Self-portrait artist unveils series inspired by Robert Munsch
Posted January 31, 2022 10:11 pm.
Last Updated January 31, 2022 10:20 pm.
A Canadian artist has unveiled a nostalgic self-portrait series, inspired by the iconic stories of Robert Munsch.
Serena Deschner began creating self-portrait photoshoots at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her most recent series was inspired by Munsch’s beloved stories, and their unforgettable illustrations by Michael Martchenko.
An #Edmonton-based artist, has unveiled a nostalgic self-portrait series!@SerenaDeschner began creating self-portrait photoshoots at the start of the pandemic. Her latest series is based on children's books written by #RobertMunsch, and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. pic.twitter.com/4pMWYKiE5V
— vanessadoban(Taylor’s Version) ???? (@vanessadoban) February 1, 2022
Deschner, who lives in Edmonton, says a visit with her younger nieces inspired her to create this particular photoshoot series.
“I was looking at all the books, my mom still had all them from when we were kids, and that’s kind of what sparked the idea to do them,” Deschner explains.
She says, while most people feel a connection to the stories themselves, like The Paper Bag Princess, Mortimer, and Stephanie’s Ponytail, for Deschner — it’s the pictures she remembers most.
“A lot of the makeup was really inspired by the books’ illustrator, Michael Martchenko,” whose style she describes as both familiar and brilliant.
Like many Canadians, she grew up with these stories, and a visit with her younger nieces inspired her to turn them into a Munsch/Martchenko self-portrait series.
“My mom still had them from when we were younger, so that’s kind of what sparked the idea…” says Deschner. pic.twitter.com/Nw80EyeWfB
— vanessa doban (@vanessadoban) February 1, 2022
Deschner, who is 22, says she’s received many positive reactions to the series, which she posts on Tiktok and Instagram. A lot of the positive feedback comes from other Canadians who grew up with the books.
“It’s really amazing being able to turn something that I read as a kid into a piece of art, now that I’m older.”
Deschner says she didn’t expect her series to reach so many people who also loved Munsch’s books as kids, when she started this series.
“Sometimes when I do series, I honestly expect no one to like them. I just kind of create, and just expect no one to like them but me, and then when anyone does like them, it kind of blows my mind,” she tells CityNews.
“People are reminiscing on their childhood with my series.”
Deschner says it was mind-blowing to receive so much positive feedback from people across Canada, adding she chose to do this series simply to strengthen her own skills as a self-portrait artist: “The only way you’re going to get better at painting, is painting…” pic.twitter.com/XpN1xRuIxL
— vanessa doban (@vanessadoban) February 1, 2022
Deschner says she hopes if Munsch does ever see the artwork he inspired her to make, he would recognize her love for his stories.
“I would love for Robert Munsch to see them – but I’m not 100 per cent sure he would really understand,” she says.
Munsch, who wrote over 100 books, many perennial best-sellers, revealed he has dementia in October 2021.
“I was told by one of the people who commented on my video, that the one thing he does still remember is his stories,” Deschner says.
