Sam Wolfe Connelly is a young illustrator based in Virginia, who studied at the Savanah College of Art and Design (or SCAD as it’s colloquially known).
His work has been shown in the Society of Illustrators 2010 Student Show, Creative Quarterly, the 2009 SCADDY’s and on NewYorkTimes.com.
Connelly’s work, which is frequently a mix of digital and traditional media, utilizes a delicate lines, subdued textures and controlled colors; producing a restrained, understated look that is in keeping with his penchant for offbeat and occasionally macabre subjects.
I particularly like the relationship he creates between his foreground subjects and the rough and sometimes patterned textures of his backgrounds.
His website features a portfolio of finished work, along with sketches and a section of designs for T-shirts and other articles.
Connelly also maintains a blog in which he posts and discusses work in progress.
I’m all for inspiration. I’m just not sure where the line is. Connelly’s work seems like Sam Weber with a little bit of Mathew Woodson. He seems, without doubt, to be a talented draftsman and smart with both process and color- but this is almost too much. It’s very hard to not be mimetic with those you look up to, but is certainly what separates a lot of the goods from the greats.