Full of mystery and drama, Thomas Merceron’s illustrations appear like stills from a film

A head resting on another’s shoulder, someone lying amidst shooting stars and a car’s body reflecting an ominous figure, the intriguing scenes throughout Thomas Merceron’s personal works tell a story, but far from the full one. Throughout his pieces the feeling the illustrator most wants to evoke is a sense of mystery, and rather than leading his audience to a conclusion he wants the audience to fully “experience what they see”, and define their own unique ideas.

Inspired by the likes of astronomy and fashion, Thomas’ illustrations are peppered with astral patterns and strong statement outfits with a clear 80s influence. In terms of materials, Thomas uses a mix of pastel, Indian ink and sometimes digital tools, a diversity that allows “greater freedom to respond to my desires and inspirations of the moment” the illustrator says. The one visual constant throughout all of Thomas’ work is the use of black. Used to create a sense of deepness and dramatic contrast, he sees the colour as “punctuating” all of his pieces, while other colours play a part by “enriching” the intensity of the blackness.