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WorkIllustration

Satisfyingly grotesque illustrations by Alex Jenkins full of dark humour and surrealism

London illustrator and cartoonist Alex Jenkins creates disturbing artworks full of dark humour and grotesque scenes. "I try to avoid the pretence but wallow in humour while touching on the absurd and surreal," he tells Creative Boom.

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Four panel illustration by Alex Jenkins depicting surreal and darkly humorous scenes including a silhouetted figure falling, a person reading a newspaper, a close-up of a face smoking, and a wrapped figure lying down

Did he always want to be an illustrator? "Not initially. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I finished school, and I almost stumbled back into it as I felt out of options. Of course, looking back, I'm very pleased I ended up taking this route. Even when studying illustration, I couldn't envisage how to make money from drawing. But getting advice from others in the industry gives a light along the foggy path, and things eventually start to make more sense."

It's that support from the industry that has inspired him to do the same for others. He urges anyone hoping to follow a similar path to get in touch and ask for advice.

How did his unique style develop? "Even looking back at my childhood drawings, you could see glimmers of the style already there. I think I'm quite scatty in nature and this reflects in my drawing. It's not very good technically, but I can whip out stuff quite quickly.

"My influences come from lots of things. Comics and cartoons when growing up (2000 AD, Dark Horse Comics, DragonBall comics, lots of Nintendo 64 games) but also an influence from a more traditional art sense as well, for example, I can always remember a Di Chirico painting that stood out. Or artists like Goya and Dix."

What is it about the grotesque and ugly that Alex likes so much? "I think it's the child in me and it's something I'm still drawn to. Now I think it's important not to overkill the grotesque in my work though; it's good to find a balance. Whereas before, I'd go all out, but it can lose its meaning."

Discover more of his work at alexgamsujenkins.com.

Chaotic abstract composition of interlocking pink and yellow shapes with white gaps, creating a densely layered pattern
Four-panel comic illustration showing a blender with raspberries and coconut being blended into a grotesque smoothie with googly eyes and boxing gloves
Four-panel comic strip showing a man with a hammer repeatedly striking another man's head in an absurdist, darkly humorous illustration by Alex Jenkins
Four-panel illustration showing hands holding and squeezing a red high-heeled shoe, with grotesque results including melting flesh and distorted forms in vibrant, surreal colours
Comic strip showing people with large laughing emoji heads in various scenarios, including two friends laughing together, someone celebrating by a window, and a figure laughing alone at night
Four panel illustration showing pairs of hands in different skin tones and positions on a turquoise background, exploring connection and diversity through gesture and touch
Six-panel comic strip showing a pink blob creature gradually transforming into a white elongated shape across a progression of surreal landscapes, from warm tones to cool night skies
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