Commissioned Editorial Illustration • 2026

We Know These Winds for Mortar Magazine

Editorial commission for Mortar Magazine illustrating an essay about the harrowing choice to stay or flee during the LA wildfires.

Client: Mortar Magazine

Art Direction: Holly Catford

In front of an orange sky is a central figure representing two dueling halves of one self. One half wants to go towards the smoke-filled houses on the left, the other wants to go to the safety of the distant mountains on the right.

Creative Approach & Solution

I pitched three distinct conceptual directions exploring the psychological tension of the moment, ultimately landing on a striking "inner duel" concept.

Sketches of 3 different concept directions
Sketches of 3 different concept directions

Leaning into color as a narrative tool, I anchored the piece with an orange sky mentioned in the text, then contrasted toxic purples against safe, clean greens to visually map out the author's internal conflict.

Read more about my process.

A screenshot of the Mortar Mag website with Delaney's illustration in situ along with the article "We Know These Winds" written by Nicole Stanton

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