TENTHMIL recently interviewed Alexandria Neonaski after discovering her colorful illustration on deforestation.

TENTHMIL: How long have you been an illustrator?

A: I’ve been dabbling in design and illustration since I was younger. If I were to put a number on it, I’d say about 12 years. Until this year, i was mostly self-taught. I managed to land a full time studio job two years ago working for a games company and various freelance clients over the years. I got my very first client back in 2001. This year I decided to go back to school to learn a bit more about the fine art side of things.

TENTHMIL: What inspired your personal style?

A: So many things, Most notably, animation and commercial design styles from the 1950s. I really love Mary Blair and Charley Harper. Charley Harper managed to combine my love of the natural world with a stylistic, simple illustration style, I’d recommend anyone check out his work.

TENTHMIL: Where do you ultimately see your career going?

A: I love doing work for children. I recently did illustration, design and animation work for an educational game for kids and I loved every minute of that. I went to school for biology and neuroscience prior to going to art school, so I very much love the natural world. To be able to combine that love with my love of illustration and make educational books, games or toys for kids would be ideal for me I think.

TENTHMIL: Could you explain a little bit more about your inspiration for this piece?

A: This was done as an assignment. My boyfriend was given the task to do an article on deforestation, and he asked me to do the illustration to accompany it. I decided to take a bit of a humorous approach to a serious subject, showing the personified tree terrified of what he knows is coming. I know that there are hot debates over clear cutting areas of forest land, I think it’s important to note that this is not representing all forms of clear cutting. I personally agree with the conscious, well planned clearing of small tracts of dead forest land to promote fresh growth and healthy forests. We’ve destroyed so much of our forest land for our own purposes, it’s up to us to keep what’s left healthy and growing. I known not everyone agrees on this, and I truly see the points that both sides have to make on the issue, but it was my sentiment when approaching this piece, so I thought it best to share it. I do not however agree with the mass destruction of natural land to build more condos and mini malls. 

If you’d like to see more of Alexandria’s work, please visit her website at http://www.beavotron.com

Beavotron - Deforestation by Beavotron