"Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life." - Norman Rockwell
I’ve always wavered between a need to paint realistic portraits on canvas and a desire to create illustrations for book covers, stories and graphic novels. For some reason, art critics want artists to focus on one “type” of art or the other; gallery or graphic design/illustration.
I suspect this is to make their jobs easier, not for the betterment of Art in general. After all, any type of art can be reproduced in print or on the web these days so the lines are blurred between what is strictly for galleries and what is for illustration. I’ve seen Rembrandt's work used as illustration and Rockwell paintings hanging in fine art museums.
I’m going to make the brash assumption that Art is Art. What is most important is the degree of skill and technique that is honed to the best use by the artist.
I love painting the human form and human faces. I love nature, light and color. I love oil paint and the deep, time-consuming hours I spend in front of a canvas. I also love the stark contrast of pen and ink and the warm fluidity of watercolor paint. I love spending hours stippling, cross-hatching and shading. For me, having the ability to use a variety of tools well is strength, not weakness. I want my style, quality and dedication to show, regardless of my medium. That is what makes it Art.
And so, without further ado, here are some examples of my illustration work...
Teardrop, watercolor on paper:
Resurrection Mary, pen & ink on paper:
Fanatic, a futuristic rebel character...a bit steampunk and wild:
Victoria Gloriana, inspired by Neil Gaiman's excellent Sherlock Holmes pastiche, "A Study in Emerald":
