Uppercase Magazine #68
Elements of Creativity- Illustrations and text
This watercolor illustration was created for submitting to Uppercase Magazine’s open call for its issue about the Elements of Creativity, celebrating illustration made by human hands and in connection to the elements of fire, earth, air, and water.
In this illustration, I made a bit of a self portrait and incorporated symbols and objects that represented the four elements and aspects of my creative practice and way of being. The swallows represent air and freedom, the plants growing out of the typewriter are earth and its magic. The watercolor jar is water and possibility, and the small ceramic candle holder is the fire of creativity and imagination.
Another of my illustrations from Mountain Wildflower Journey and a photo of my process were selected along with some of my writing in response to questions about why I became and illustrator, and what skills and qualities help make one a good illustrator. You can read a few snippets from my article down below.
……………………………………………………………………
This was my first time ever being published, and I’m very grateful to editor Janine Vangool and the community of Uppercase Magazine for supporting creativity and working creatives.
You can find a copy here
“Making illustrations is an important way for me to process and explore my sensory experiences of the world, along with memories, hopes, dreams, things I read and hear, and questions about everything. I’m neurodivergent and while it can be very overstimulating to notice and intake so much about the world, it also helps me to include small details in my illustrations like different textures, lighting, color hues, movements, feelings, and unexpected connections that others might overlook.”
“I feel illustration is an art form that best explores and creates between the two languages of words and images, and forms deeply dynamic and deeply human, visual stories.”
