I grew up on folk tales, campfire stories, and fantasy novels. For the longest time I was fascinated with surrealism and their ability to impose the bizarre on the mundane. After that I fell in love with the post-impressionist movements such as futurism, expressionism, sublime landscapes and eventually 19th century fantasy illustration. So much of my work harkens back to the block prints and soft watercolors of that era.
I’m Mohawk, raised in Syracuse, New York. I graduated with a BFA from SUNY Oswego and have practiced my discipline for 7 years. My philosophy initially piggy-backs off of the Escapism philosophies I saw in art after World War I with the modernization of cities and rural countryside. Today I frame my philosophy from a lens of isolation, solitude, and a yearning for the vast horizon, to tell compelling visual narratives that can be lacking in today’s oversaturated market.
I hope that by making art I can pull my viewers back to those common memories of folk tales told by the campfire, the rush of reading a new book, and the awe of standing high above watching the world turn.
For the Small Works show at Main Street Arts you’ll see a stunning B&W illustration of a colossal figure in black and a contrasting small white silhouette. This illustration is titled “Surmountable”. I created it in 2017 as a way to express frustration at what the future would hold. How daunting it all seemed and how we have to stand against oppressive odds. It’s such a simple illustration that lends itself to many interpretations.
If you like my work and want to see more then visit my portfolio on Behance or follow me on instagram @Eldritch_Illustrations. Currently I am working on a coloring book geared towards adults in a Black and White Art Nouveau style.
Small Works 2022Â includes 200 works of art by 200 artists from 32 states and runs through Friday, December 23, 2022.
