Project Statement
Illustrations in the book will approach an overall tone of surreal ‘dream-like’ qualities and pay homage to the classic polarity of Sun and Moon type aesthetics as well as fairy tale art similar to that of Kay Neilsen and Edmund Dulac. There will contain scenes set in the cosmos of space both at the beginning and end, and rendered in black and white as to differentiate from the main setting of the story. In doing so, the reader will feel as if they are entering and exiting one giant dream world. In traditional mediums such as gouache and colored pencil, the artwork will seek to meet the technical approaches of analogue technique used in the Golden Age of Illustration primarily between 1850 and 1925. The decision to use analogue materials fits not only my process of how I enjoy drafting images but highlights the tangible materiality of paper and pigment to strengthen the connections to our natural world. Elements within the image will be limited to the environment, various animals of the Pacific Northwest both prehistoric and modern, and the main character Houdini who takes a human form for reasons of simplicity and relatability with the reader. I would like this book to be picked up by people of all ages, but specifically the adults of tomorrow, the younger audience coming to grips with finding their place in the universe.
The book will be a 32 page separately ended illustrated storybook at 8.5”x11” in scale. Most of the pages will be a combination of text and illustration. A mix of full spreads, half spreads, spots and vignettes will decorate the major points in this story. There will be bor-der decoration and drop cap illustration as well to help give the story a historical feel.
Artist Statement
Charlie DeMaria, an Illustrator hailing from the Pacific Northwest, has a predilec-tion for figurative-based storytelling, employing a wide array of conceptual themes that revolve around emotive dramatizations of our ontological states of mind, and the vast de-pictions of the environment and greater cosmos. His work emphasizes attention to detail, bold stylizations, and the captivating enjoyment of tangible media. Various linework and mark-makings utilized ebb and flow between surrealism, theatricality, phantasmagoria, and ethereal environments. His oeuvre also pays homage to the traditional analogue tech-niques used during the Golden Age of Illustration, while staying relevant in the current and progressive discourse. During the precious moments away from his studio, Charlie takes pleasure in culinary pursuits, spending quality time with friends and family, and exploring the outdoors with his puppy, Eleanor.
