Artistic Influence
I've been an "artist" for quite some time, though I usually disguise it as cartoonist, penciller, or, when it strikes my fancy, "freelance illustrator." I've had my work published a few times in local papers and other publications, but I've tried to avoid any real pretensions about it. I was once told that art is about nothing more than doing something for the sake of self-expression, but I don't know if I want to be known for drawing hot chicks as my self-expression (Freudian psychologists would probably have a field day with me), so I'm going to just let that be.
This is something I don't usually talk about because I usually just get eye-rolls as soon as I mention illustrators because of people's immediate preconceptions of "japanimation" and "comic-books" (wait, should that really have inverted commas? Meh). But, you know what? Fuck 'em. This is my space to write what I will, everyone else be damned! This is a list of people who have influenced my style. Some have done so more than others, but this is a good list of western and eastern illustrators who are all amazing.
I should say - rather plainly - that some of the galleries I'm posting are not safe for work... in fact, they're not safe for anyone!
So here, in no particular order, is the short list of
Thomas' Favourite Illustrators: ...of awesomeness...
Masamune Shirow
First on my list is one of the great Japanese illustrator/writers behind such great works as Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell, Masamune Shirow (né Masanori Ota). His artwork is clean and precise, and his mechanical drawing is impeccable. If you ever look at his "sketchbooks" (though you can hardly call them sketchbooks, they're wonderfully detailed in and of themselves) you find that he works through how everything works and how everything comes together. His characters are well-drawn and compelling. Then there's his storytelling (the art tells so much itself).
His work moves very well, one panel to the next, and action can occur between the panels without it leaving you confused. There's a reason this hermit of a creator is so well known: his work is absolutely transcendent. Shirow is one of the reasons I got into comics. Back when I was 14 or 15 I picked up a copy of his seminal work, Ghost in the Shell (though some would argue it's Appleseed and I would agree with them if it were a better known piece) and his story sucked me in to the point where I couldn't put it down. I began drawing again for the very reasons I explained above, and I sought out as many of his artbooks and comics as I could. If you hate my drawing then this is the man to blame. Sadly, his modern stuff is too computer heavy for my tastes (I like his older stuff) but it's still really good.
Here, if you're interested, is his wikipedia page, a sample gallery and a more detailed list of his work than mine.
Shunya Yamashita
A relative newcomer to the illustration game, Shunya Yamashita is best known for his work on NPCs, Item and Weapon design for Square's Final Fantasies X and XII; he's also gaining attention through his work on pin-ups (yes, boobs). His artwork is very clean and detailed whilst retaining more of an element of actual realism than most of the other names on this list. His artwork is very toned-down in comparison to a lot of Japanese illustration (certainly compared to Shirow's), and is very compelling. When I first found his work I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I didn't want to draw my gaze away. He knows a great amount about anatomy and proportion and it really shows through on his pin-ups. His work when it comes to detail and the human form is inspiring. Of all of the artists on this list I wish I could draw human forms like Yamashita.
It's worth picking up his artbooks as they're a testament to his attention to the human form and to costumes and weapons. Keep an eye out; I will. Hell, as soon as I can I plan on ordering them.
Here's his wikipedia article and a sample gallery (I'm pretty damn sure it's NSFW).
Katsuhiro Otomo
Another absolute legend. Katsuhiro Otomo is the genius behind the work "Akira" and is well known even today for his contribution to illustration. His work is brilliantly done, it's compelling, intense, and well thought out. The fight scenes in his manga (and a later film that he directed) are well known by anyone who's seen any sort of anime. In fact, if you were to ask anyone if they've seen Akira many would answer in the affirmative. His mechanical designs were also far ahead of his time; they were clever and original in a time that seemed to be dedicated to regurgitating the same over and over (sadly much like the modern climate). His other works are inventive in their telling, and his art reflects his creative ability. If you can find an artbook of his I suggest purchasing it if only for the sense of wonder it will instil in you.
If you're in a film mood look at Metropolis, it's a great nod to art deco style and steampunk ideas.
