From the Nominator

"For the summer 2022 cover of the Queen's Alumni Review, we wanted to illustrate a story about research in the field. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers were finally starting to emerge from lockdown and return to research in far-flung locations. For many, this was an opportunity to return to the places they found most exciting—the places that sparked their academic curiosity and propelled their work. For this reason, we needed a cover that would reflect the sense of awe the researchers felt in returning to the field and, often, to the natural world. 

Instead of focusing on just one of the locations in the story, we commissioned artist Tim Zeltner to weave together three very different landscapes—the mountains of Sicily, the jungles of Central America, and the sun-baked fields of Greece. The end result was a mythical landscape that invited the reader inside to learn the rest of the story. 

“This project was right up my alley because of the different land formations I could pull from to include in a painting,” Zeltner says. “One of my objectives was to create the exploration and mood of landscape painters of 19th century, but with my personal twist.”"

From the Judges

“Field Trip” is an excellent example of an illustration that captures the essence of its subject matter while also showcasing the illustrator's creativity and skill. The judges were impressed with the use of inspiration from 19th-century landscape painters and how it added depth and dimension to the piece. The different types of lines were also appreciated for their ability to energize the illustration and guide the viewer's eye throughout the piece.