Portrait Surrealism

This is a series exploring some surreal/abstract interpretations of old engraving portraits. As a musician I've been inspired by the design and illustration work of Spanish artist Xavi Forné (https://error-design.com/studio/the-studio/), who has created posters, shirts, and album designs for many of my favorite bands. He has cultivated a distinct style working with engraving and etching images, and much of his work inspired this series.

For these collages, I was most interested in combining the monochromatic detail of the etching subjects with colorful vintage scientific illustrations of flowers, trees, grasses, and even insects and reptiles. I wanted to challenge myself to combine these disparate elements into images that provided contrast while also forming a cohesive whole. Enjoy this short series!