Mar
lllustration Inspirations & How They Are Helping Me Pursue My Own Career As An Illustrator
From left to right - Jon Foster/James Jean/Ashley Wood/Dave McKean
Aside from all being amazing artists, 4 of my main influences have inspired me through more than just their art…
Dave McKean
Dave McKean was the one responsible for lighting the illustration fire in me while I was at Uni studying Graphic Design. He was one of the pioneers in embracing the power of Photoshop to enhance his artwork and take it to a whole new level.
Through his influence, he instilled in me a sense of experimentation that I’m currently re-discovering and has me excited about trying new things again whether that be unfamiliar techniques or mediums.
Check out these Dave McKean links:
Dave McKeans Official site / Dave McKean on Wikipedia / A comprehensive Dave McKean fan site
James Jean
James Jean is a modern day master - he exploded on to the illustration scene straight after art school and hasn’t stopped since. Always pushing himself, never resting on his laurels.
Although he seems to have been born a fully formed artist, it his through his dedication to the craft and a strong work ethic that he continues to be at the top of his game.
A lesson also worth learning from James is humility. Although a bone fide illustration/art superstar he always remains humble - just take a look at his blog and how he responds to negative comments. Always with humility and an explanation as to why he chose the method, influence, composition he did without biting back at what are quite sometimes very rude commentators.
Check out these James Jean links:
James Jean’s website / James Jean’s blog / A great James Jean podcast interview
Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood is another example of a strong work ethic and a prolific work rate, but Ashley’s biggest influence on me is as a business man.
Although collaborating with other companies on their properties, Ashley has also created a world of his own to play in with his ‘PopBot’ and ‘World War Robot’ creations. He is an astute business man as well as an illustrator as demonstrated by the range of books he puts out of not only his own work but collected works of other illustrators too. He is also working with companies to produce figures of his creations too.
He is a lesson to all illustrators to take control of their career and not wait for others to make them a success.
Check out these Ashley Wood links:
Ashley Wood’s blog / Ashley Wood’s website
Jon Foster
Jon Foster is a huge inspiration to me as he is always evolving as an artist - embracing new techniques to further his work. The titles of his art books ‘Progression’ and ‘R/evolution’ are an indicator as to his philosophy as an artist.
Jon took a longer road to his full time illustration career, hitting his stride in his early thirties and has been evolving ever since. He is a great example of using his traditional oil painting skills and embracing digital art techniques through software like Corel Painter to produce digital masterpieces that are indistinguishable from traditional oil paintings.
Check out these Jon Foster links:
Jon Foster’s website / A great Jon Foster podcast interview: Part 1 and Part 2
I’d love to hear about your inspirations and how they help you too - why not leave a comment letting me know?
Related posts:
- 13 Super Useful Resources For Aspiring Illustrators
- Starting From Zero: A Strategic Approach To Building A Career As A Pro Illustrator
Comments
No comments yet.