Growing up I loved to create colorful mixed-media pieces; I would watercolor a portrait and then go in with gel pens, cut pieces of paper, paint, glitter, etc to "spice it up". When I entered my profession as a motion designer and illustrator, I found myself using digital tools over traditional ones for clients, and that gradually trickled into my personal work where I adopted my own digital style.
I began to miss the collage and textured aspect of traditional mixed media but I wanted to continue my passion for digital work, so I came up with an idea inspired by the traditional trompe l'oeil works of art, "faux mixed media", where I digitally paint assets to look as if they are physical objects and arrange them on top of a digitally painted portrait.
Created in Procreate.
"MAGGOT"
Black Version
Purple Version
This faux mixed-media piece presented to you features the late drummer Joey Joridson from the nu-metal band Slipknot, who affectionately called their fans "maggots". Besides Joridson being an inspiration of mine, I chose to paint him because the clash between the cute (faux!) felt maggots and the (also faux!) fridge magnets I found rather, to be quite frank, funny. The contrast between a brooding-looking person and cute collage assets is very interesting and appealing to me.
Joey Joridson Digital Painting
Felt Maggots Digital Painting
Seperated Bits N' Bobs
"NAOMI FRANK"
"Naomi Frank" is inspired by the beautiful drag queen Naomi Smalls and the iconic and colorful Lisa Frank brand. I also drew inspiration from Decora fashion and the toy brand Monchhichi. I love working with color and wanted to celebrate the rainbow!
Timelapse
And much more to come!