Here's his wikipedia article and an article at the Anime News Network.
Frank Miller
One name that shouldn't need any introduction, but for the sake of those who are not comic-inclined: Frank Miller is the artistic genius behind "Robocop", the dark, noir series "Sin City" (of Robert Rodriguez film fame), the stylised and nipple-tastic "300", and "The Dark Knight Returns" (which tells of Batman's career in an aged state), not even really going into his Daredevil years. What first drew me to Miller's work was his bold use of space and contrast. Almost all of his work is done purely in black and white with very daring full two-page spreads devoted to black with a white splatter and a few words. He's very confident in what he does and it really shows. His also has his own, very specific art style. His men are manly, his women are, well, manly (though with HUGE breasts), and his characters are easily recognisable. In a time when realism is all-important (hell, even I'm drawn into the modern realist movement in comics) his work is fantastical and hard to ignore. It's like the shift from realism to impressionism in paintings.
If you want dark, anti-heroes and hookers with hearts of gold then Frank Miller is your man. For an easy introduction to Frank Miller I'd suggest Sin City, 300 (beautiful, absolutely beautiful work), and The Dark Knight Returns.
Here's his wikipedia article, and a fansite devoted to the man. (One-thousand apologies, I couldn't find a website of his own.)
Jamie McKelvie
Another relative newcomer to the "scene". Jamie McKelvie, from Worcestershire, is an interesting person on this list as his style is a mixture of traditional elements from both eastern and western styles. His art is simple with very clean lines and expressive features, I absolutely love his work. He's done two major works: "Suburban Glamour" and "Phonogram". The former is about growing up in a small English town when you know you're different, it just so happens that the protagonist is more different than she'd ever thought. His work is gorgeous in this comic; the linework is perfect and the style really fits modern "youth culture" (though I cringe at the term). The mixture of east and west is a perfect example of modern globalism where films like "Akira" and "Spirited Away" aren't unheard of.
The latter is a comic he's working on with Kieron Gillen and the characters are beautifully designed and realised. It's really done a great job in reminding me that music is indeed magic. Honestly, this is one of my favourite comics in ages. He uses visual comic timing to a very good outcome which makes the story lighter, despite its black-and-white style and arse of a main character (but don't we love those). It really feels like Gillen and McKelvie are really two sides of the same person the way they work together almost seamlessly. The two trade paper-backs are only about a tenner each and deserve a place on your bookshelf (or, better yet, on your bed-side table).
I can't say enough that I love his work. It's influenced my own art greatly whilst being very similar to what I've tried to do ever since I started drawing.
Here's McKelvie's wikipedia article, his blog, and his website.
Bryan Lee O'Malley
Last, and certainly not least, on my list is Brian Lee O'Malley. O'Malley is a Canadian (now American resident) illustrator/writer behind the amazing series "Scott Pilgrim" and the wonderful graphic novel "Lost at Sea". His characters and settings are whimsical reality where a gig at a local club can quickly turn into a supernatural "street fighter-style" fight. His artwork, whilst it didn't appeal to me immediately, has grown on me immensely from when I picked up the first volume of Scott Pilgrim three years ago. His art style has also grown since I first saw his goofy, quirky (both in the best way possible) character designs into very well done, goofy, quirky character designs. Its simplicity is its beauty, and it allows you to pay attention to the character reactions and pacing. The entire scene unfurls in front of you, and you're just able to take it all in. He's won several awards for his work, and I can see why. In fact, if he'd not won any awards I would be very surprised and disappointed in the entire comic critic society.
The books he's done are only about a tenner each and well worth the price just for the fun of the first time, not even mentioning how much fun every subsequent read-through is. His work has inspired me to write my travelogues and little vignettes in a style similar to his and it works beautifully for what could be considered "slice of life" stories. If he ever reads this I just want to say "thanks for everything you've done, your work has helped me through some tough patches and seeing your success gives me hope that I could do the same."
Here's his wikipedia page, his website and his livejournal (which I love reading).
