Sandra Diekman

I found this artist in the Showcase section of this month’s Digital Arts magazine. Her style remind me a little of megan because there is a lot of pattern and shape involved, though don’t think it’s obsessively neat enough for megan’s taste. That’s part of why I like it, it’s a little bit scruffy and textured in places. The patterned border around the edge is about as perfect as can be, it’s the bison’s fur where things get a bit more free and easy.

The bison looks very sad. The image is part of a series for a forthcoming book, her website doesn’t explain what the story is about but it presumably contains a sad bison. I really like how she’s focussed on the natural Native American side of the bison’s history, rather than the Founding Fathers shooting them all aspect. The patterns on the head dress are of the same ilk as those of the border, which nicely ties the two elements together. The colours are similar, very natural, earthy teracottas and blues. If you look closely you can see a wide variety of lines and textures in the bison’s fur. It is a mixture of dots and dashes in different weights and different lengths. Some lines work on their own, and some come in groups.
The composition of the image is very basic and traditional. Though strangely it’s refreshing to see a picture which is just a simple side view of the subject with a border round. Most images now try to find interesting angles and crop for more drama. If an artist only used this simple composition i can image it getting rather boring.

I think her work will affect mine. I will try and restrict my colour palette and have a theme, rather than just using all the colours. I need to learn to edit my work and know what to put in and what to leave out. I also need to put more thought into what textures i use for what surface, i get too hooked up on ‘what is my style?’ and i feel like i can’t do anything else because then that won’t be my style. But it’s about more than just how you use you media, it’s about the subject, the feel, the theme, then the cosmetic aspects spread on top like icing.

I have done a drawing since looking at Diekman’s bison. I have tried to get humour into my work, which doesn’t apply to Diekman’s art but it does to pretty much every other artist i’ve put up on here. I realise it isn’t hilarious, but it is my first step. Analysing Diekman’s image has made me think about what media i use and where, and how much colour i put on.



It is a mixture of pencil for the giraffes, pen for the washing line and pegs, and watercolours for the clothes. I restricted the amount of colour i used and actually thought about WHAT colours i used. I picked colours that would reflect the giraffes natural habitat, so the blue of the sky with oranges and yellows for the parched land of the savannah.