A child's imagination can be as boundless as a superhero leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
Graphic artist Jason Ratliff brings that imagination to life in his latest series, Super Shadows, a follow-up to his series, Walking Shadows, which illustrated various peoples', animals' and objects' shadows in an abstract way.
But in Super Shadows, Ratliff focuses on bringing to life "the inherent power of a child’s potential and imagination."
The original work that inspired the series, entitled Hero, depicts a young boy with the shadow of Superman following behind him. Hero was originally part of Ratliff's Walking Shadows series, but he received such a positive response to it, he created an entire separate collection.
"People identify with these on such a personal level. I’d love it if there were something for everyone...it’s always rewarding to create something that connects with someone. Be it through humor or emotion or a simple visual appreciation," said Ratliff.
Ratliff's series may seem to pay homage Marvel or DC Comics heroes, but his images also allude to a deeper meaning. "The image isn’t necessarily about Superman...It’s about how a kid can be anything they want to be and the guy in the cape just helps represent those aspirations," he said.
Prints of the Super Shadows series are available for purchase on Curioos. More of Ratliff's series can be seen on his website.