“Cherish your own emotions and never under-value them. We are not here to do what has already been done.” ― Robert Henri
"Cherish your own emotions and never under-value them. We are not here to do what has already been done" -Robert Henri
Untitled 01
I am so proud of this piece! The hours of work and spirit poured into its creation was a feat of discipline I had never experienced before. It was the most audacious piece I had created yet. Untitled 01 was completed over the course of two months, taking a total of ninety hours. I was lost many times throughout the process, not really knowing where it would take me next. But gradually, I became consumed in the lines and forms, creating something truly beautiful. This piece contains elements of horror, conveyed through the nature of the waters and the powerlessness of the one crossing their territory. As the lonely ship approaches a cluster of rocks, waves surge and crash with terrifying force. The clouds consume the sky in a nightmarish way, and winds blow with a intensity no man could ignore. However, even in the great tempest, glimpses of light shine through the canopy of clouds, offering the sailor comfort through his tribulation.
They Are Watching
They Are Watching was one of my first major pen and ink pieces. Within the picture plane a man traverses down endless roads to find a escape from the catacombs of eyes behind him. Feelings of restlessness concerning the judgment and conformity of society.
Isaac Fortner, Untitled 01, 2025. Ink on paper, 18" x 24".
Isaac Fortner, They Are Watching, 2021. Ink on paper, 18" x 24".
Pig And Vulture
Pig and Vulture represents a symbolic relationship of distraction and death. The vulture holds a gaze on his subject while the pig runs to his whim. This piece really pushed through my comfort zone in my pen and ink technique. With a lot of patience and trust I was able to find new avenues within my ink stylization.
Creatures of Lost Rivers
Creatures of Lost Rivers is a personal homage to the world my childhood imagination once held. My passion for art first began with a fascination for beasts and monsters— a love I discovered then and still carry close today. The heron, my favorite bird, appears often in my memories; it holds a quiet majesty and peace that continues to captivate me. I had so much fun creating this piece, and it truly feels like an evolution of my childlike self.
Isaac Fortner, Pig and Vulture, 2025. Ink on paper, 12" x 18".
Isaac Fortner, Creatures of Lost Rivers, 2025. Ink on paper, 18" x 24".
Memories of Sun
Memories of Sun is a personal deep dive into nostalgic, fragmented memories of unknown origin. It blends lived experience with hidden dreams, surfaced onto the canvas. Multiple realities converge at once, all tethered to a single place. Color themes encapsulate different sections of the piece, merging fluidly into one another. There is no single focal point—instead, there are many, representing the unrendered visions of my past. Golden waters surround scattered shores and islands, forming a beautifully nostalgic seascape.
Memories of Islands
Memories of Islands showcases the feeling of beautiful, tranquil seas at midday, when the sun shines on lush, flowing island trees.
With a focus on color and emotion, this piece naturally became a rather simplistic composition. However simple the form may be, the feelings it conveys are deeply present and inspiring.
Isaac Fortner, Memories of Sun, 2025. Oil on canvas, 24" x 36".
Isaac Fortner, Memories of Islands, 2024. Acrylic on paper, 11" x 14".
Sunrise Behind The Hill
Sunrise Behind The Hill is a painting in response to a faint memory of a sunrise. In creating this I had more of a focus on how the memory made me feel than how it looked, which I reflected with the use of color. It contains a very simple palette, but conveys a emotion that is unique to each viewer. In this painting you will find a large hill that has still not been woken up by the morning sun. The sun in bloom behind the hill illuminates waters flowing through the land's creeks. A small home sits on the hill and will wake soon. The morning is silent and peaceful, containing a quiet sanctuary unbothered by the future.
Isaac Fortner, Sunrise Behind The Hill, 2025. Oil on canvas, 9" x 12".