Featured Artist Jennifer Hawkyard

With nature as her inspiration, artist Jennifer Hawkyard creates colorful drawings and digital images. Enjoy her portfolio and see more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

After growing up in Northern England, I decided to study Graphic Design abroad in Canada to pursue an interest in the arts as well as travel. It was a practical choice, as at the time I felt I couldn’t make a living on my artwork alone.

 

 

I lived there for 11 years working professionally as a graphic designer and art director before finally making the leap and returning to England to pursue my career in fine art full time. I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, and my work spans a broad range of media and subject matter.

 

 

I’m drawn towards natural forms, bright colours and whimsical or mythical characters. Nature is my biggest inspiration and I try and spend as much time as possible outdoors where I can catch ideas on the wind.

 

 

My latest ongoing project, The Totem Project, has been a great way to explore the natural world and the creatures and critters that live with us on earth. I love capturing the essence of the animal whilst also working with unusual colours and textures on the black background.

 

 

These pieces are created with coloured pencil, layering colours down on each other and playing with textures and pattern before finishing with metallic acrylics to add an extra level of sparkle and dimension. This makes for a unique experience that has an almost fabric or tapestry like quality. I particularly enjoy working with people to create a unique interpretation of their Spirit Animal or Animal Totem.

 

 

I also hope that my work has an important message to convey that we are not the only inhabitants of this planet and there are many stunning creatures that need our protection and guardianship.

 

 

In addition to exploring the traditional mediums, I also enjoy working in the digital medium where experimentation and happenstance plays a large part of my creative process. Over time, I hope to create a children’s book filled with vivid and bright imagery that may inspire other children to pick up a pencil and draw.

 

Jennifer Hawkyard invites you to follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

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