evelyn dean

Wisdom from the Wood Original Art and Cards are my bread and butter, although I am always open to other illustration projects. I especially love projects with interesting characters to illustrate and large themes where nature, spirituality and whimsy all meet.

I studied art at High School of Art and Design in New York City, then went on to get a BFA in Art and Literature from Queens College located in Queens, NY. I have created a wide variety of work, including paintings, large outdoor public murals, botanical illustration, cartoons, logos, and children’s book art.

I have a published book that I co-wrote and illustrated, “Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild Places), Harper Collins. At the time I was living in NYC and leading wild plant foraging walks, as well as teaching classes on using wild plants for food and medicine. I feel that these experiences has increased my respect and empathy for the plant world, and this is reflected in my present work.

I have taught workshops in my home and occasionally other settings on print making, wood burning, painting techniques, and fabric art and more.

The Wisdom from the Wood Art is all based on having a closer connection to the tree I am working with. I approach my work in a very right brained way, I start with a wooden board (usually pine), and let the energy of the grain do the talking. I design the piece and then I take my wood burner out and start etching into the wood. From there I let images form that energize the story being created. Then I decide if I will paint it as well. Some pieces need to be etched and naked, others  beg for
paint.