Erica Willey
Erica Willey graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2014 with a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts. She has been a professional illustrator for the past four years, working as a character designer for Folklore: The Affliction, creating various commission pieces, and most recently participating in a number of conventions as an artist in the Artist Allies. As of 2018, Erica has also been featured in Infected By Art Vol. 6 and Capsules Book’s Drawn Vol. 2.
Her artwork, which consist primarily of paintings produced both digitally and traditionally with gouache, ink, and oil paints, is a combination of realism and 2D rendering. She takes classic
rendering techniques and throws in comic book characteristic to add contrast to the final look. Much of Erica’s pieces are based on fantasy concepts and tend to have a dark aura about them. But however dark and mischievous they may be, there is still a level of cuteness in the colour palettes chosen and the designs of the characters in the paintings.
Today Erica looks to artist such as JAW Cooper, Wylie Beckert, Adam Duff, and Zeen Chin for inspiration, and their individual styles each have a unique impact on her life. Thanks to her family and friends, Erica has the constant motivation and support to keep moving forward with her illustration career.
