Inside an artist's mind: illustration or illusion?

I am art-challenged. Can't draw a lick no matter how hard I try. That’s why I appreciate art and watch in wonder as artists create beautiful images. Today’s guest blogger, Carolin Palmer, is one such creator.

She designs whimsical gardens, illustrates children’s books, draws nature posters for her Canadian homeland, and more. She starts with a simply sketched vision, adds dimension and details, and brings her art to life with color and finesse. 

Initial vision

Details and dimension

Carolin Palmer's finished art

Fasten your seat belts and lock that tray table in its upright position as Carolin invites you inside the mind of an artist.

Before you go: scroll down to the end of this post to see a 30-second video of Carolin in action and download a free coloring page.

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Seeing A World of Snapshots
Carolin Palmer, Artist

​I see things that are not there, and I make up stories to go alongside my whimsical snapshots. I hear voices saying things from creatures that can’t talk. I live my life from the pictures no one else can see. I like my imaginary world, and sometimes times I deliberately go there to avoid the reality around me.  It is my escape, and it offers me a break from the ills of the world we sometimes live in. 

These are just a few examples of the many visions I have every day.  They happen so often, and it’s impossible for me to paint them all.  Sometimes, I wish my brain had a built-in camera, with the capabilities of my computer, but my hard drive would crash weekly from overload. 

In fact, I am now seeing a flashing banner run past my mind screaming, 
"CRASHING, CRASHING, CRASHING!  BACK UP FILES NOW!!!!!!"

Sometimes, I wonder if all illustrators see snapshots of the world the same way I do.  For me, it is often just a normal day, doing normal things, when I see something that appears one way and quickly transforms to something else in my mind.  

It can be as simple as seeing a truck drive by on a highway with a dog hanging its head out the window.  And then the illusions begin.

Soon the white truck is bright red with big bouncy black tires.  The road turns to cobble stones and pot holes. The dog has huge lazy brown eyes that balance carefully on its big wet nose.  The dog has a smile on its face with teeth similar to mine.  Its long golden hair bounces around as his owner, Farmer Joe, rumbles quickly down the back road to catch his horse that jumped the fence. 

The dog looks to his owner and in a deep rugged voice yells, "I see him Joe; he’s down by the old marsh. We better hurry up this rig before he..............?”

A woman walking in her sun hat turns into a girly gator wearing pink polka-dot sandals, and her hat is adorned with wild flowers.  She has a silver-studded purse hanging over her shoulder with a gooey-green frog peeking out of the front pocket, looking back at me with fear.  The girly gator is just about to reach in her purse until she sees what is going on down by the marsh. 

 “Oh my,” she says with an inquisitive voice, “A horse is going to..........?” 

Illusion AND Illustration

Do any of these things sound like reasons for concern?  Do I need to seek professional help to stop my visions?  

I have had them my whole life.  Without them, I would be lost in a world that I would not recognize.  It would be dull.  I would lose many of my funniest friends, the ones that never let me down and are always around. I grew up telling them my darkest secrets and going on adventures with them.  They knew my wishes and dreams even before I knew what they were. ​

Carolin Palmer, Illustrator and Illusionist

I pray my characters and I will be together forever.  I do seek professional help but not to get rid of my visions; I seek help to get them out to you.  I would like everyone to see life the way I do. It is a place you will want to stay and play.  

A hundred years ago, I would be locked up for such insanity, but now I am called an illustrator with a right to have illusions. 

​I AM AN ARTIST!

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Before You Go.....
1.  Enjoy a free download of Carolin's  nautical-themed coloring page.

free coloring page download

​2.  Watch a 30-second video of Carolin in action as she creates your coloring page.  It's very special to her because it brings back memories of  her beloved Nova Scotia homeland. 

Me at work :-)

Posted by Carolin Palmer on Friday, September 18, 2015

Connect with Carolin Palmer

​Coloring page designer, author, illustrator and mother of nine, Carolin Palmer was born and raised in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.  She is completing her first novel, an adult non-fiction book to be released in 2016, and she is also working on anything creative: painting shoes, designing T-Shirts and kid-friendly gardens, writing, illustrating, and managing her blog and social networks.

Recently, Carolin was selected as artist for an adult coloring book   http://ellenmilliongraphics.com/ The new books will be available in spring 2016.  Carolin continues to create and submit coloring pages, so follow her through the social media links below for updates.

Online Store  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Blog  

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Join the conversation
Is creating art illusion?  Illustration?  Both?  Neither?
Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

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