2/9/2018 0 Comments Research Blog- Ed FairburnCartographic Portraiture artist Ed Fairburn was born in November of 1989 in Southampton, UK. Currently, he continues his work in Denver, Colorado. Fairburn graduated from the Cardiff School of Art and Design in 2012, and was shortlisted for the Association of Illustrators Awards in 2013. He was also represented in the United States by Denver galleries Abend/K Contemporary/Gallery 1261. Fairburn's work is an inspiring collection exploring the connection between human portraiture and topography, putting the two together so seamlessly that it seems although they have always belonged together. He uses his imaginative designs to combine the human form with maps from various places around the world, manipulating the streets, rivers and mountain ranges through pen-work to create the human face. Fairburn's work is important within the art community and to art history because it is unique and original, inspiring people and allowing viewers to feel a connection to a certain place while looking at his work. Each piece explores the idea that human kind is a product of the landscape, and often much about who we are is shaped by where we are. At the end of Fairburn's projects, the final portrait is so entwined with the map that it is hard to imagine one existing without the other. Fairburn's work is incredibly detail-oriented, honing in on every aspect of the map. As technology has become more developed, the art of reading a map has become lost, and Fairburn believes there is something tactile about being able to handle a map. For his artistic purposes, he purchases his maps from a map store around the corner, selecting all different types from different areas. He enjoys a challenge, using various road maps, star charts, and even blueprints to create his pieces. After selecting a map, he uses an ink pen to create the detailed portraits, revealing his mastery of pen illustrations. His favorite maps to use are contoured maps that show lines of elevation, allowing him to follow the contours to create free-flowing, organic patterns with a marbling effect. He enjoys following the flow of the map and allowing it to do what it wants, but he sometimes alters certain aspects of it to create the image he desires. As said by Fairburn, "The formula is already there, it's just a matter of bringing it out." He often uses a live model for his inspiration, usually his creative partner and main muse, Bobbie Jo. She has inspired many of his portraits and is interested in paper sculpture, collaborating with him on various projects. Since he was young, Fairburn has enjoyed taking certain objects or materials and combining them with something else to create something new. He once said that one reason he loves drawing on maps is that while he works, he encounters so many interesting road names. It also brings back memories of his hitch-hiking journey across Europe several years ago as he finds various places that he had traveled through. Through Fairburn's work, he desires to accentuate the relationship between the human figure and the landscape, giving each viewed a personal sense of connection to the maps chosen in his work.
Overall, Fairburn's work has been a source of inspiration and delight to me. His techniques are not only unique, but also incredibly aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. His work explores the beauty of human nature combined with topography, holding deep meanings about the relationships of people to the landscapes around them. Where we are has an incredible influence on who we are, and this is something that is deeply understood by Fairburn. His detailed work and passion for pursuing a new idea have received him international recognition. His work is displayed both in the UK and in the US, his skills appreciated by many who encounter his art. Fairburn's pieces continue to spark inspiration, each detailed contour line on his drawings revealing the beauty of his work and the importance of recognizing his abilities. Sources http://www.edfairburn.com/?page_id=1919 http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/01/new-portraits-drawn-on-maps-by-ed-fairburn/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544783/Shes-got-lovely-features-Artist-turns-maps-portraits.html https://hifructose.com/2015/08/31/portrait-artist-ed-fairburn-uses-maps-as-his-canvas/ https://www.yatzer.com/Human-Geographies-maps-Ed-Fairburn http://www.edfairburn.com/?projects=stafford-lane http://www.edfairburn.com/?projects=denver-southbound
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