BFA, Studio Art (Print & Narrative Forms)
sophiarvanhorne@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/fififofum_art/
Artist Statement
Ouroboros is a graphic novel that explores visual storytelling through worldbuilding and the comics format. This first chapter of a larger series follows a group of friends whose lives are forever changed when a supernatural storm threatens their town. We observe each character as their daily routines are thrown into disarray and they must either escape the storm or succumb to it. Do their stories end here, or is this a start of something greater? In creating this comic book, I focused on developing the individual characters and allowing their relationships to drive its central narrative. I created complementary portraits to accompany the comic book in order to give the viewer a sense of each individual’s personality and role in the story. The setting of Ouroboros draws visual inspiration from retro-futuristic aesthetics and science-fantasy tropes with an emphasis on the dichotomy between the fantastical and mundane. Throughout the book, and in the included concept art, the world of Ouroboros unfolds through its implicit worldbuilding and background elements that build upon the comic’s kitchen sink sci-fi setting. Ouroboros weaves together a story of friendship, humanity and the relationship between people and their environment. As I grow older, the world around me seems to be constantly changing, and not for the better. Between the wars, plagues and civil unrest, I find myself increasingly drawn to stories about kindness and comradery. The people of Ouroboros have found ways to live sustainably, and the main characters all harbor genuine love for each other. Though their world is changing in dangerous and frightening ways, ultimately their reliance on each other will be what sees them through the storm.
