Dreamy Digital Illustrations by Rebecca Zwanzig Tap into Art History and Nostalgia
The Portland-based artist's lush gradients are inspired by a love for oil painting. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Dreamy Digital Illustrations by Rebecca Zwanzig Tap into Art History and Nostalgia appeared first on Colossal .
Rebecca Zwanzig, known as High West Wild, creates dreamy digital illustrations that draw from a variety of influences, including Victorian-era textile patterns, antique dishware designs, and Pacific Northwest atmospheric tones. The artist, originally from Kentucky, recalls fond memories of visiting auctions and estate sales with her grandmother, where she developed an appreciation for the patterns on old plates, embroidery on tablecloths, and vintage textiles.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, Zwanzig's work is infused with nostalgia from the landscapes she has lived in and the artistic styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her illustrations exhibit botanical elements that emerge from her connections to these past eras. Zwanzig cites influences from vintage textiles, scientific botanical art, folk art, and typography from the 1960s and 1970s.
The color palette she employs typically includes earthy 1970s tones, ranging from dark and moody to bright and saturated, allowing her to shift between these two extremes.
Zwanzig's illustrations often incorporate symmetry and pattern repetition, reminiscent of Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Her work showcases natural phenomena, such as insects, crystals, and shells, as well as natural history tomes like Lorenz Oken's Allgemeine Naturgeschichte Für Alle Stände and The Hudson Transparencies.
Zwanzig's background in graphic design and oil painting has influenced her digital pieces, which are primarily created in Procreate or Adobe Illustrator. The vibrant gradients in her digital work are derived from hand-sketched compositions. Her art has been licensed by various clients, including Starbucks, Marine Layer, Anna Sui, and Free People. Currently, she is working on a personal project to design a complete tarot deck.
If you happen to be in Seattle next month, you can view Zwanzig's work at the Renegade Craft Fair, which takes place from November 20 to 22. To stay updated on her projects, follow her on the High West Wild Instagram account.
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