#30Works30Days was, as the name implies, a month long project that took place for the month of April 2023. It is an annual project set up by 12ø Collective, a collective based in London, and continued in their stead by ArtQuest, in which artists are invited to post a new work everyday. These works can be based on the given theme each day or whatever the artist wishes. This year I chose to use the project as a way to brush up on my illustration skills, build up my own style, or just see if I have one. Inspired partly by a fascination with illustrations from medieval times and the illustrations used in fairy tale/story books - Also partly inspired by the works of Tove Jansson, the Finnish artist, author, and icon.
In choosing what to draw this year I went for a blend of nature scenes and imagery, as well as imagined magical worlds and situations. Just like the last time I participated in this project (and in most of my illustrations lately) these illustrations have some degree of a fantasy aesthetic, the drawings that are of real life ordinary scenes have some magical elements injected into them. I wanted the landscapes and scenes to be a form of escapism in which the viewer can lose themselves and dive into the illustration. For the illustrations of objects and representations of singular creatures, animals, and figures also once again I wanted them to be fun, colourful, while still in keeping with the fantastical fairy tale book style. Hopefully I achieved that, I think I have.
#30Works30Days was fairly enjoyable this year, however there were some moments where I struggled and some illustrations were posted a little late overall it was positive, but I must admit I don’t see myself participating again in the near future.