Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy's putting illustrations of individuals and locations
"I think I've always been interested in subcultures and visuals that other people conventionally don't find pretty," says Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy.
Born and raised in Brighton, the illustrator's stylized aesthetic is heavily influenced by her time in the city. "Some of my earliest drawings show characters with mohawks, based on the punks who lived down the street from me," she says.
“I went to a lot of gigs and punk shows for all ages as a teenager and came out as a teenager. Hence, it has likely influenced my attitudes towards what is considered appealing when engaging in a DIY music and queer scene or creatively attractive at a young age. "
Pomeroy first considered illustration a possible career path when she graduated from an art foundation at the Kingston School of Art, where she later graduated with a first-class award in illustration.
“When I was studying fine arts, I was more interested in the preliminary drawings by artists than in their end product,” she says. “I think I was originally interested in the accessibility of illustrations as well. It felt less high-profile than fine art and more like a conversation with the viewer, with more opportunities to develop in a design industry rather than a gallery. "
Since graduating, Pomeroy has spent several years honing her atmospheric style, which typically includes a mix of line drawings and digital color drawings. This distinct approach has allowed her to build an impressive list of clients that ranges from musicians like Shura and XX to publications like Pitchfork and New Yorker.
Joe Exotic
Illustrated portraits are one of Pomeroy's specialties. She took up Eddie Murphy and his string of acting roles for the Atlantic in her own way, exploring the pop culture phenomenon of Netflix & # 39; Tiger King with a personal play on Joe Exotic.
"It can be intimidating when everyone knows the subject's face immediately and can tell if my drawing is wrong," says Pomeroy of her approach to portraits.
Eddie Murphy
"It is my first step to determine their facial features and make sure they are wearing an outfit that is very classy for that person. A lot of photo research and also a three-quarter face angle photo to work with really help as it is the maximum facial features captured, ”she adds.
In addition to people, places are also a great source of inspiration for the illustrator. One of her most memorable projects to emerge from the pandemic is a series of landscape drawings of adult shops and motels in the United States. "Who needs road trips when you have Covid and Google Maps Street View?" She says.
Another highlight for Pomeroy was a recent article for Mother Jones Magazine on how the global pandemic has affected people of different ethnic backgrounds, genders and ages. Looking ahead, the illustrator would like to take on more assignments that focus on socioeconomic inequality, LGBTQ + issues, and other topics that she is passionate about.
"Over the years I've been asked to draw a lot of portraits of elderly Caucasian men in suits, which is okay at times, but it was very repetitive, so I turned my back on it," she says. "If I can find the right balance between exciting assignments and enough time to work on my own projects, I would be really happy."
@ Louiszerg