While taking Tumbili for a spin or grabbing a basket of hand cut fries from Excavator’s Taters, be sure to stop and admire the beautiful pieces placed around the area that help create the immersive Jungle X-Pedition experience.

One of the creatives behind bringing Jungle X-Pedition to life is Emory Alvarado, a Venezuelan-American self-taught artist living in Orlando, Florida. Growing up, Emory was surrounded by themed attractions from nearby parks and was inspired to turn her passion for the arts into a career. 

What is your creative process before starting a piece?

I think first about how that piece is supposed to feel when you look at it, like the very first communicated emotion. It depends on what I'm working on, but whether the piece will be more simple or complex in terms of its shapes or colours is what I consider next. For instance, a map is a bit of an I-Spy jungle gym for the eyes with a lot of organized information, whereas a national park poster is meant to convey more of an emotional vista. Then, I focus on what medium, canvas, and context the piece will be in. But all of this is a long-winded explanation for something that just happens in a few seconds or minutes!

What are your favorite styles and subjects to work with? 

Gosh, I am a sucker for gouache illustrations in a kind of vintage style. The dead flat matte finish of it makes me focus on how much or how little I want to make a subject appear dimensional. My favorite subjects are probably jagged rocks and wild tree trunks and vines. They sort of dance in place and are so fun to figure out!

What were your inspirations for the Jungle X-Pedition pieces?

I think my biggest inspirations were the U.S. Dept. of the Interior's National Park poster series, Mary Blair's use of texture in her concept art, and the majestic vistas of 90s animation renaissance movies. As for the maps, the classic hand-painted theme park maps of the 80s, 90s, and early 00s were definitely my biggest inspirations!

How long did each piece take? Which was the most difficult?

It's hard to pin down the time I spent on each piece because a lot of that time is probably a combination of staring at the piece and making a thousand decisions before I start painting an element of it. The most complex was absolutely the Whey Foundation's official map of the Jungle X-Pedition area - but it was also the most fun for me to paint! I LOVE maps. I can wax prose about how much I love maps for days, probably.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who would like to get into the theme park industry?

This is a hard one for me to answer! I'm still trying to enter the themed attraction industry as an illustrator -- this is my first project as one! I'm super thankful to Paul and Brittani (Editor’s Note: Corporate Planning and Design who partnered with Emory) and the rest of the Cedar Fair team for giving me a chance, and it's been a dream come true for sure.

But I have to say, my time as a scenic artist directly influences me every time I paint on paper or a screen. Painting massive theme park facades and intricate props to age them or give them a specific treatment was incredibly helpful! If I hadn't learned those skills, or others like sculpting and fabrication, I wouldn't be the same illustrator I am today.

If someone wants to enter this industry, a lot of it is about who you know, sure, but it's also about knowing who you are as an artist, and always being open to trying new things.

Stay on the lookout for more of her work with the opening of The Outpost Café and additional easter eggs pieces scattered throughout Jungle X-Pedition. You can find more of Emory’s art on her socials @emory_arts or on her website.

Follow along on our blog and social channels @kingsdominionva to stay up to date on the latest Jungle X-Pedition news.