Sketchbook: Elise Hatheway

Future tech and mythological mash-ups with grumpy oldsters and juvenile monster hunters on this animation artist's sketch pages

This animation artist reveals her scribbles.

Tail-Fin Soup

“I usually draw with a story in mind. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, I wanted the grim consequences of a fisherman’s catch of the day.”

Good Ol’ Stogie

“I’ve always loved sketching age, especially crusty ol’ men. The grumpier the better.”

Tricksy Tardigrade

“I started this drawing after my shiba chewed my Macbook cord. I wanted a story of a robotechnician and her mischievous water bear.”

Synthetic Signals

“I’m a huge fan of the 1995 Ghost in the Shell film. Humanistic cyborgs are just way more fun to draw than regular humans.”

Cyborgs are just way more fun to draw than regular humans

Falling for Connection

“Working in film, hubby and I endure many long-distance runs. After a month of no internet, I drew the longing to vid-chat.”

A Tribal Future

“I saw a fashion spread of Grace Bol, and instantly fell in love. Light’s reaction on dark skin is just spectacular.”

Reading different cultures and myths offers a playground of ideas for me

Eat Crow

“I reference a lot of mythologies in my work. Morrighan from Irish mythology visited the battlefield as a raven.”

Monster Lead Me Home

“Listening to Sara Hartman’s Monster Lead Me Home, this visual popped into my head. A serene but impending doom.”

The Dryad and Kodama

“Reading different cultures and myths offers a playground of ideas for me. Here’s a Greek and Japanese mythology mash up of tree spirits.”

A Place with a View

“My husband was writing a story and wanted ‘a cute little cottage on a cliff.’ A gnome hat cottage seemed spot-on.”