Artist Spotlight: Allison Menck

Written by Mae Masek

Allison Menck is a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD),
majoring in Sequential Art with a minor in Concept Design for Animation and Games.
Her work centers on exploring the internal lives of her characters, using illustration
as a medium for storytelling. Allison creates enchanting visual narratives that draw
viewers in through her use of color and dynamic compositions. Her most recent
comic, The Unraveling of Ellis Hemingway, grabs the viewer’s attention with vibrant
colors and magical themes.

Art has always played a central role in Allison’s life. As the “artistic kid” in her family,
she was naturally drawn to creating from a young age. Allison was enamored with
books and comics, and this further deepened her admiration for storytelling. She
was inspired by the graphic novel Lightfall by Tim Probert, and the book series
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. These works were influential to her,
and leading up to college, she believed that she wanted to become a writer. But
during her first quarter at SCAD, she was fascinated by the Sequential Arts (SEQA)
Department. Allison discovered a stronger passion for visual storytelling and
switching her major to SEQA felt like a natural fit.

One of her favorite recent projects is a series of illustrations highlighting
independent businesses in Savannah. The six businesses she has drawn so far are
(shown above): Avalon, E Shaver, Gallery Expresso, Origin, Neighborhood Comics,
and Sentient Bean. Through this project, Allison was able to feel more connected to
the community in Savannah. The prints from this series are even available for
purchase at local shops like E. Shaver, Neighborhood Comics, and Avalon Exchange.
Allison hopes to continue covering local businesses in Savannah to further connect
with the community and to share the places she enjoys in town.

During Allison’s time at SCAD, she treasures the knowledge she gained from her
mentors. Her Intro to Sequential Art course, taught by Professor Gloria McAndrew,
introduced her storytelling through illustrations, which inspired her to keep
learning in this medium. She also took part in a short-term art history study abroad
program in Florence, Italy, led by professors Claire Heidenreich and Stephanie
Kaplan. During this trip, Allison developed the concept for her story set in Florence
called The Unraveling of Ellis Hemingway, which she will pitch at SCAD’s upcoming
Editors Day.

To explore more of Allison’s work or connect with her, visit her portfolio website,
Instagram, or LinkedIn.