The Illustration Portfolio of Denise Tonner
Denise Tonner is an artist and illustrator based in Vancouver, BC. In her practice, Denise creates whimsical illustrations for both children and the young-at-heart.
Wizard of Oz cover, graphite and digital art
Denise’s style is striking, and to me speaks to an enjoyment of the process of art-making itself. The visible lines and brush marks in the works, as well as the use of negative space, showcases not only the media used, but the artist’s own hand, tracking Denise’s movement across the canvas or page. There’s a sense of narrative in these works -- both in terms of the stories they depict, and the idea that one can see Denise’s process coming through in the layers of media.
I really enjoy Denise’s portraiture. The subjects of these works are varied, as is the artist’s style. In some cases, the artist takes a realistic, documentarian approach, rendering the planes of a face with smoothly blended grayscale. In others she takes on more artistic license, producing works that recreate human subjects in a new artistic realm.
