Fantastical illustrations-particularly of nature-is something we value in the artists we have featured over the years. Nature itself is awe inspiring, and when an artist can playfully create work that honors and highlights the strangeness and subtleties of the natural world, it encourages us to be more intentional in how we perceive it. Canadian illustrator Steve McDonald is a true genius in this realm.
“For us illustrators the ideas, the story, subjects, message, and delivery will all become much more important as high-end rendering and style libraries become available to everyone.”
McDonald creates digital mixed media images using AI rendering to remix his own work, adding collage, painting, filters and further rendering in a style known as “escapist fantastical realism.” His playful and mastered use of AI rendering platforms and diffusion modeling tools proves that these highly criticized tools can be used in very unique and powerful ways. McDonald is blazing a path to share, inform, and instruct creative communities about new AI generative image crafting tools and the importance of using the technology respectfully and ethically.
Check out his recent exhibition at the Riverdale Hub Gallery in Toronto, where you can purchase large scale framed works.
If you’d like to treat yourself to some fun creative play, pick up on of his internationally best selling coloring books published by Chronical. The series includes numerous books offering “mind-bending labyrinthine architectural illustrations for still deeper meditative coloring adventures and imaginative flights of fancy.”
As with all our featured artists, we offer 25% off any custom framing for prints and work purchased directly from the artist.
Steffen’s work includes themes of sustainability, culture, and education, images that provoke activism and social consciousness within the playful creativity of his bold, colorful illustrations. The powerful, yet witty messaging in his ‘Same Thoughts’ campaign brought him international recognition, each image commenting on common and relatable issues faced by modern society. You can read more about it on pg 54 of the UN Today magazine.
Lizzy’s work is inspired “by a childhood spent reading fairytales and sci-fi books, building forts, and playing in the woods.“ Her ink and watercolor prints are filled with whimsical details that evoke feelings of childhood curiosity and exploration.
A featured artist from August and September of 2023. Lizzy’s work is inspired “by a childhood spent reading fairytales and sci-fi books, building forts, and playing in the woods.” Her ink and watercolor prints are filled with whimsical details and evoke feelings of childhood curiously and exploration.
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