Natalie McGarvey is an illustrator and designer based in the Philadelphia area. We had the opportunity to catch up with her about her food-inspired projects: with her unique drawings and paintings, the artist shares a personal point of view on food, animals and the vegetable kingdom.
Hers are symmetrical and well-balanced images where the subject, color, and technical dialogue become authentic protagonists: enjoy a selection of her work in the gallery!
How would you describe your artistic style and where does your inspiration come from?
I do a lot of drawing and painting, but I also take a lot of inspiration from textile design. I tend to compose my work like wallpaper – packed with repeating elements for a playful, unified aesthetic. Food as a subject is a symptom of how it's basically always on my mind.
What techniques do you use and why?
Mostly drawing with pencil or ink and painted with watercolors and gouache. I like the quality of light from watercolor and the immediacy of the medium. I enjoy working quickly, it makes me less precious with my work, and it keeps my hand apparent. Sometimes I punch up colors digitally for a more exciting on-screen experience.