Karen Rubins
Comics Artist in Residence

Karen Rubins, Comics Artist

Specialist areas of interest

I have drawn comics set in many different locations and periods, from modern day England to sixteenth century Japan, and through a range of genres from surreal modern adventure, through to comedy and horror. I have been making comics for around eight years, most of which have been small-press, independently-produced titles, and have been active on the comics scene in the UK. I enjoy exploring the boundaries of the formal elements in comics storytelling and experimenting with different media.  I very much enjoy the exchange of ideas and the unique outcomes that occur when working with other creators, but also work on comics as both writer and artist, and find this to be a much more intense and challenging, but ultimately satisfying experience.

Interests in V&A collection

I have visited the V&A regularly throughout my life; as a child, a student and as an artist, and find the collection to always be nothing less than inspiring. I am particularly interested in Japanese art and its the unique visual aesthetic, and would like to study more closely the work of the ukiyo-e masters, of which the V&A has an extensive collection, as well as looking at the legendary and historical themes of the prints. I am intrigued by the Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and religious art of Asia, both in the symbology and unique aesthetics. I also wish to expand my influences and continue to explore the themes of mythology, folk tales, dreams and collective subconscious, and how these are represented in different areas of the collections. I also look forward to reading and studying the extensive comic and graphic novel collection in the National Art Library.

Inspiration for your work other than V&A collection

Thematically, I am very interested in mythology and how personal experience relates to the universal perception of reality. Dreams and symbols are an important part of this, as well as those elements of human experience that can make stories and concepts resonate despite differences in culture, language or time. I am fascinated by spirit animals, mythical beings and gods, with Greek, Japanese and Native American concepts turning up in my work.  

I take influence from many diverse sources. I have been influenced by American indie comics, and Japanese manga. Artists such as De Chirico and Paul Delvaux have influenced me for their atmosphere, and their ambiguous yet resonant imagery. Japanese artists such as Yoshitoshi and Hokusai have also inspired me, as have books on mythology and myths and legends themselves. Speculative fiction, animation and computer games also have coloured my thought processes, as has a love of history, and a fascination with different cultures.