Mixed Media: linework, ink on paper; color and shading, digital.

Artist Statement

There’s a trope in art to draw a cross-section of earth—like a glass ant-farm terrarium—in order to reveal what’s buried. These types of illustrations have always irritated me. It’s an impossible view! Even if dirt were removed in such a way as to enable such a view, it would most certainly destroy its integrity. What I’m saying is, to see what’s buried, one has to actually dig it up. There’s no safe, distant way to uncover secrets. One has to get out a shovel and dirty their hands. That, or something unexpected and unpredictable, needs to happen; maybe a great storm blows in and uproots trees from the ground, unearthing all those hidden things. 

---

About the Artist:

Kimmy Larksong (she/her) is an autistic writer and artist from the Eau Claire area, Wisconsin. She currently lives in Belgium with her husband Odin, a biomedical researcher, and their bunnies and chickens. When she isn’t creating, Kimmy volunteers as a wild animal rehabilitator. She cares for everything, from owls to foxes. The baby doves are her favorite. Her favorite apple is Magic Star, a Belgian exclusive, because they are always crisp, never sandy or spongy, and their flavor is the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. Her stories have been featured in The No Sleep Podcast, Flash & Dazzle Magazine, and The Piker Press, and her artwork has appeared in Flash Frog, Northern Spy Journal, and The Art of Autism. She serves as an intern and editor for Northern Spy. See her artwork or say hi @kimmy.creatures on Instagram.