Patrick Hardziej is an illustrator from Gdynia, Poland whose surreal works of art immerse viewers in the dreamlike adventures of his characters. Often donning detached facial expressions, the everyday guys in his works find themselves in adrenaline-inducing scenarios that we experience vicariously as viewers. Whether traveling through space or battling sea monsters, Hardziej's characters are humorous, and never self-serious, much like the artist's quirky visual style itself.
Patrick Hardziej is an illustrator from Gdynia, Poland whose surreal works of art immerse viewers in the dreamlike adventures of his characters. Often donning detached facial expressions, the everyday guys in his works find themselves in adrenaline-inducing scenarios that we experience vicariously as viewers. Whether traveling through space or battling sea monsters, Hardziej’s characters are humorous, and never self-serious, much like the artist’s quirky visual style itself.
All that should look solid melts right off in the compositions of Alessandro Ripane. Many of his characters have a mass of dripping liquid with plants protruding in all directions in lieu of real faces. Other figures sprout plants from their limbs while their gleaming white bones peek through. Yet these morbid compositions manage to keep a whimsical twist; in some, giant pink ice cream cones drip heavily. Genoa-born Ripane remembers collecting comic books and volumes on wild animals, a habit that definitely informs his strange imagery. Each vignette gives the sensation that the viewer is walking in on the strange characters. A couple cuddling becomes a strange mass of plants, melting parts and mangled flesh. But not all is lost: Ripane makes sure to let one of the figures keep his socks and shoes on. Part Surrealism, part satire and all visceral, Ripane's works leave few parts intact but offer plenty of visual gems.
When asked about his venture from comic illustration to his more abstract and surreal illustration, artist Graham Yarrington offers a candid observation: "I've always found that painting is the best therapy. I think that sadness and struggle will always play an important role in my growth as an artist." Growing up Rochester, New York, his work is informed by his childhood surroundings- "lots of open space and trees"- manifested in highly imaginative ink and gouache landscapes. Though his work is at times bright and fantastical, the stuff of daydreams and Grimm's fairy tales, there is also a darkness that the artist can't shake.
Elif Varol Ergen’s arresting illustrations blend themes of feminism, mysticism, and identity. The Turkish artist uses both traditional and digital means to relay these visions, armed with a robust mix of influences and approaches. She was last featured on HiFructose.com here.
The work of illustrator Alex Heywood puts an otherworldly spin on the everyday. His creatures, even without a stated backstory, are entertaining and often humorous, with much of the quirkiness found in the details. The Scotland-based artist is a graduate of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design at University of Dundee.
