Abby Wajda | SUNY Oswego

Abigail Wajda
Illustrator
Staatsburg, New York
[email protected]

Biography

Abby Wajda is an illustrator from Hyde Park, New York. She began her college career practicing Animal Science at the University of Maine and quickly transitioned from studying the anatomy of cows to studying new trends and techniques in the world of illustration. Although she's switched tracks, the outdoors continue to be a significant source of inspiration for her artwork. Starting at SUNY Oswego with a studio emphasis, she now enjoys using both traditional and digital media in her work. In the future, she hopes to use her artistic abilities to work as an illustrator for an outdoor-based company.

Artist Statement

Over the past few years, my artistic career has consisted mostly of work created for others, whether they’re a friend, professor, or employer. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to create work purely for myself. Through this show, I’ve had the freedom to choose exactly what I wanted to do. I’ve gotten to use the skills I’ve acquired during my time here at Oswego to experiment with different aspects of the art and design world and where I fit into it. Looking back on where I was three years ago versus where I am now, combined with the ability to create whatever I wanted this semester, has helped me to narrow down the many career opportunities that the art world has to offer. It’s allowed me to realize that illustration is where I feel the most comfortable, and I’ve grown to love the ways I’m able to incorporate it with other things that I love. This past semester, I’ve grown to love the spontaneity and emotions that watercolor illustrations are able to convey. This collection is inspired both by my recent interest in watercolors and my love of nature. I plan on continuing to experiment with watercolors, and I hope to find a career where I am able to focus on art within the natural world.

An abstracted dog, similar to a pitbull, painted using watercolors. Small shapes outlining random splotches of color are shaded in using stippling. In certain areas, black ink is used to outline the dog and create a fur texture. Colored pencils were used to solidify shapes.

“Rainbow Dog”
Watercolor, ink, colored pencils
8 1⁄2” x 10”
March 2020
An abstracted dog, similar to a pitbull, painted using watercolors. Small shapes outlining random splotches of color are shaded in using stippling. In certain areas, black ink is used to outline the dog and create a fur texture. Colored pencils were used to solidify shapes.

A simple line drawing done in ink pen gives the illusion of a face, with black and white watercolor patterns in the background.

“Black and White”
Watercolor, ink
7 1⁄2” x 10 1⁄2”
April 2020
A simple line drawing done in ink pen gives the illusion of a face, with black and white watercolor patterns in the background.

The bright purple face of a deer is illuminated by headlights coming from the top left corner of the painting. Orange and yellow is used to highlight deer, and its eyes are opened wide and appear to be in shock. Ink was used to outline the deer.

“Caught in the Headlights”
Watercolor, ink, colored pencils.
12” x 8”
April 2020
The bright purple face of a deer is illuminated by headlights coming from the top left corner of the painting. Orange and yellow is used to highlight deer, and its eyes are opened wide and appear to be in shock. Ink was used to outline the deer.

Part One of the Moth Triptychs. Three moths are flying up to the top right corner of the piece. The moths are in different stages of flight and each one is larger than the one before it, indicating that they are the same moth flying upwards. The moths are flying against a black background, where a watercolor brush was used to create textures. The moths are outlined in gold, and are not colored in, so the texture of the background is showing in their bodies.

Moth, #1, #2, #3
Digital Painting
15 1⁄2” x 12”
May 2020
Part One of the Moth Triptychs. Three moths are flying up to the top right corner of the piece. The moths are in different stages of flight and each one is larger than the one before it, indicating that they are the same moth flying upwards. The moths are flying against a black background, where a watercolor brush was used to create textures. The moths are outlined in gold, and are not colored in, so the texture of the background is showing in their bodies.

On a vertical canvas, the moth continues to fly upwards from the bottom left corner to the top right corner, getting progressively larger. The watercolor texture background is similar to the first in the series, but gets lighter around the top right corner behind the largest moth. The outlines of the moths are drawn in gold.

Moth #2
Digital Painting
12 1⁄2” x 17 1⁄2”
May 2020
On a vertical canvas, the moth continues to fly upwards from the bottom left corner to the top right corner, getting progressively larger. The watercolor texture background is similar to the first in the series, but gets lighter around the top right corner behind the largest moth. The outlines of the moths are drawn in gold.

The last painting of the series is on an almost square canvas. It features one large moth coming from the bottom left corner and taking over most of the space. The background has a soft yellow light coming from the top right corner, where the moth’s face is pointed.

Moth #3
Digital Painting
15 1⁄2” x 15”
May 2020
The last painting of the series is on an almost square canvas. It features one
large moth coming from the bottom left corner and taking over most of the space. The background has a soft yellow light coming from the top right corner, where the moth’s face is pointed.