Earlier on in January 2011 I was commissioned by the Financial Times to produce an Illustration for their review of the new book by American author David Vann. The story follows the lives of married couple Gary and Irene, who set about building a new life together on a small island in the wilderness and beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Gary sets about building his dream log cabin without any guides or direction, meanwhile Irene is constantly haunted by her past causing endless stresses and strains to their already fragile relationship.
I've always been fascinated with the idea of living out in the wilderness, relying on nothing but human instinct and the need to survive, therefore putting the artwork together for this image was really interesting, I wanted to convey a scene where Gary and Irene wander back towards their unfinished log cabin on the Isand's edge. Gary carrying a log on his shoulder, Irene a basket full of wood for the fire. There is an obvious gap in the couple's relationship seen through the space between them both, the twisting branches of the cold trees also highlight the tension between the two. In the distance sits the unfinished log cabin surrounded by the beautiful Alaskan mountains. a solitary Caribou reindeer stands next to the cabin looking towards the couple and smoke gently wafts from the log cabin's chimney up into the clear blue sky.
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