#louie zong; brawlersworld; carly henson

[bixels]

What has served as inspiration for your art style? I’m still trying to improve mine

So much.

Mid-1900s animated American films, from Disney to Don Bluth to UPA. Late-90s to early-2000s anime, especially OVAs (favorite studios were Madhouse and Gainax). Pre-digital comics: The Adventures of Tintin, Pogo Possum, Calvin & Hobbes, Peanuts, Little Nemo in Slumberland. Graphic novels: Hellboy, Blacksad, Jamie Hewlett's work. For individual artists online: my partner Tulliok, Snoozincopter, Alariko, Louie Zong, DeusExMakena, SachinTeng, SsSantine, brawlersworld, Tanjeronie, Carly Henson. There are more but those are the ones who come to mind.

This is an extremely random and eclectic list, but they've all influence the whole body of my work and style, from character design to film composition to storytelling to coloring to line weight. They all reflect something in art that I love: I love flat colors, I love heavy line weight, I love harsh shadows, I love drawing people, I love sci-fi and soft fantasy, I love romance and drama, I love the grittiness of pre-digital art-making, I love the cleanliness and clarity of digital art-making. Check out these works and artists, but they may not embody who you are. The best advice I can give is find and eat and savor as much art as you can and let it change you. Ask yourself why something speaks to you; it can be as small as the way someone draws an ear. Ask yourself why that artist decided to draw it that way. Then make it your own.

Your inspirations should be as multi-faceted as you. Have fun!