Elise Crane is a self-taught Cartoonist who is currently producing indie projects.
Biography
Elise is a Christian Cartoonist and writer with a deep love for storytelling. While she doesn't write explicitly Christian fiction, her work often explores Christian themes and concepts through symbolic and surreal narratives.
She holds academic training in both psychology and theology, and has long been fascinated by human behavior; why people do what they do, and how belief, emotion, and imagination intertwine.
Though she originally aspired to work in animation, Elise discovered graphic novels during a season of self-directed art education and was drawn to their narrative potential. She now uses the medium as a more flexible and accessible way to bring her stories to life.
When she's not working on her projects, Elise enjoys time with her family and pets, watching films, playing video games, reading books, diving into new and various subjects and trying to pick up hobbies that she won't eventually turn into work.
Artist Statement
When it comes to illustration, I strive to create characters that are more representational or symbolic, with an emphasis on gesture and exaggerated shape language that points towards the whimsical and the uncanny. This look is further bolstered by way of the environments that I strive to frame the characters with. Which is inspired by 18th and 19th century theater design. My overall finish is designed to digitally replicate the feeling of aged paper with graphite line and watercolor wash to add a warm vintage storybook feel to my work.
Writing Statement
My writing genre would be properly categorized under the genre of Fabulism. To achieve this type of story I personally tend to mix genres like Surrealism, Magical Realism, Fairy/Folktales, and The Fantastique to create my work.
Education
2005-2010
Liberty University
Multidisciplinary Studies - Psychology, Bible, Theology.
2010-2015
Liberty University
Masters of Arts in Human Services Counseling Crises Response and Trauma.
2016-Present
Self education in Illustration, Sequential Art, and Creative Writing.
Awards
20?
One Day ∠(:3」∠)_