Sally Deng, cover artist of Summit Journal 322, creates art for magazines, newspapers, books, and more from her Los Angeles studio. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. She is the author-illustrator of Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII and Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun. Her art has been recognized and exhibited in galleries across the U.S. You can follow her on Instagram @sa.deng.
Sally’s illustrations—including the painting above, titled "Ascension"—accompany “Something Lost Behind the Ranges,” by Michael Wejchert, in SJ 322.
Summit Journal: Prior to working on this commission, you shared that you hadn’t heard of Dmitry Golovchenko and Sergey Nilov, the Russian alpinists whose partnership is the story’s focus. What made you want to take on this project?
Sally Deng: I love painting nature scenes and I’m drawn to stories that examine human nature. With Michael’s writing, there was a great opportunity to tell a really human story with the help of the mountains and vast snowy landscape. Any chance I get to create pieces that highlight our relationship with the wilderness, I’m game.
SJ: You shared that Wejchert “really had me invested in them [Golovchenko and Nilov].” What pulled you in about their story?
Sally: I’m fascinated by their relentless drive and passion for the mountains, even in the face of death. It’s very pure. Their obsession with climbing and the deep relationship that developed—I think it’s fair to criticize and call it reckless but it really makes you think about just how much their dream consumed them.
SJ: There is a timbre and tone and pacing to the story, and I can’t help but feel there is an echo of that in your artwork, too (thinking of the reference to toska at the end of the piece, specifically). In approaching this project, what did you pay attention to in the text that helped you think about things like imagery and the mood you wanted to convey in your artwork?
Sally: It’s funny that toska was mentioned because I’ve always been told my art has a nostalgic and melancholic quality to it. It’s not something I try to do, it just happens through my process.
With any assignment, I always look for the human aspect of the story. What is something that even people who’ve never gone hiking can relate to? For this, it was the intense yearning for something greater than ourselves and the sacrifices made for this fierce passion and obsession. And also the resulting losses and heartache. Maybe that’s what you’re seeing reflected in my paintings.
SJ: To pull back the curtain for the reader, what did the collaboration process look like between you and Randy Levensaller, Summit Journal's Art Director?
Sally: Randy sent over a long list of key words and visuals from the story that he felt really captured the essence of the story. I usually do this when trying to conceptualize on my own so he really helped me save some time! From his list, I picked the words that stood out to me the most or things that I’d be excited to draw. Then it’s just a few rounds of me sending over sketches and him giving me feedback until everyone agrees on the final idea. After that, I was off to create the final artwork.
SJ: You recently received a copy of SJ 322. What's it like seeing your finished work on the page?
Sally: It’s always a treat to see things in print. I love flipping through it—feeling the actual paper,smelling the printed ink, seeing how light affects the colors. I work mainly traditionally (with paint and pencils) so it’s really interesting to see my art take on a different physical iteration of itself.
SJ: Anything else you'd like to share?
Sally: I’m aware of Summit Journal’s rich history in the climbing community and I’m very honored to be part of this new version of it. I don’t take it for granted when people tell me that my art resonated with them. Michael Levy, the editor, discovered my artwork years ago and still remembered me enough to ask me to be part of SJ. How crazy is that?
"Ascension" Fine-Art prints — Limited Edition of 10, Signed and Numbered
Sally has produced a limited edition of 10 giclée fine-art prints, 26x18", each individually signed and numbered. There will not be a second printing, and this print will not be offered in other formats.
- Giclée printing
- Smooth Watercolor Paper
- Edition of 10
- Frame not included
