Anyways, I wanted to make a post in regards to illustration style. For those of you who aren't artists/illustrators, then you should know that as you progress through your early career, your style is perhaps the most important thing that sells you to clients. And if you're like me, you constantly get hounded that your style looks a lot like other artists. I GET IT.
This is something that is always on the top of my mind when i go into a project- "make it your own. You NEED to keep this consistent". Well, for one thing, i am terrible at consistency. especially when it comes to art and i want to try everything. I hate the fact that I need to stick to ONE thing and make it my signature because it gets sooooooo boring. I have been trying to keep things similar lately and to those of you out there that think I have a definitive style, thank you, i really appreciate it.
But it seems as hard as i try, i can't break away from the grip that makes my style look like "James Jean meets Sam Weber". Yes, I love those two, and yes, they DO influence my work, however, I have so many other influences I hold dearly that affect my creative process. The truth is, I really cant help if my stuff looks similar to theirs (as for right now), thats how i LIKE to draw. I dont do it because its trendy or the 'in' thing. I am so tired of people telling me that my work looks too much like what's already out there, because I honestly am doing what comes out of my head, not anyone else's. This is probably my biggest insecurity about my art! I don't want to have to change the way I do something just because somebody has done it before. Because, well, its me!
I know in time my work will change and become more of what I am, but for now, I like it. So we'll see how this little topic matures...
I like the illustration a lot. Charcoal/Conte with Acrylic washes? I like your concepts, you have a nice approach to your work.
ReplyDeleteRegarding style; It's funny that you mention it, as the same thing pops up with me.
I have a number of artists that influence my work - and while some are more prevalent than others, I don't sit at my desk thinking "why can't I get this to look more like such and such" it's just how I draw.
Don't worry about it, style is a natural progression and will come without force. Just keep doing what you are doing and your doing.
And my apologies for writing so much.
Have a good one.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about style. Experiment with everything while you can. Foster has changed his style numerous amounts of times, and JJ's work is very different from Fables to his other comic book covers.
ReplyDeleteAlso I enjoy your work, keep working hard and maybe we can meet up in the future.
Scott- Its actually charcoal with digital color. Ha, i know what you mean about not copying intentionally. I sometimes think that I should spend an entire year not looking at any other art, so what i put down on paper is completely free from any influence whatsoever. Maybe I'll live in a cabin or something...But it does make me feel better knowing I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteCharles- Yea, I really look forward to how I might change (hopefully for the better). Makes me feel like all illustrators are really slow animorphs.
I really like the idea that the tree is one flat shape and then having the rendered bear to contrast really well with it.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece Sam. I really like the feel of it. One question though, how did you put the waves into the fur? (between the third and second images). I used charcoal in life drawing again today, and I can't get over how hard it is to control! I'm jealous. Very jealous :D
ReplyDeleteAs for style, I agree with the others. Try not to worry about it! (although I say that, and it bothers me too sometimes). I think that most popular illustration out there is quite coarse, and the fact that you work with those materials in such a delicate way means people are inevitably going to make connections with Jean and Weber etc. You're clearly not trying to imitate anyone's style, and as long as you're aware of that, then your work will develop its own direction. Anyway, enough waffling :) It's a great piece.
YOU??? worrying about style??
ReplyDeleteplease, look at mine.
Thanks dan.
ReplyDeleteFinn-the fur took about 3 layers of erasing and re-drawing the swirls in it to get it to look like that. It usually goes through an 'ugly' state before you can get it the way you want. I usually use a hard compressed charcoal pencil/stick and a blending stump to smear with. I usually start of with the initial charcoal being vine, and then layer the compressed on top, it seems to flow better when i do that. Just keep using it you'll definitely catch on. Thanks for the kind words!
Adela- You have a style. You're just crazy. :]