© 2020 — 2024
Drawn Exposures, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ABOUT
Motivation
Why Toy Photography?
Can a photograph be as dynamic as a hand-drawn illustration? Talented artists around the world have proven that drawings and paintings have the capacity to be produced with sensational photorealism, but can it work the other way around with the same success? Does photography have the capability to invoke the same drama, emotions, and stunningly visceral response that traditional illustrations uniquely do? We at Drawn Exposures confidently believe so, and that’s what sets our visual style of photography apart from the rest. Combining the technique of a macro still shot with the approach of a hand-drawn presentation, our imagery gives a sense of dynamic expression that’s certain to more than satisfy your appreciation for fine art while indulging your inner geek.
Why Metal Prints?
Aluminum prints are best known for their use in the fine arts industry. Producing deep blacks and vibrant colors, our prints are specifically made on ChromaLuxe panels, using a dye sublimation process, and has proven to be the best at supporting our visually striking style like no other medium can. ChromaLuxe is an industry standard used by professional artists for its vast color range, depth, and detail and can be found in art galleries, boutiques, and craft shows. Metal prints can be edge-mounted on the walls of your home, office, game room, shop, or studio for a more high-end, furnished display. Considering their durability, aluminum prints are astonishingly scratch-resistant, waterproof, and won’t rust–making them a quality investment meant to last.
Origin Stories
Randy Nwigwe
The visual arts and I seem to have been such long-time companions, it’s difficult imagining my life without it. Being enchanted by drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, animation, movies, and video games are among my earlies memories. Always inspired, I was heavily influenced by artists behind many of my favorite book covers, box art, and movie posters. It wasn’t long before I was able to accurately sketch any and every thing that caught my eye, stimulated my creativity, and fed my imagination. Requests for drawings of cartoon characters, comic book superheroes and supervillains, and video game mascots from family members, friends, and classmates were the norm.
My time in art school only strengthened my passions further as my knowledge of digital art and graphic design grew—adding photography, production, and computer science into my skill set while exploring the common ties among them all. Now, after years of experience in the industries of advertisement as well as candid and portrait photography, I’ve found myself on another exciting journey. In an unexpected way, toy photography has afforded me the means to return to the core of my childhood love for the visual arts and practice my own artistic vision in its purest form like never before.
Natalie Martinez
My love of photography began in high school. Creative photo class was the first time I realized my love for capturing images on film. Roaming my campus to discover and develop new subjects and creations in our tiny darkroom led me to a summer internship at a local newspaper and the chance to compete for Best Photo in High School Journalism in my district–which I won two years in a row. After encouragement from my high school journalism teacher, I decided to major in photography. College was eye opening and helped me unearth a passion for macro photography. I always loved photographing leaves and rocks, flowers and twigs–bringing forth textures and colors that drew me to those objects in the first place.
After finding a job in my field of interest and coming to know the profundity of burnout, my amazing friend and artist had the fantastic idea of melding our interests together into toy photography. With his deep knowledge of illustration, and my fondness of macro photography, it seemed a surprising blend of our talents. Toy photography gave me a more personal connection to the medium. Being able to delve back into the amazing adventures I read and watched in my youth and mixing those characters with the flowers and rocks I so enjoy photographing gave my art a new perspective and a new well of ideas to draw from. As an introvert, there is nothing more invigorating than shutting out the commotion of everyday life and losing myself in the delight of creation.
Portfolio
