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Belgian artist and filmmaker Vincent Bal uses unexpected techniques to complete his illustrations. Using an array of household objects, he casts distinct shadows over the paper. These shapes then become the inspiration and foundation for quirky drawings of cartoon characters.
Entitled Shadowology, this ongoing series began in 2016 when Bal was working on a film. He saw the shadow of his teacup and thought it resembled an elephant, so he used a pen to finish the illustration and loved the playful effect. Now, the artist has been expanding on the idea for six years, garnering nearly 900,000 followers on his popular Instagram account.
The possibilities are seemingly limitless for shadows, as Bal has utilized everything from glassware to jewelry to flowers and beyond. After he has chosen the desired item, it is up to his imagination to fill in the shadow with a unique character not yet seen before. Perusing his portfolio, you will find dancing ballerinas, fashionable ladies on rollerskates, angry-looking owls, sunny tourists, and more.
You can see more of Bal’s work on Instagram and purchase signed prints of his illustrations on Etsy. Bal also has a published book of his illustrations, now available on Amazon.
Belgium-based artist Vincent Bal uses unexpected materials in his art.
He harnesses shadows cast from a wide range of objects to complete illustrations on paper.
By holding the right object over his drawings, he casts quirky shadow shapes.
These shadows complete the characters.
Vincent Bal: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Etsy
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Vincent Bal.
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