Okanagan artist opening up a fantasy world with high-end art, dolls, books
The unusual creatures and critters of a fantastical world are gaining popularity and recognition in the Okanagan.
Ian Hookham creates high-end art dolls for a fantasy themed world called World of Eezoes, and the creative venture is expanding.
“It initially started by accident but as more people came to love the creatures and critters, I started developing more content for it,” he said.
The independent artist and small business owner is about to release a book about the fantasy characters through Okanagan Publishing House, and has recently released a children’s colouring book through the agency.
He took home an award last month from the Oliver Community Arts Council for a piece that is now on display at the Lier House Cultural Centre in Penticton as part of the community arts council's Animal Antics exhibit which runs until Jan. 7.
Hookham said he is busy trying to keep up with the business and surprised at how far it has come since he made his first doll in 2019.
“It started when I sold other crafts at a Christmas market and when my table was cleared I doubtfully put my dolls out,” he said. “I was shocked when people were stopping to look at them, buy them and ask so many questions about them.
“People were intrigued and suddenly I was creating more characters and all of them had different names and traits and stories.”
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Hookham said he grew up on Zelda, Pokémon, comics, cartoons and video games and always had a big interest in everything fantasy along with folklore, which he is writing and creating into the creatures.
“I write them like they are fairies, like maybe they really do exist, and they are found in nature which is an element I need to bring into the fantasy,” he said. “Anytime I am down or doubtful I go out to nature and realize all I needed was trees.”
Hookham grew up in Kelowna but lived in Vancouver for over a decade. He took his dolls to comic and anime conventions where there was a fantasy theme. Early this year, he followed his husband back to Kelowna where he turned his full attention to the World of Eezoes.
“I was always afraid to do a regular market with people who are not adults who watch cartoons,” he said. “I now show at many different kinds of shows and conventions.”
Hookham’s days are busy while he develops new content, edits and formats his books, and works with a team developing a table top style fantasy game. He manages social media accounts and marketing, and of course must keep making the dolls.
“I want this fantasy world to draw an inclusive crowd of other artists and those who love fantasy and folklore,” he said. “In the future I want to host my own creature conventions.”
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Hookham said he was shocked at the diverse range of ages that show interest in the dolls.
“They are high-end art dolls geared toward an adult collector, they are not made to be played with,” he said. “There is an online community dedicated to doll collections. During shows there are always children there who want them, so I’m trying to develop a toy line more suitable for children to play with.”
The World of Eezoes colouring books contain 18 characters all with descriptions of their personalities and traits and are available for pre-order from the Okanagan Publishing House here.
For more photos and information check out Hookham’s Instagram here or go to his Facebook page.
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