Narrative Images: Illustration by Denise Tonner
Denise Tonner is a Vancouver-based illustrator and print artist who creates narrative images in a loose, varied style. The artist’s images cast a whimsical light on a variety of subjects, and Denise’s portfolio overall reads like its own storybook.
Denise works both in color and black and white. Her soft, sketchy method of rendering figures and objects produces an aesthetic that celebrates the messiness, and slight imperfection inherent in traditional media. I like that the artist is able to vary her style when the subject matter calls for it – sometimes her works are extremely simplified and cartoonish, other times fairly realistic.
Denise's gallery of color illustrations
I especially enjoy Denise’ color gallery. Many of these images combine printmaking techniques with watercolor painting, creating a delicately etched look for each image. Most of these works place storybook-like figures in detailed backgrounds, creating scenes and tableaux rather than simple portraits. In some cases, architectural or foliage details are the entire focus of the work.
Whiskey, pen and ink, watercolor