Arts Thread

Elise Blakely
Illustration BA Hons

Camberwell College of Arts UAL

Graduates: 2025

Specialisms: Illustration / Animation / Cartoon & Comic Art

My location: London, United Kingdom

elise-blakely ArtsThread Profile
Camberwell College of Arts UAL

Elise Blakely

elise-blakely ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Elise

Last Name: Blakely

University / College: Camberwell College of Arts UAL

Course / Program: Illustration BA Hons

Graduates: 2025

Specialisms: Illustration / Animation / Cartoon & Comic Art

My Location: London, United Kingdom

Website: Click To See Website

About

While I have an extensive background in illustration, I have since moved onto exploring moving image primarily through animation. My inspiration is rooted in intersectionality, exploring identity and place through narratives that intend to highlight forgotten areas of the past, and close future. As I have grown as an animator I’ve tackled subjects like nuclear radiation, natural disasters, social justice and the housing crisis- to name a few- through both literal portrayal and more metaphorical means. Visually, my artistry stems from a lot of media I consumed in my formative years- innovative games like SSX Tricky, UPA style cartoons, and practitioners and teams such as Katsuhiro Otomo, Peter Chung, PlayDead and Media Molecule. I've taken little chunks of every piece of media that resonates with me to mould a festering amalgamation that has fed my visual language.

Laundromat meltdown

Following a criticality incident involving a stolen piece of Uranium and a local Mercury City laundromat, the genetic make up of everyone within a 5 mile radius is reworked. This project aims to explore the relationship between the government and the working class in light of a nuclear incident, taking inspiration from real case studies and speculative biology to craft an absurdist, character focused narrative. A mock-up pilot episode has been created setting the scene, with intention for further exploration. I want to better educate current generations on the power of community in light of oppressive government control. Animated in Toon Boom Harmony. Pilot Episode available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VfgaWrJ93U