Drawing the darkness

Aesthetic choice Tanya Combrinck meets four artists whose mysterious characters are often perceived as sinister or malevolent

- Tanya Combrinck

Whether it's just a hint of doom in an otherwise uplifting image, or a portrait of an arrestingly hostile character, working with dark themes is a rewarding area of exploration for any artist.

Concept artist and illustrator Jeff Simpson creates work that evokes a sinister ambience, but he doesn't identify himself as a dark artist. "Like any creative person I try to find elements of reality, nature or people that I find interesting or mysterious and worth exploring,” he says. "When we " put a magnifying glass up to any subject, it tends to amplify its complexity and our idealisations and expectations tend to be challenged. If this process makes things feel 'dark' to most people then so be it, I suppose!"

CHARACTER PERCEPTION

Jeff's mother was an art teacher and he grew up looking through her art history books. "I would try to copy the usual masters from across the eras. I was drawn to the drama and the significance the paintings held in their day. Maybe I've always wanted to convey that sense of wonder, fear and fascination with my own work." For Jeff, creating a portrait with a substantial presence begins with imbuing the character with a sense of respect or honesty. "Even if it is an animal or creature, it needs to have a sense of being, and not be just a cartoon or symbol. It should feel as if its life was lived in a way we can relate to somehow."