Piece of the Week: ‘Cyclops Spider’ by Liransz
Rarely we come across a children’s book illustration that’s so captivating it delights us no matter how old we are. “Cyclops Spider” by Liransz is one of these captivating, delightful pieces. A Cyclops Spider warmly ushering around a small boy in the forrest conjurs memories of backyard forts where weeds became jungles and ice-cream buckets became necessary helmets for battle. While the message of the illustration could illicit a nostalgia for a simpler, innocent time in our lives, Liransz has executed this majestical lush portrait with artistic maturity captured straight from those golden rays of sun.
"Cyclops Spider" by Liransz
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said:
"To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood."
I was floored by the technical detail in Liransz’s piece. Look at the wet glint on the eyeball of the Cyclops Spider, or the light rays and golden sparkles surrounding the little boy’s loot-on-a-stick over his shoulder. Check out the texturally lush fur on the spider, asking us to reach out for a quick pat.
This illustration was made with a pronounced knowledge that everyone — children and adults and those somewhere in between love juicy details, and intricate moments awaiting to be discovered in an image. Because of its furry glow and display of technical wonder, “Cyclops Spider” is our Piece of the Week.
Check out Lirasz’s process video below to demonstrate exactly how this artwork was born. Seriously cool stuff!
Liransz can still see nature. She can still see the sun. She has retained this remarkable spirit of infancy in her illustrations that make our inner child melt. And then pick up our wooden sword post-haste. As Liransz has a background in graphic design and currently works in the gaming industry, it’s evident in the way she’s carefully framed her subjects by thick green leaves and created a character study wonder.
Click here to see more of Liransz’s work and support her by picking up some prints, shirts, and more.