Other artists to look out for:
Tony Harris
P. Craig Russel
Hayao Miyazaki
Osamu Tezuka
Dave McKean
If you've made it this far you get a cookie next time I see you. I hope this has been informative and fun. If you want I'll show you some work I've been doing recently.
This is something I don't usually talk about because I usually just get eye-rolls as soon as I mention illustrators because of people's immediate preconceptions of "japanimation" and "comic-books" (wait, should that really have inverted commas? Meh). But, you know what? Fuck 'em. This is my space to write what I will, everyone else be damned! This is a list of people who have influenced my style. Some have done so more than others, but this is a good list of western and eastern illustrators who are all amazing.
I should say - rather plainly - that some of the galleries I'm posting are not safe for work... in fact, they're not safe for anyone!
So here, in no particular order, is the short list of
Thomas' Favourite Illustrators: ...of awesomeness...
Masamune Shirow
First on my list is one of the great Japanese illustrator/writers behind such great works as Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell, Masamune Shirow (né Masanori Ota). His artwork is clean and precise, and his mechanical drawing is impeccable. If you ever look at his "sketchbooks" (though you can hardly call them sketchbooks, they're wonderfully detailed in and of themselves) you find that he works through how everything works and how everything comes together. His characters are well-drawn and compelling. Then there's his storytelling (the art tells so much itself).
His work moves very well, one panel to the next, and action can occur between the panels without it leaving you confused. There's a reason this hermit of a creator is so well known: his work is absolutely transcendent. Shirow is one of the reasons I got into comics. Back when I was 14 or 15 I picked up a copy of his seminal work, Ghost in the Shell (though some would argue it's Appleseed and I would agree with them if it were a better known piece) and his story sucked me in to the point where I couldn't put it down. I began drawing again for the very reasons I explained above, and I sought out as many of his artbooks and comics as I could. If you hate my drawing then this is the man to blame. Sadly, his modern stuff is too computer heavy for my tastes (I like his older stuff) but it's still really good.
Here, if you're interested, is his wikipedia page, a sample gallery and a more detailed list of his work than mine.
Shunya Yamashita
A relative newcomer to the illustration game, Shunya Yamashita is best known for his work on NPCs, Item and Weapon design for Square's Final Fantasies X and XII; he's also gaining attention through his work on pin-ups (yes, boobs). His artwork is very clean and detailed whilst retaining more of an element of actual realism than most of the other names on this list. His artwork is very toned-down in comparison to a lot of Japanese illustration (certainly compared to Shirow's), and is very compelling. When I first found his work I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I didn't want to draw my gaze away. He knows a great amount about anatomy and proportion and it really shows through on his pin-ups. His work when it comes to detail and the human form is inspiring. Of all of the artists on this list I wish I could draw human forms like Yamashita.
It's worth picking up his artbooks as they're a testament to his attention to the human form and to costumes and weapons. Keep an eye out; I will. Hell, as soon as I can I plan on ordering them.
Here's his wikipedia article and a sample gallery (I'm pretty damn sure it's NSFW).
Katsuhiro Otomo
Another absolute legend. Katsuhiro Otomo is the genius behind the work "Akira" and is well known even today for his contribution to illustration. His work is brilliantly done, it's compelling, intense, and well thought out. The fight scenes in his manga (and a later film that he directed) are well known by anyone who's seen any sort of anime. In fact, if you were to ask anyone if they've seen Akira many would answer in the affirmative. His mechanical designs were also far ahead of his time; they were clever and original in a time that seemed to be dedicated to regurgitating the same over and over (sadly much like the modern climate). His other works are inventive in their telling, and his art reflects his creative ability. If you can find an artbook of his I suggest purchasing it if only for the sense of wonder it will instil in you.
If you're in a film mood look at Metropolis, it's a great nod to art deco style and steampunk ideas.
Here's his wikipedia article and an article at the Anime News Network.
