Carson Ellis
Carson Ellis is a prolific illustrator well-known for her work for Pacific NW band, The Decemberists. Her whimsical and detailed style often speaks of charming narratives and characters; dragons, cabarets, badgers with rickshaws in tow. These playful elements are put to wonderful use in her album artwork, and will soon be featured in a series of novels called Wildwood, a wondrous story about a brother and sister in Portland who find magic and mystery in the nearby woods of Forest Park. A collaboration with husband Colin Meloy (lead singer of The Decemberists) who penned the novel, it will be released at the end of August!
Until then, Carson's days are filled with illustrating; while I visited she sketched ideas for Laura Veir's upcoming album and worked on a new poster for The Decemberists. She does this happily and comfortably in her home in Linnton (right in between Portland and Sauvies Island) with Colin, her amazing son Hank, and two cats Fortinbras and Window. She also occasionally lends out her artistic genius to teach a fall illustration class for teenagers at The Portland Art Museum. Be sure to keep a look out for Wildwood, and Carson's other illustrations which can be found most easily below!
