Jenna Barton’s illustrations transport us into a world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs, encapsulating the mysterious essence of dark fauna. Her artwork is a captivating blend of shadowy animals and serene landscapes, creating scenes that are both dreamlike and eerie. Set against the backdrop of moody locales, her subjects navigate through environments that evoke childhood memories of rural Idaho and present-day Utah. These illustrations delve into the emotional undercurrents of loneliness and curiosity, capturing the haunting beauty of nature intertwined with subtle human elements like radio towers and power lines. The absence of people enhances the mystique, allowing nature to reclaim its narrative within these serene yet unsettling spaces.
Barton’s art invites us to explore these liminal spaces, challenging perceptions of the natural world through her haunting interpretations. By integrating elements of isolation and the surreal, she crafts a visual narrative that resonates on an instinctual level. Her work is a testament to the complexity of human emotions experienced in solitary settings, where imagination reigns free. Each piece is a story waiting to be unfurled, offering a window into a world where shadows and light dance in harmony, painting a picture of unsettling beauty. It’s a realm where viewers are encouraged to reflect on the invisible connections between humanity and nature, evoking a sense of wonder and introspection in equal measure.
I hark back a lot to my childhood in Idaho, as well as looking to my current environment in Utah, to inform my work. I’d like to capture the strange emotions that I always felt in rural and empty places, and the daydreams I’ve had there. It’s those luminal spaces that I like best, and I’m interested in the structures that bring the human world into nature – radio towers, houses, power lines – especially in the absence of humans themselves.
Jenna Barton