Frank Miller
One name that shouldn't need any introduction, but for the sake of those who are not comic-inclined: Frank Miller is the artistic genius behind "Robocop", the dark, noir series "Sin City" (of Robert Rodriguez film fame), the stylised and nipple-tastic "300", and "The Dark Knight Returns" (which tells of Batman's career in an aged state), not even really going into his Daredevil years. What first drew me to Miller's work was his bold use of space and contrast. Almost all of his work is done purely in black and white with very daring full two-page spreads devoted to black with a white splatter and a few words. He's very confident in what he does and it really shows. His also has his own, very specific art style. His men are manly, his women are, well, manly (though with HUGE breasts), and his characters are easily recognisable. In a time when realism is all-important (hell, even I'm drawn into the modern realist movement in comics) his work is fantastical and hard to ignore. It's like the shift from realism to impressionism in paintings.
If you want dark, anti-heroes and hookers with hearts of gold then Frank Miller is your man. For an easy introduction to Frank Miller I'd suggest Sin City, 300 (beautiful, absolutely beautiful work), and The Dark Knight Returns.
Here's his wikipedia article, and a fansite devoted to the man. (One-thousand apologies, I couldn't find a website of his own.)
Jamie McKelvie
Another relative newcomer to the "scene". Jamie McKelvie, from Worcestershire, is an interesting person on this list as his style is a mixture of traditional elements from both eastern and western styles. His art is simple with very clean lines and expressive features, I absolutely love his work. He's done two major works: "Suburban Glamour" and "Phonogram". The former is about growing up in a small English town when you know you're different, it just so happens that the protagonist is more different than she'd ever thought. His work is gorgeous in this comic; the linework is perfect and the style really fits modern "youth culture" (though I cringe at the term). The mixture of east and west is a perfect example of modern globalism where films like "Akira" and "Spirited Away" aren't unheard of.
The latter is a comic he's working on with Kieron Gillen and the characters are beautifully designed and realised. It's really done a great job in reminding me that music is indeed magic. Honestly, this is one of my favourite comics in ages. He uses visual comic timing to a very good outcome which makes the story lighter, despite its black-and-white style and arse of a main character (but don't we love those). It really feels like Gillen and McKelvie are really two sides of the same person the way they work together almost seamlessly. The two trade paper-backs are only about a tenner each and deserve a place on your bookshelf (or, better yet, on your bed-side table).
I can't say enough that I love his work. It's influenced my own art greatly whilst being very similar to what I've tried to do ever since I started drawing.
Here's McKelvie's wikipedia article, his blog, and his website.
Bryan Lee O'Malley
Last, and certainly not least, on my list is Brian Lee O'Malley. O'Malley is a Canadian (now American resident) illustrator/writer behind the amazing series "Scott Pilgrim" and the wonderful graphic novel "Lost at Sea". His characters and settings are whimsical reality where a gig at a local club can quickly turn into a supernatural "street fighter-style" fight. His artwork, whilst it didn't appeal to me immediately, has grown on me immensely from when I picked up the first volume of Scott Pilgrim three years ago. His art style has also grown since I first saw his goofy, quirky (both in the best way possible) character designs into very well done, goofy, quirky character designs. Its simplicity is its beauty, and it allows you to pay attention to the character reactions and pacing. The entire scene unfurls in front of you, and you're just able to take it all in. He's won several awards for his work, and I can see why. In fact, if he'd not won any awards I would be very surprised and disappointed in the entire comic critic society.
The books he's done are only about a tenner each and well worth the price just for the fun of the first time, not even mentioning how much fun every subsequent read-through is. His work has inspired me to write my travelogues and little vignettes in a style similar to his and it works beautifully for what could be considered "slice of life" stories. If he ever reads this I just want to say "thanks for everything you've done, your work has helped me through some tough patches and seeing your success gives me hope that I could do the same."
Here's his wikipedia page, his website and his livejournal (which I love reading).
Other artists to look out for:
Tony Harris
P. Craig Russel
Hayao Miyazaki
Osamu Tezuka
Dave McKean
If you've made it this far you get a cookie next time I see you. I hope this has been informative and fun. If you want I'll show you some work I've been doing recently.