Renee's Artist Statement

 

Artist Statement

Renee’s visual development portfolio combines traditional fantasy art and science fiction aesthetics. Her diverse approach to character design and narrative illustration broadens the scope of her audience, inviting them to enjoy the classic of the hero’s journey with the subtleties of self-reflection and philosophy. There is an overarching story that drives the illustrations that Renee creates. Still, the story is based solely on the individual experience, exploring the inner machinations of one’s mind and the challenges one must overcome to reach their final destination. A collection of science fiction, speculative biology, and classic Tolkien fantasy inspires the narratives of Renee’s work. In addition, she bases her more profound philosophy on religion, the human condition, sacrifice, and the Paradox of The Ship of Theseus. From those inspirations, she continues to create work that follows the conventions of the hero’s journey and introspection. Above all, her work is rooted in the importance of friendship and personal growth through adversity.     The Paradox of Theseus challenges its characters from a desolate science fiction universe by placing them in the middle of a Tolkien fantasy setting. Mike Mignola’s narratives inspired the theme of Renee’s portfolio, along with BlindSight by Peter Watts and Humanity Lost by Callum Diggle. In addition, her aesthetic inspirations are based on the likeness of Even Amundson and Jesper Ejsing, artists that continue to inspire the artist’s technique as she progresses her portfolio. By studying the industry of fantasy artists, Renee creates work that appeals to a broader audience that invites fantasy and science fiction fans to explore the worlds she cultivates in her illustrations and think about all the elements incorporated to create the story of the series.     This portfolio begins my ever-growing story that will continue into Renee’s career as an illustrator. In the future, she aspires to join a creative team that aids in developing more extraordinary projects for publication and media. She plans to broaden her portfolio into a world-building project that could branch into intricate storylines yet to be explored. In the meantime, her work aims to invoke emotion in her viewers by exploring the stylistically rendered world of her narratives and the underlying philosophies behind each character she creates. The portfolio accomplishes to show the exponential growth of the artists throughout its development. Her work captivates viewers with bold colors and invites them to read the story and think about the connections of technology, the human condition, and personal reflection. PRESENTATION