Have you ever wondered who creates the amazing artwork on KDL's magazines? Well, meet Shannon McCurdy, the artist behind the Winter Kaleidoscope (available now at a branch near you!). So be like the yeti and curl up near a warm fire with your closest friends and learn more about the artist who brought this piece of visual comfort to life.
What can you tell us about yourself?
I'm a freelance illustrator working out of Grand Rapids. I started selling zines and illustrations at local art markets in 2022, after I graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design. I love meeting other artists and interacting with the people of Grand Rapids. I enjoy working collaboratively with clients to see their concepts realized.
Where are some of the places you gather inspiration?
Cinema costuming and fairy tales are some of my favorite sources of inspiration - fashion in general, and costumes in particular, are such rich vehicles of storytelling. Plus, there's something about the textures of fabric that makes me want to draw. I find the imagery in ghost stories (especially gothic or Victorian) to be very inspirational.
Describe the perfect winter day.
If we're talking about deep winter, my perfect winter day means nonstop snow. I want snow that's too heavy for me to feel guilty about staying in, and I want it to be dead quiet outside; no one on the roads, no one anywhere. Then, I want a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon, and my cat needs to be sleeping on my lap. Something on TV that I'm not really paying attention to, and just a little bit of chill in the air so I feel nice and cozy in my blanket nest.
What does the library mean to you?
To me, the library is vital to a community as an access point for information and culture. There are a lot of people that rely on libraries as safe spaces where they can access literature they might not be able to see at home. Plus, I love all the funky little books you can only find in libraries, ones that I might not want to own, but I do want to read.
Check out more from Shannon over here:
Website: https://shannonmccurdy.com
Instagram: shannon (@smccurdyart)
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