Liv Reinis
Untitled, 2020
Digital media
Dimensions variable
As long as I remember I have been a nerd. Graphic novels, video games, movies, you name it. Growing up with an art-loving family, however, changed the way I interacted with it all. I would gawk at the expressive CGI in Star Wars, and admire the seamless stroke work in my favorite kids comic book, Sardine in Outer Space, by the illustrator Joann Sfar. This piece represents how influential art has been in my childhood, to the point that art has become a defining factor in my recreational life.
Although I love drawing and art, I never pursued it because I lost confidence in my skills. This project allowed me to explore drawing in Photoshop, which I really enjoyed. When making this series I focused on four different artists that made an impact on me in my childhood and their unique art styles. It not only helped guide me through a process I was unfamiliar with, but pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Although this series of work has completely different illustration styles, I wanted to connect them through a common theme: Climate change. We talk about climate change a lot, especially at Crossroads. Still, it feels like no one understands the gravity of the current situation. The fate of the world is in our hands. We have destroyed it, and robbed it of its natural resources, and now we’re paying the price. If humanity wants their offspring to enjoy life, change has to be made. I don’t think this informative series will change the world, but hopefully it inspires people to start making those changes for themselves.
These four pieces take inspiration from artists and designers I admire greatly. The upper left piece is inspired by Nathan P. Wyle’s web-comic series entitled Strange Planet, which you can find on Instagram. The quirky text and color scheme are a staple of his work, and I hope to do them justice. The piece to the top right is based on the design style of Monument Valley, an indie video game that boasts incredible 3D art. What is especially unique about this game is it’s element of optical illusions, which I incorporated into my illustration. On the bottom left piece I decided to go back to my childhood and created two characters using the art style of Mo Willems, author of some of my favorite kids books. On the bottom right, I created a piece inspired by Tove Jansson. Her clean lines and shapes were a lot of fun to work with.
