Conceptual Illustration

Lauren Simkin Berke

This piece of conceptual illustration was done by Lauren Simkin Berke. It depicts two people sleeping on a heart shaped bed. They sleep facing away from each other, and the bed is split in two. The couple's dog sleeps between them. Berke uses line, texture, and color in her illustration. Her outlines give the characters a less realistic look. She also uses line to create the texture that depicts carpet. The carpet texture gives the characters an environment to be in and doesn't just leave them in empty space. Berkes use of washed out, and subdued color reinforces that this scene is a somber one. The only use of intense color is in the pillows which are both at the furthest corners of the bed, pulling it further apart. Berke's illustration is successful because she did not just simply depict an angry couple in their bed. By making the bed a heart shape, it tells us about what kind of fight they may have had. By parting the bed and putting the couple and their pillows at the furthest sides, she visually translates the distance a couple can feel while sharing a bed after and argument. All the decisions made by berke in her work makes this piece a strong example of conceptual illustration.