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InspirationIllustration

Nature: Illustrator collaborates with the great outdoors to bring characters to life

In her ongoing series Nature, American illustrator Marga Patterson loves to create hand-drawn characters, that are bold with vibrant colours and simple shapes, and place them in her surrounding countryside to bring them to life.

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Colourful hand-drawn illustration of a figure in red with patterned clothing riding a camel, placed against weathered grey rocky stones and pebbles

Based in a small village in southwest Turkey, she extensively explores the Turkish wild along with her imagination and is constantly inspired by what she discovers. Finding different locations in which to place her illustrated characters, she then photographs them to share with the world.

Speaking of her work, Marga said: "Since ancient times, the invention and use of fantastical characters has played a large part in how humans try to connect to and make sense of the natural world. This imaginative approach has inspired the creation of many great stories still told today by cultures all around the world. My illustrated collaboration with the outdoors explores the Turkish wild and expands on the idea of storytelling. My characters exist in multiple outdoor environments – from the rocky seashore to the undulating walls of limestone caverns and beyond – they activate a space to let your imagination takeover."

Marga has exhibited work in New York, Portland, Istanbul and Croatia. She is currently working on a children’s picture book, due out in 2017. Discover more of her work at margapatterson.com or check out her daily drawings on Instagram.

Via direct submission | All images courtesy of the artist

Colourful hand-drawn octopus character with orange tentacles, magenta striped legs and turquoise details, positioned amongst wild vegetation and moss
Vibrant turquoise and red hand-drawn character with lime-green spots placed on mossy ground covered in dried vegetation and lichen
Hand-drawn characters with vibrant orange and green colours placed among dried vegetation in the Turkish countryside by illustrator Marga Patterson
Illustrated character with red hair and lime-green dress sitting amongst prickly pear cactus fruits and green foliage
Brightly coloured hand-drawn character with lime-green body, red accents and yellow eyes placed against a weathered grey rocky cliff face overlooking the sea
Marga Patterson's colourful hand-drawn characters and a small dog figure positioned on weathered limestone rock face with deep crevices
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