As temperatures take their inexorable dive toward the chilly depths of the winter months, people—and their pets—must reconcile themselves to long months spent cooped up indoors, watching the natural world through windows. We talked to Kim DeMarco, this week’s cover artist, about her appreciation for autumn, her advice to art students, and Finland’s magical light.
You lived in Los Angeles until recently. Did a yearning for fall have anything to do with the move back to the East Coast?
I loved my time on the West Coast, but over the past few years I have found myself missing the seasons here. Fall, with its warm colors and crisp blue skies, has always been my favorite time of year.
You spent some time in Finland this year. Do you think the country and its landscape have influenced your work?
I’ve always been a big fan of Finnish designers, from Alvar Aalto to Tove Jansson. I loved being in Finland over the summer. The light is incomprehensible and the reverence that Finns have for nature has no doubt crept into my sensibilities. It was also magical to spend time in the lush forests and partake in the almost religious experience of going to a sauna by a pristine lake.
You often work digitally, using a limited color palette and bold shapes. Do you keep a sketchbook or work in any other media?
I’ve tried to use sketchbooks, but I find that they have not worked particularly well for me. On the other hand, I often find ideas by making black paper cutout shapes and loose watercolor washes. I scan them and then I like to play with them on the computer, arranging them in different compositions.
What is your advice for art students? What do you tell them when they’re about to go into the world?
I have been teaching in art schools since my late twenties. I tell students that I’m there to guide them, but, ultimately, I know they’ll learn more from their peers, who will challenge and cheer them on. Students who graduate with a degree in art or design need to be resilient and have intentionality in their work—a bit of advice I’m still working on myself.
For more covers celebrating fall, see below:
“Remembrance of Flings Past,” by Edward Sorel
“Recognition,” by Adrian Tomine
“Our Sunday-Morning Outings,” by J.J. Sempé
Find Kim DeMarco’s covers, cartoons, and more at the Condé Nast Store.
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Sourse: newyorker.com
