Tin Can Forest

Tin Can Forest is the name of Canadian artists Pat Shewchuk and Marek Colek who work collaboratively. Their work is interesting to me because their collective name encompasses a body of work that is cohesive, following a similar realm of themes and moods; relating to slavic folklore and the occult.

These themes seem deeply researched in their visual works, or as if they come from a place of interest because of the level of detail/authenticity to them.

As well as that, I find what they do to be appealing because it spans across more than one creative medium. From publishing books, prints and paper-based items, creating sequential illustration, to dabbling in animation and film. By working across all of these different formats it gives the 'world' they have created through their practice a greater level of depth.

Wax Cross (2012), cover and page

When thinking about my own practice I like the idea of working on many varied projects, not limiting myself to one 'type' of illustration or visual art. Tin Can Forest have worked with different writers, which in a way offers them the opportunity to put their visual stamp on and/or enhance someone else's concept through the use of illustration.

Being able to work on many different projects from interlinking fields of the creative industries is a very exciting possibility to me, allowing you to think in different ways and not always be doing the same thing. This would also bring about the chance to collaborate with those who have different skills from your own, such as those working in animation, design, etc.

What is a Witch (2016) cover