Kate Gillespie’s skills as an illustrator are on full display in her recent piece The Alphabet Reborn, for which she carefully rendered a creature or object for each letter of the alphabet—including a spindly crab, majestic narwhal, delicate grasshopper, and furry yak. She describes the work as an homage to an illustrated alphabet she saw as a child, one she felt compelled to recreate. Childhood memories and the unadulterated pleasure she takes in “doodling” shine throughout Gillespie’s art, which often takes the form of detailed drawings spread evenly across a white page. Like treasured objects spilled from a toy chest, each element holds its own distinct meaning and place within the collection. Beginning with a sketch and then filling each form with bright colored pencil or sparkly gel pen, Gillespie infuses her drawings with a sense of wonder, play, and infectious joy.
choosing a selection results in a full page refresh