About the artists no.4 Emma Carpendale

I graduated from the University of Northampton in 2010 with a first in Illustration. Since then I have been pursuing a career as a freelance illustrator. 

I'm often drawn to themes of the bizarre, the supernatural or themes from historical, theatrical or literary culture and my work is often described as dark and quirky. 

Amy and the Origami Man - Children's Book 2010

Children’s book illustration has been a constant interest of mine due to the enormous challenge it poses, but my interests within illustration varies from book illustration to editorial to more abstract themes. I’m generally drawn to illustrating narrative or any subject matter that has a good story behind it.

The Panto Horsemen. 2011

For the first Edge Arts group show I created a new piece called Symbolic Portrait of August Strindberg. This is the first in a series of studies of the Swedish author and playwright. What I found out from reading Strindberg’s diaries was that his life appeared just as dramatic as his plays, but it seemed that he would often dramatise events to make him appear more interesting to the reader. 

Symbolic Portrait of August Strindberg. 2011

What was true about him is that he was a polymath and experimenter whose interests ranged from photography and painting to literature and science. During the later part of his life he dabbled in occultism and alchemy and spent an intense period on this subject. Accounts of Strindberg and the subject matter of his own paintings portray a man in conflict with the world and also himself. My aim with these portraits is to untangle this character and separate the myth from reality.

My work always starts with a drawing and then I digitally add texture, loose pattern and colour. I create background texture in many ways, either by using vintage paper, photography or textiles, or by creating large sheets of mark making, random drawing, painting or collage. 

The Strindberg portrait is available for sale as a framed single edition print. Contact me at contact@edgearts.co.uk for more details. Some smaller prints and handmade items can be purchased online at Etsy

www.emmacarpendale.co.uk

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All images © Emma Carpendale 2011