Skip to main content

Leslie Barnes' bursting-bright illustrations have a mysterious way of instantly lifting your spirits


Leslie Barnes is an award-winning illustrator and animator based in Glasgow whose compositions can fill any space with a breath of fresh air. I can't remember when I discovered Leslie's work. It must have been six or seven years ago. But I do remember my reaction when I first saw her unique, vibrant and eye-catching designs.

Although Leslie has always loved drawing, she actually has no formal art training (she has a degree in English Literature). Some of her illustrations are somewhat geometric, and the various patterns and effects that she creates are simply mesmerizing. The best part? You can buy limited edition, signed and numbered pieces in her store at remarkably affordable prices.









Leslie has created exclusive product ranges for both the V&A and the Tate Museums in London. Other clients include Clinique, Glamour Magazine, Random House, Puffin Books, Anorak, and OKIDO. She is the author and illustrator of three children's books.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Dolce Paganne

I can't even begin to think about how Dolce Paganne comes up with any of the shit she creates. I do know I'm hooked and can't stop looking at her drawings. Taking influence from Asian horror comic books, occult history and ancient mythology, the Antwerp-based artist makes her own "sinister" universe which expands with each new piece.  Also known as Ceren Aksungur, Dolce has a vast catalog of different media to view on her website and Instagram, so if you like what you see below, check out the rest of it here and here .

This Filipina artist draws with thread

I love it when I procrastinate online and discover someone's work that really catches my attention. Filipina artist Eugenia Alcaide captures her subjects by sewing their impressions on silkscreens. Though created with black cotton thread, the lines look like intricate sketches of graphite with 3D feel. They're captivating, and I wish there was a video to go with these to see how she plots each piece from start to finish.  Ginny began using thread in 2006 while doing her thesis for her degree in Fine Arts, major in Painting, at the University of the Philippines. One of Artinformal's most revered artists, her first exhibit in the gallery was in 2012, and since then she has gone on to display her work in various local and international art fairs. Her unique ability to create three-dimensional portraits by stretching and draping threads to form sculptural drawings has earned her much acclaim. You can check out more of Ginny's work here .

Eric van Straaten's 3D-Printed Statuettes

I can't remember when I first became entranced with Eric van Straaten 's 3D-printed sculptures. I think I stumbled onto his work through tumblr when I was searching for new artists to follow. Eric's attention to detail is pretty amazing, and the image of the eroticized child-woman is familiar throughout his work. Most of his hyper surreal pieces are 3D-printed in sandstone material, which are created by laying down a thin layer of gypsum powder and using a binding agent and color inks to print a pattern onto it. Once the entire model is printed, it is withdrawn from the print bed and the excess powder is removed. The model is then sealed and ready for display. "I think that the girls I create in my work are visualizations of my own feelings, fantasies and thoughts," the Dutch artist explains. "The girls actually look like someone I (used to) know and the different ‘portraits’ tell something about what I think of myself in regards to her or women ...