My name is Carsten Eichler.

 

I've been drawing (or building entire moonscapes for my LEGO astronauts) ever since I could hold a pencil.

 

That's usually the introductory description of many of my colleagues. And at the risk of sounding rehearsed and cliché-ridden by now:

somehow it's true after all, what can I say (shoulder shrug emoji).........

 

Early on, people thought I was a little artist. But I didn't want that at all. For me, artists were always a bit eccentric freaks with strange habits.

 

It was clear to me early on that I wanted to study graphic design.

There was never a plan B.

 

Plan A was implemented in exactly the same way after many rocky detours. 

In 2001, after 8 semesters at the HAWK Hildesheim (2 of them at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota USA), I had my diploma in my pocket.

 

 

 

However, my subsequent day-to-day work in advertising agencies quickly showed me that I was actually closer to being an artist than a graphic designer.

However, I would have liked to have come to this realization more quickly and easily. Well then, nobody can take the student parties away from me anymore....

 

I've been living with my wife, 2 daughters and a handful of chickens in a village in the middle of Lower Saxony for a few years now.

 

One of my habits has always been to wander off with my thoughts and immerse myself in visual ideas and other worlds. My wife always claims that these are the moments when she tells me something and I can't remember anything later.

However, that's exactly what I want:

Let these images and worlds out and make them accessible to people as best I can.

 

And you can be there and accompany me if you like.

 

As it's hard for me to commit to one style or technique, my main focus is on digital illustration and building or photographing dioramas.

 

 

In classic illustration, I like a loose line, which I use to create either landscapes (often inspired by the island of Fehmarn) or cartoons and children's book illustrations. When people notice that good old Franquin shines through in my drawings, you can't compliment me more....

 

I like to tell stories. Even with just one picture. That's why I always find it exciting to build small worlds and scenes with my dioramas that have a message.

Usually something happens, like a comet impact or a UFO crash. Or sometimes nothing at all. On closer inspection, the perfect world that appears to be depicted is anything but perfect. And that is precisely what is supposed to convey a feeling. Usually a queasy one, with a pleasant shiver. 

The images often have something subtly threatening about them. Without being able to say exactly why this is the case or what exactly evokes this mood.

 

And it is precisely this mood that is characterized by the mysterious Space Age era, with classic 60s architecture, UFOs, pleated pants, men with pipes and a lot of pulp.

Artists like Edward Hopper, John Brosio (to name just 2) and contemporary NASA photography are a few influences to be found here.

 

When I'm not sitting at my drawing tablet or building and photographing table top worlds, I'm tending to my chickens (even the ones with coops), sitting with good friends and a gin and tonic, mountain biking or watching a punk band in a club.

Or lie in my garden and let my thoughts drift off into the next world of images. My escapism.

But from now on, I'll be more careful that my wife doesn't want to tell me anything important at that moment.

 

I can't get out of this number...

 

I would be very happy if you could accompany me on my journey from time to time and see what's on my mind.

Maybe you like a picture so much that you think it would look great over your sofa. Then why don't you drop by my store from time to time?

You couldn't see me more happy. Seriously! 

 

If you want to know how my pictures are created, take a look behind the scenes. 

Go to Making Of and you can do just that.

 

You'll probably be so impressed by the genius and the amount of work that goes into my pictures that you won't be able to resist the urge to buy one of my works.

In that case, see block above and go to Shop........ (wink emoji)

 

Thanks for swinging by!