• A mystical forest scene with a magical female figure sitting on a tree, surrounded by ferns and mushrooms, holding a staff with glowing symbols. She wears an elaborate headdress and has plant-like features. An owl is flying in front of her.
  • Bren_Reads_to_the_Raccoon
  • A fantasy painting of a female warrior wielding a mace, in the midst of a battle with soldiers and banners in the background.
  • Two fantasy warriors engaged in battle, one wielding a large axe and shield, the other attacking with a sword; castles and flying birds in the background.

illustration

I specialize in fantasy and sci-fi world-building . In each composition I strive to incorporate movement and depth to evoke wonder and delight in the viewer.

A fantasy scene of a glowing yellow coral dome with various sea creatures and a humanoid figure in an underwater landscape at night, illuminated by moonlight and glowing orbs.
A fantasy scene depicting a humanoid coyote reading a book while sitting on a mossy ground in a dark, enchanted forest. Nearby, a raccoon is resting. The forest is illuminated by a lamp hanging from a staff.
A mystical forest scene with a magical female figure sitting on a tree, surrounded by ferns and mushrooms, holding a staff with glowing symbols. She wears an elaborate headdress and has plant-like features. An owl is flying in front of her.
A fantasy battle scene with a fierce armored warrior wielding a double-edged axe and a shield engaging a snake-like creature in armor; both fighting on a rocky ledge with a castle in the background, amidst flying birds and a bright sky.
Book cover titled 'The King and the Dragon's Warning' by Aidan Holloway-Bidwell, featuring a cartoon king with a crown, a large purple dragon, a castle, birds, clouds, and a sun with rays.
Painting of a fierce female warrior with long dark hair, holding a large battle mace, surrounded by soldiers in armor with flags and weapons, set against a bright blue sky and clouds.
A cartoon-style goblin with green skin and beady eyes jumping in the air wielding a large cleaver, surrounded by a chaotic battlefield with spears and battlements in the background.

CONCEPT ART

World-building. Character development. Narrative. These are integral to the work I do! I love bringing unique universes to life with visual exploration.

A collection of eight fantasy-style characters, each with unique costumes and weapons, labeled from A to H.
An illustrated character named Asmotha, the occult pilgrim, who is a member of the Coventa Cataraxes society of witches. She has pale green skin, pointed ears, and wears a hat with dried grasses and twigs. She holds a staff and is dressed in a dark,
A humanoid snake dressed in a fantasy royal outfit with armor, a sash, and a long dress, standing and holding an ornate rapier.

About me

Hi! I’m aidan.

A smiling man with glasses, wearing a gray cap, pink hoodie, and a red backpack, standing in front of a bush with pink flowers and green leaves, with trees in the background.

My Background

I graduated with a degree in computer science from Carleton College, was a coder at Google and Democracy Works for 6 years, and now I’m working as a design engineer and illustrator while getting my MFA in illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

My goal

I aim to make fantasy feel as tangible as reality.

I see each assignment as a puzzle to solve. The client provides a number of oddly-shaped pieces: the overarching theme; the essential characters and details such as garb and environment; the moment in time to be depicted as well as the moments preceding and following it. It’s up to me to figure out how all these pieces fit together visually.

I work primarily in acrylic paint, a medium which rewards quick, expressive mark making. I build the painting up slowly, similar to oil, working in gestural glazes before tightening up the essential details and areas of interest. Occasionally, I’ll augment the piece with colored pencil or a fine airbrushing of gouache.

I take immense inspiration from the Golden Age illustrator N.C. Wyeth, as well as contemporary painters like Ray Bonilla and Jesper Ejsing. These painters’ sense of light and shadow, direction of movement, and strong storytelling resonate with me. They provide my stylistic guiding stars by which I navigate each project I undertake.

I’m currently fleshing out multiple science-fiction and fantasy worlds. Some are in collaboration with clients, and some are personal projects born from my own imagination. In all of them, I enjoy the balance of fleshing out impactful, action-oriented visuals with fine-tuned attention to worldbuilding detail.

My work

I’ve developed character sheets for private clients, as well as custom illustrations for clients’ Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. My work has been shown at the Society of Illustrators and Creative Quarterly. I’ve also tabled at the IX Art Show (IlluxCon) and MoCCA Arts Fest.

I am proficient in traditional media as well as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Blender, Procreate, and Procreate Dreams.

I’m always seeking to learn new tools and skills. I pride myself in communicating clearly and professionally with my teammates and clients throughout a project.

the rest

I grew up in the bustling forests of Western Massachusetts. When not painting, I enjoy hiking, horror movies, horror movie podcasts, and cooking. I live in Brooklyn with my partner.

contact

aidan@aidandraws.com