This Illustrator Has a Hands-On Approach

For most artists, it’s the eyes that are the window to the soul. But London based illustrator Fee Greening might argue that it’s, rather, the hands. Specializing in dip pen and ink, she makes carefully illustrated hand drawings that are inspired by Medieval, Gothic, and Flemish art.

“I love the dramatic gestures of hands in Renaissance paintings and how you can decode the narrative by reading them,” she admitted in an interview with the Papier blog. “I am really interested in symbolism as well, I love an evil snake or an apple of temptation and I draw a lot of curiosities – corals, shells, jewels, etc. I have always been interested in magic and Medieval illuminated manuscripts.”

Explaining that the pen can only draw 1/2cm before you need to re-dip it, her technique can be excruciatingly slow. “I also have to wait for it to dry for a couple of minutes so I don’t smudge or drag my long hair across the wet ink,” she added.

“Although there are many wonderful aspects of living in a digital age, it has given us very short attention spans,” she relayed. “I think we crave traditional analog outlets to balance out our scrolling culture. A detailed drawing is not only precious because of its beauty but also because of the time dedicated to making it.”

Follow her Instagram page for a dose of inspiration.

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Pearl and coral private commission 🐚🐞🐚

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