George Butler
Drawn to War

Editorial

Commissioned | Professional

Why did you make this work:
I was commissioned to record the stories of ordinary people in Ukraine, from life, during the first month of the Russian Invasion. I interviewed and drew people like Madame Olga, 99 and Vova, age 7 who's stories could have otherwise easily been forgotten. I made about 40 drawings, in the Metro in Kharkiv, where others lived for months on end, and in the hospitals and empty streets.

What materials and techniques did you use?:
I draw from life using Pen, Ink and watercolour. Occassionally collaging material I find in the rubble.

How were your illustrations used:
They were used alongside a 4000 word essay which I wrote about the first month of the Russian Invasion, told from the point of view of the the people I sat and drew. The words were punctuated by the ink drawings and published in two languages.


Commissioner Name :
Paul Reyes from VQR (USA), Birthe Steinbeck SZ Magazin (Germany)
Commissioner Company :
SZ Magazin

Social Media:
twitter.com/george_butler
instagram.com/georgebutlerillustration

Personal Website:
georgebutler.org/

College:
Kingston


Currently Based:
United Kingdom (UK)

Biography:
George Butler is an award-winning illustrator but has reinvented the role of the Artist Reporter drawing conflict zones, climate issues, humanitarian issues for the news. His work has been shown in the Imperial War Museum North and is held in the V&A Collection. His drawings have been published by The Times (London), Monocle, New York Times, the Guardian, SZ Magazin, VQR, BBC, CNN, Der Spiegel.

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