DAVE MCKEAN

For my narrative project I want to look at illustration and animation, so my tutor Ann suggested that I research the works of the illustrator Dave McKean.

 

 He is well known for his comic strip works such as Arkham Asylum as well as working on books for children like "Wolves in the Walls" and "Coraline".

There is a distinctive dark theme to his drawings and even his illustrations for children are quite "creepy".

 

One of my favourite books is Varjak Paw, which has very expressive and simple black and white (and sometimes orange) illustrations that serve the story well.

Unlike most comic artists, McKean relies heavily on traditional media, often using ink and collages with old photos to create quite warped and disturbing images.

 

The materials he uses result in a worn or aged effect which aids the telling of dark stories by setting a dark atmosphere and draws the eye in.

After a discussion with my tutor about McKean's works, Ann suggested I use traditional media like him to create an illustration, as I am mostly computer based when I draw, especially when producing comic strips. I have decided to make a comic strip on an A1 sized piece of card. I wasn't sure what story to base it on, so Ann suggested I look at one of Edgar Allen Poe's short stories "The Masque of the Red Death" which fits in with the theme of dark storytelling.