Artist- Pat Perry

I have one of my course mates to thank for introducing me to Pat Perry. The artist/ illustrator stood out to me when my course mate explained during his presentation, that he travelled and documented this through photography an illustration. 

This is one of the images that really stood out to me during his presentation: 

For the Katmai NPS

This image begun to make me think a little more clearly about what could be achieved with my own topic of mountains. I had very loosely explored this idea of having mountains as part of the head but here we can see a whole range of elements coming in, from surrounding areas, landscape, objects, people, etc. I enjoy that it is all withing the silhouette of a person but the figure still retains its own eyes, perhaps this is because they are important for the other visual aspects, after all without sight, how would the other imagery exist to that person. 

Visually, I love the vibrancy and the detail. He has made it work so that all these elements work together yet you can sell where certain parts separate. All the colours and detail works well against this plane background, with only small amounts of colour that mimic the colours around the eyes.

I visited his website and I fell even more in love. I find his work so exiting and it was thrilling to see that he hadn't just put up his final pieces but has added his journey. I found the area where the Image above came from, "In Alaska". Here he has a collection of findings. He are drawings, photographs, clippings, articles and so on so that it feels like you are looking directly into the artist's sketchbook. It is as much about the exploration as it is about the final work.   

Page from his website.

I find that his work has a very organic flow to it. I also think think it's great that he has a separate section on his site dedicated to his sketchbook. I have always admired artists who keep a very aesthetic and fluid sketchbook, it's a way of working that differs from my own but I find it inspiring. You can see the working of the artist, their thought process and they way in which they draw, perhaps without the preciousness of detail that goes into a final piece. The sketches within these book are brought together to form his final pieces, this process is captivating to me. I wonder what would happen if I combined my old sketches of the places I have been. 

Travel is the main focus of his work and often is linked to mountains, having passed through them in America and the EU. He beautifully sketches and photographs them. It makes me wonder why I didn't photograph them as much when I was there. 

Mural that resembles image drawing from his sketchbook. EU.

Perry is an all rounder. I am just basking in his work. He also paints murals (or on the same lines). Here are some out his larger out door work:

Wreckage site situated in Churchill

These are some other illustrations: