For over 3 weeks, Portland-based illustrator Aaron Trotter wandered the cobblestone streets of Paris; exploring, looking, and drawing in his sketchbook. With the help of local Parisians, he collected enough images to complete a 7th deck of Illustrated Playing Cards. Each drawing was originally sketched on location then finished with pen and ink at Trotter’s NE Portland studio.
Over 2 years ago Trotter started drawing Portland to exhibit and distribute as postcards, greeting cards, and framed prints. Eventually he illustrated over 100 different places, and decided to showcase the work in a deck of cards. Thanks to local support and a successful online fundraiser through Kickstarter.com, Trotter began producing decks as signed, numbered, and limited editions with local printer City Graphics (222 SW 4th). His goal is to create a world series of 52 cities.
The artist will also be celebrating the release of the 24th printing of Portland cards since November 2010.
LISTING INFORMATION:
WHO: Aaron Voronoff Trotter
WHAT: Paris illustrated playing cards – first printing release party
WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, 6-8pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.
A selection of original art will be on display for one night only
BIO INFORMATION:
Aaron’s drawings celebrate history and place in an old-fashioned way that is influenced by the Renaissance etchings of Albrecht Durer and Andreas Mantegna. He draws on location, sketching the composition with a ballpoint pen. Later he embellishes and crosshatches the details at his studio using his Great-Aunt Ethel’s 1910 ink pen.
By drawing on-site, he becomes a participant of each place. The rain of the Northwest has an influence on almost every composition. Since June 2010, he’s drawn over 200 places in Portland. Since February, he’s illustrated 52 places each for Vancouver B.C., Seattle, and Astoria. Recently Aaron returned from Europe where he drew Paris and Torres Novas (Portugal).