• Illustration
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Tyler Smith Owings

An Illustrator in Portland, Oregon

  • Illustration
  • About
  • Contact

Ursula K Le Guin

Personal Work, 2023

An illustrated portrait of one of my favorite authors, Ursula K Le Guin. I love her thoughtful and intricate world-building and they way her sci-fi and fantasy stories center on compassion and understanding rather than violence. I also find it amazing that she would casually include queer themes in her books, which seems, to me, very ahead of the times considering some of them were written in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

Strawberries and Ladybugs

Personal Work, 2018

Gardening

Personal Work, 2023

I recently moved into a house with a yard and garden. It’s been a trip watching what comes up as the seasons change and I’ve even begun planting a few things of my own. I thought I would do a few editorial style illustrations based on my experiences.

Zodiac Series: Aries

Personal Work, 2023

As a challenge, I decided to do a series of Zodiac illustrations for 2023. I’m not much of an astrology follower, but I do love drawing stars, animals, and mythological creatures. Since each zodiac sign saddles two months, I thought it would be fun to illustrate the birth flowers associated with those months. There are a couple of birth flower charts, but for Aries, I went with daffodils for March and daisies for April.

Zodiac Series: Gemini

Personal Work, 2023

As a challenge, I decided to do a series of Zodiac illustrations for 2023. I’m not much of an astrology follower, but I do love drawing stars, animals, and mythological creatures. Since each zodiac sign saddles two months, I thought it would be fun to illustrate the birth flowers associated with those months. There are a couple of birth flower charts, but for Gemini, I went with hawthorn for May and roses for June.

Zodiac Series: Taurus

Personal Work, 2023

As a challenge, I decided to do a series of Zodiac illustrations for 2023. I’m not much of an astrology follower, but I do love drawing stars, animals, and mythological creatures. Since each zodiac sign saddles two months, I thought it would be fun to illustrate the birth flowers associated with those months. There are a couple of birth flower charts, but for Taurus, I went with sweet pea for April and lily of the valley for May.

Cover for Some Strange Disturbaces Issue Three

2022

Client: Headless Shakespeare Press

Art Director: Craig Hurd McKenney

This cover is for the third issue of the Victorian horror series: Some Strange Disturbances. It’s always a treat when I get to do a new cover for Craig because he is a dream to collaborate with. This issues included some really fun elements to play with: a dastardly villain, a wedding, and an ancient horror - what’s not to love!

Cover for Some Strange Disturbances Issue Two

2020

Client: Headless Shakespeare Press

Art Director: Craig Hurd McKenney

This was the second cover I got to draw for the Victorian horror series Some Strange Disturbances. I love working with Craig and getting to a part if his queer and diverse take on Victorian horror is a gift. Each story has a lot crammed (effortlessly and artfully) so it’s fun challenge to try and incorporate as much as I can into the cover image.

Cover for Some Strange Disturbances: A Cold Winter's Eve

2020

Client: Headless Shakespeare Press

Art Director: Craig Hurd McKenney

This is the third cover I was asked to do for the Victorian horror series Some Strange Disturbances. This issue is a break from the series and is an anthology issue so the cover was designed to set the tone for the issue, rather than highlight any story elements.

Spot Illustrations for Hideous Daylight RPG

2020

Art Director: Brad Kerr

These are a few spot Illustrations I was commissioned to do for Brad Kerr’s Hideous Daylight RPG game. These are just a few of the unstoppable threats you come across in a kingdom where the sun never sets: A mermaid with stretchy arms that wants to pull you under the water, a carnivorous rabbit, a succubus trapped in a mirror and a giant, blood-thirsty rat.

Flowers from Mom's Garden

Personal Work, 2021

My mom was a painter who made large scale oil paintings of flowers. She was my first art teacher and, In fact, she taught art at the small school I went to from kindergarten to high-school senior. She was also an avid gardener and I remember summers filled with beds of roses, lilies, poppies, hollyhocks, tulips and many many more. She passed away many years ago, but I think drawing flowers helps keep me feel connected to her. I hope to keep adding to this series with more flowers and memories.

Zodiac Series: Cancer

Personal Work, 2023

As a challenge, I decided to do a series of Zodiac illustrations for 2023. I’m not much of an astrology follower, but I do love drawing stars, animals, and mythological creatures. Since each zodiac sign saddles two months, I thought it would be fun to illustrate the birth flowers associated with those months. There are a couple of birth flower charts, but for Taurus, I went with sweet pea for April and lily of the valley for May.

Ursula K Le Guin

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Strawberries and Ladybugs

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Gardening

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Zodiac Series: Aries

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Zodiac Series: Gemini

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Zodiac Series: Taurus

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Cover for Some Strange Disturbaces Issue Three

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Cover for Some Strange Disturbances Issue Two

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Cover for Some Strange Disturbances: A Cold Winter's Eve

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Spot Illustrations for Hideous Daylight RPG

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Flowers from Mom's Garden

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Zodiac Series: Cancer

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