illustration Friday: Messenger

"I try to be a truthful artist and I try to show a level of courage. I enjoy that. I'm a messenger." 

~ Jeff Koons

Messenger - sketched by hand using black felt tip pen then scanned onto Mac and coloured in Photoshop. The painting on the easel is actually an abstract painting I did a few years ago. I collaged it into this illo because it was a very expressive piece which captured what I was feeling at that time (only I know its truth...)

Its true - my art is a personal truth, not always obvious, but none the less, always visually saying something about me and how I feel, even if the viewer is unaware. Sometimes when I have something to say or express, something that is too personal or scary to be verbalised with words, I can get it out there by recreating it visually, allowing the feelings and message to be expressed as part of my art. It takes courage to be truly honest - I portray this fear of exposing oneself as standing naked with only my artwork exposed. I think when we connect to a piece of art that we are viewing, then we have truly understood the message the artist was sending. Indirectly or directly, artists are great messengers...