Like many artists, Thomas Woodruff finds fascination in pursuing the possibilities offered by a particular subject in a series of related works, or “variations”.

He is best known for several series in which he explores images that can be viewed differently when flipped vertically (similar to Gustave Verbeek’s classic early 20th century newspaper comic, The Upside Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo).

In all of his series, Woodruff likes to develop his compositions with highly rendered faces, figures and wildly fanciful objects, often intricately incorporated with dimensional design elements. Some of these bear semblance to tantric art or modern interpretations of the same.

His website featured several series, the latest of which is “Four Temperament Variations“.

Note that, as of this writing, the link to his series titled “The Sun” is incorrect on his site. The correct link is: http://thomaswoodruff.com/the-sun.

Thankfully, Woodruff bypasses the usual labels (like “Surrealist”) and instead considers himself a “neo-fabulist”.

Woodriff is the Chairman of the Illustration and Cartooning Departments at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

[Via beinART Collective]