ADVERTISEMENT

Owen Gent is an artist from Bristol who has been working as an illustrator for over ten years. Owen is known for his contemporary, melancholic illustrations that serve as a visual metaphor.

In an interview with Bored Panda, the artist shared that his illustration style leans toward a painterly approach as he comes from a fine art, traditional oil painting background. Most of Owen's work is meant for editorial, meaning they are created for magazines and newspapers. He said: "I’ll get given an article to react to, and I'll read that and try and distill it and come up with a way of interpreting that image which is sympathetic to the article but also adds perhaps another angle and in an ideal world draws readers to it and also allows that reader to project themselves into that visual space."

Owen added: "I try and focus not too much on specific features and rather use imagery which allows space for people to project concepts and ideas into. I hope that it's beautiful. I try and find the place where beauty and melancholy kind of meet and synchronize. Hopefully."

More info: Instagram | owengent.com | behance.net

#1

Illustration by Owen Gent depicting a remote house amidst silhouettes of dark birds, blending beauty and melancholy.

owen_gent Report

Add photo comments
POST

Owen shared what initially drew him to the world of artistry.

“I don’t think there was even a moment where I was drawn to it, I just kind of did it. I've always wanted to make things, create things, as a kid I always wanted to build things from scratch and saw that like whatever Lego or anything that you could make things out of was really limiting, so I've just always wanted to make stuff in a way that fitted me, really. Always painted, always wanted to make, even draw, so yeah, I guess the answer is it was always, always there, don't know what drew it to me.”

RELATED:
    #2

    A person walking along shadowy buildings with a large wolf shadow, illustrating beauty and melancholy synchronization.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #3

    Illustration by Owen Gent, blending beauty and melancholy in vibrant colors and reflective expressions.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST

    As the artist already mentioned, his creative ideas often revolve around the articles he illustrates. Owen shared that he tries to use intriguing metaphors, without being too specific, to create a world which draws the readers in.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Elderly man with glasses looks at his reflection, revealing a colorful brain. Illustration by Owen Gent, blending beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #5

    A figure with wings illuminated by light, capturing the blend of beauty and melancholy in Owen Gent's illustration.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Riddle Me Fish
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not impressed with most of these but this one really spoke to me

    We were wondering what Owen hopes for audiences to take away from his artwork.

    “In the illustration world, this depends on what the point of the article, or if it's a book cover, the book, or an album cover, what the album is. Hopefully, I've helped back up whatever feeling, or concept, or idea that that client wants to put forward. But in my own work, and if I'm adding myself to it, I very much hope that an audience feels something. Feels something beautiful, feels affected in some way, maybe sentimental, or nostalgic, or just... Yeah, if I come away from a painting I love, I want to feel warm, and I want it to stay with me, and maybe leave me a little puzzle to solve later on,” said Owen.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Illustration by Owen Gent: a figure combining beauty and melancholy stands near a tree with vibrant, surreal colors.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #7

    A figure holds a light beam in a dark, melancholic forest, creating a path through the trees, capturing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST

    Lastly, Owen added: “Follow me on Instagram, take a look at my website. There are lots more projects there and some more kind of thorough, deep dives into my work. I also have a children's book called That's Nice Love, which is available in several languages now, but in English with Book Island. There's a link to that in the shop, in my website, where I sell prints and calendars in various bits. But yeah, just keep an eye on my work, really, and I hope you find something in there that resonates with you or leads you on to some interesting books or articles. And thanks for reading.”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    A blue hand giving a thumbs-up, with a small figure hanging from the thumb, blending beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #10

    A silhouette with teardrop patterns represents beauty and melancholy in Owen Gent's illustration.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #11

    Abstract illustration of a person meditating, capturing beauty and melancholy through soft colors and overlapping figures.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Riddle Me Fish
    Community Member
    1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you've asked someone to repeat themselves 4 times and you still couldn't hear

    #12

    Illustration by Owen Gent of a silhouette and two figures, blending beauty and melancholy with symbolic clouds and desk.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #13

    Melancholic illustration by Owen Gent depicting a raised hand with vibrant earth tones and a small figure on a fingertip.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Abstract illustration by Owen Gent, showcasing beauty and melancholy with layered visual effect.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #15

    A surreal illustration by Owen Gent depicting a balance of beauty and melancholy, featuring scales and a distant figure.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #16

    A meditative illustration by Owen Gent, merging beauty and melancholy under a starlit sky.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #17

    Illustration of two people sharing coffee, capturing the beauty and melancholy in their expressions, by Owen Gent.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #18

    A person pushes over giant dominoes in a surreal artwork, emphasizing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #19

    Abstract illustration with muted colors, blending beauty and melancholy by Owen Gent.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #21

    A man stands by a window, deep in thought, with flags framing the view, capturing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #22

    Illustration of a white house surrounded by vibrant flowers, blending beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #24

    A silhouette on stairs, vibrant colors evoke beauty and melancholy in Owen Gent's illustration.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #25

    Two figures and a cat on a balcony, with a large sun, illustrating beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #26

    Boat near a large iceberg with red and blue lines in Owen Gent's illustration, merging beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #27

    Illustration of a woman looking away, capturing beauty and melancholy with shadowed details, by Owen Gent.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #28

    A person in a white shirt gazes at a house engulfed in smoke, capturing beauty and melancholy in Owen Gent's illustration.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    A person stands with an umbrella amid colorful raindrops, blending beauty and melancholy in a vibrant illustration.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #31

    Silhouette of a woman in a colorful setting, capturing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #32

    Illustration of a woman in a white dress standing amidst abstract red and pink forms, capturing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #33

    A surreal illustration by Owen Gent featuring a figure floating above an outstretched hand, set against a vivid red background.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #34

    Illustration of a sad yet beautiful figure with teal hair on an orange background, reflecting beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #35

    Silhouette with saxophonist and dancers in a melancholic illustration by Owen Gent.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #36

    Abstract illustration by Owen Gent depicting a couple in vibrant colors, combining beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #37

    Silhouette of a kneeling person reaching upward, set against an orange background, illustrating beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #38

    Abstract illustration by Owen Gent, where beauty and melancholy synchronize with a vibrant, flowing figure.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #39

    A layered portrait illustration by Owen Gent, combining beauty and melancholy in soft hues and textures.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #40

    Two figures in a window share an intimate moment, symbolizing beauty and melancholy with warm hues and gentle shadows.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #41

    Illustration of a person facing a blank silhouette on a textured blue background, evoking beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #42

    Tennis illustration by Owen Gent, capturing beauty and melancholy, with a player’s leg and racquet.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #43

    Abstract illustration blending beauty and melancholy, featuring a figure with colorful patterns against a vibrant backdrop.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #44

    Silhouette intertwined with geometric shapes and red lines, capturing beauty and melancholy.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #45

    A couple dances with the American flag under a vibrant sky, capturing beauty and melancholy in harmony.

    owen_gent Report

    Add photo comments
    POST