By: Leah Cordova
From Ticonderoga, N.Y., old soul Markie teRiele is an artist whose work highlights adventurers on quests that embody both beauty and surrealism. Now a sophomore, teRiele recalls loving art at a very young age.
“I’d draw every day,” teRiele said, “I’d feel like the day was wasted if I didn’t make anything.”
Growing up, she showcased her work in local town art shows and took a few basic art classes at school. She mentioned that it was her “cool, grungy high school teachers” who helped with her work and inspired her.
“It was somewhat of a free-for-all. They would assign a piece, but always gave us creative control,” teRiele said.
Perhaps this explains the parade of inventiveness that Markie’s artwork exhibits. While her artistic stance is traditional, there is a visceral dreaminess to it, too. It brings whimsical creatures to life, making the work more than just a doodle. Each piece is playful, yet mysterious, as imagination is evoked though several colorful characters.
What is also compelling about TteRiele’s creations is the array of texture throughout them. Whether they be intricate zombie men or “Pocky Art,” her work varies in dimension, medium, and paper-pen universe. A delicate sunflower looks to be sighing her day’s passing while Zooey Deschanel makes a quick phone call, surrounded by a number of bizarre animals (Zooey would happen to have a rotary dial for such situations).
Art is an interdisciplinary process that one can explore in multiple ways.
“I received a drawing tablet from Santa, and have only been dabbling with it for a few weeks,” teRiele said.
Regardless, her latest project gives a masterful appearance. It is a fusion of musical history and contemporary animation. With or without technology, teRiele’s phantasmagorical creativity reaches new heights no matter the medium at hand.
“Sometimes people buy $30 dollar pens and suddenly expect amazing results. But you can make something “good” with anything.”
To teRiele, anyone can find inspiration and create – even if they use a paper-mate, sharpie, or digital pen to do so.
When she’s not being a studious psychology major, Spanish/French minor, teRiele is probably drawing, listening to Fleetwood Mac, or reflecting on her recent L.O.V.E trip to Arizona. Be sure to see some of her work in issues of Manhattan Magazine.