Freelance Fine Artist, Illustrator, Alicia VanNoy Call, & her Adorably Disturbing Apocalyptic Nursery Rhymes
The Zombies are coming, the town must be warned…
We salute our former student, our friend and colleague, Alicia VanNoy Call who is not only an artist/illustrator but also a writer and an all round creative person. She is truly one of those artists that is defining herself. Alicia first caught my attention with some extremely, strait out of the tube, colorful portraits of animals and family pet portraits. Dawgart. But lately I’ve been seeing her apocalyptic nursery rhymes and I was so impressed that I asked her if we could blog about her. We will get to some Q & A with Alicia and what makes her tick, but I want to start with her apocalyptic fables here to catch your attention rather than make you scroll down or read the whole blog before you see what I’m bragging about.
Zombies and Little Boy Blue
Wayne: W (question)- Which one started this series?
Alicia: A- This [Little Boy Blue] was the first. You can see the difference in the art from the rest of the series. I will probably do this one over, and change the trumpet to a trombone. The biggest gripe I got from a few different viewers was that he could definitely still play the trumpet with one arm. That it’s physically possible. I think they’re missing the point. I personally don’t know that I could play a musical instrument after my arm had just been torn off, what with the pain and all.
Jack and Jill were Eaten for Lunch
W- This rhyme made me laugh. It still does.
A- It’s one of my favorites. It’s so gruesome and funny. I went back and forth with what to do for the image. I debated showing people actually eating them, piles of bones, etc. But I eventually decided that the image would be most interesting in the moment before the tension breaks. Just before Jack and Jill lose their innocence. And everything else.
Little Miss Muffet’s city was wiped off the map
W- I love the relationship that she and the rat seem to have. Great design.
A- This is the one that started the series gaining attention. I think it’s just the flat out ridiculous nature of it. That and the pitiful tragedy of this kid left all alone with a rat named Dave. How sad.
Rock-a-bye Baby, The Battle is over, we lose.
W- ?
A- I love how with just a few simple lines and some value, you can convey so much. This one is particularly creepy to people. It’s like, look at this nightmare world these babies have inherited.
Doctor Jack Horner it’s the end of the world
W- How do you maintain the fresh, loose look of spontaneity?
A- One of my goals with these drawings is to keep them quick (I have an art business to run after all), and to deliver something immediately legible and humorous. I couldn’t decide what kind of monster to put in this scenario; I thought zombies initially. But it could be anything, couldn’t it? So I just went with a couple of tentacles and left the rest up to the viewer.
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, it’s fallout.
W- Which one is your most popular?
A- This and Georgie Porgie are the two most popular so far. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just the expression on his face and the ripped umbrella. Like, “I’m going through the motions of keeping dry, but really, what’s the point?” The Lady Liberty head was an afterthought.
Georgie Porgie Came out of the John
W- What do you think this one is so popular?
A- People love this one. I think it’s the underwear, another doodle afterthought.