Tim Zeltner's entire portfolio.
Janice Kun collaborated with Deirdre Hughes, creative director with Agency59, to create the illustration used for Kathleen Wynne's Government of Ontario Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan. Both an honour and a challenge, the art needed to show the optimism the new Action Plan promises, while at the same time representing the struggle and the work to be done on this important societal problem.
To accomplish all of this, Janice's illustration needed to take a conceptual approach in showing the urgency and the action to be taken on the issue of sexual violence and harassment. Through her unique blend of photography, hand rendering and digital collage, Janice's mixed media illustration set out to do all this.
Below in the main double page spread of the report, three figures work together to reshape a landscape that moves rhythmically from the darkness of an abstracted, geometric background, into one of brighter, bolder colours, and organic shapes. Their dialogue sparks the process of change by writing a new script, painting a new horizon, and cultivating new growth.
The exhibition SEVEN: A Peformative Drawing Project at the Montserrat Gallery was a perfect opportunity for illustrator Mark Hoffmann to spread his creative wings even further. Mark, along with six other artists, put their creative process on display by executing a large mural on one of the gallery's walls in an open studio environment. The mural itself was meant to be the "residue of an artistic performance." We found both the process and the final product pretty spectacular.
We chatted with Mark Hoffmann after the show...
i2i Art: How were you approached with this project?
Mark: Leonie Bradbury (the gallery director at Montserrat College of Art, where I teach) contacted me in the fall to see if I had any interest. They usually try to get one faculty member involved and thought I would be a good fit with the other artists.
i2i Art: Was this your first mural?
Mark: Yes, and it was quite overwhelming.
i2i Art: Tell us about the piece. What was your inspiration?
Mark: I really wanted to paint a giant horse and started to research. Somehow I ended up reading about the early exploration of what would later become the first national park of the U.S., Yellowstone. In my research I found the story of the Cook, Folsom, Peterson expedition to explore and survey the land. I thought this might make a fun image with them, a horse, and geysers. I also had a previous color palette worked out that I wanted to apply to the piece.
i2i Art: What was it like working on that scale?
Mark: Difficult. It's hard to get a sense of the scale until it is right in front of you. I found that I had to stand back and look at it a lot, otherwise I wouldn't take the scale into full consideration.
i2i Art: The gallery was open while you were working on the piece, tell us about the atmosphere.
Mark: As I was working, quite a few folks stopped in to look, but very few chatted with me. They later told me they were afraid to interrupt. I must look deep in thought when I paint. It was nice to have the freedom to paint and explore at that scale and really knock people over with an image.
i2i Art: Do you have any tips, tricks or lessons learned you want to share?
Mark: I realized that some of the techniques I planned to use are hard on that scale and surface. Use a paint with primer in it (I used house paints) so you don't have to apply it twice to get good coverage. Bring plenty of Aleve and Tylenol, the work can be a little back breaking.
http://youtu.be/RNxRIeZmY-Y
On view through March 28, 2015 at the Montserrat Gallery.
Mark Hoffmann offers a playfulness to his americana, folk art style. View Mark's entire portfolio.
Power Down Little Robot, is a very special children's picture book lovingly illustrated by Tim Zeltner and written by Anna Staniszewski. When it's time to power down for the night, Little Robot is not ready and he quickly opens his stalling program. From there, the story is very familiar to avoidance experts everywhere (mombots and dadbots), and told with one fun twist after another. In the end Mom Unit knows how to get him tucked in to his module as he finally powers down.
Sally Doherty, Executive Editor for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, fell in love with Tim Zeltner's art. Power Down, Little Robot is the second picture book she has commissioned him to illustrate. Upon receiving Tim's final art for the book Sally's reaction was, "Wow! You've done it again--you've really knocked us out with your extraordinary vision for this story. I just love everything about what you've done: the colors, the style, the expressions. Fantastic!" Well deserved praise for Tim Zeltner's beautiful hand painted illustrations on wood.
The always enthusiastic Dave Murray jumped at the chance to work with art director Lindsay Maclachlan again on a feature article for Canadian Grocer. Dave often illustrates technological innovations so the brave new world of in-store technology at our local grocer was a perfect match for Dave's style.
