Portfolio
I specialize in fantasy and sci-fi world-building. I draw from a deep visual library built upon years of studying fantasy games, movies, and books.
Reclusive Mage
Acrylic & gouache on board — 18 x 14 in
Bloodcliff Keep
Acrylic & gouache on board — 14 x 18 in
Pecca Pocca
Acrylic & gouache on board — 28 x 18 in
Pecca Botan
Acrylic & gouache on board — 28 x 18 in
Symphonic Sphinx
Acrylic on board — 18 x 14 in
Mech Factory Riveter
Acrylic on board — 18 x 14 in
Mistress Omelega
Acrylic on board — 14 x 18 in
Antenna Technician
Acrylic on board — 14 x 18 in
Antling, Unseeded, and Platypup
Acrylic on board — 14 x 18 in
Bren Reads to the Raccoon
Acrylic & gouache on board — 18 x 14 in
Books
Storytelling is a passion of mine, especially worldbuilding. I like to explore themes of humanity and existential threats, balanced with humor and whimsy.
hi! i'm aidan
I grew up exploring the serene forests of Western Massachusetts. I've drawn ever since I was a kid.
I graduated with a degree in computer science from Carleton College, was a coder for 6 years, and now work as a design engineer and illustrator. I received my MFA in illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2026.
When not painting, I enjoy hiking, horror movies, horror movie podcasts, and cooking. I live in Brooklyn with my partner.
contact
aidan@aidandraws.com
my work
I've developed character sheets for private clients, as well as custom illustrations for clients' Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. My work has been shown at the Society of Illustrators and Creative Quarterly. I've also tabled at the IX Art Show (IlluxCon) and MoCCA Arts Fest.
I am experienced in acrylic painting as well as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Blender, Procreate, and Procreate Dreams.
I'm always seeking to learn new tools and skills. I pride myself in communicating clearly and professionally with my teammates and clients throughout a project.
my goal
I aim to make fantasy feel as tangible as reality.
I see each piece as a puzzle to solve. The client provides a number of oddly-shaped pieces: the overarching theme; the essential characters and details such as garb and environment; the moment in time to be depicted as well as the moments preceding and following it. It's up to me to figure out how all these pieces fit together visually.
I work primarily in acrylic paint. I build the painting up slowly, similar to oil, working in gestural glazes before tightening up the essential details and areas of interest. Occasionally, I'll augment the piece with colored pencil or a fine airbrushing of gouache.
I take immense inspiration from the Golden Age illustrator N.C. Wyeth, as well as contemporary painters like Ray Bonilla and Jesper Ejsing. These painters' sense of light and shadow, direction of movement, and strong storytelling resonate with me. They provide my stylistic guiding stars by which I navigate each project I undertake.
I'm currently fleshing out multiple science-fiction and fantasy worlds. Some are in collaboration with clients, and some are personal projects born from my own imagination. In all of them, I enjoy the balance of fleshing out impactful, action-oriented visuals with fine-tuned attention to worldbuilding detail.









