What Artist Influence You?

[Koko Ed]

What artist inspire your creativity?
(This is a remake of a now locked 2002 thread. There's some new blood that may add something new to the conversation. Plus I have a couple of new artists who have caught my eye).



ROGER DEAN: I just adore his visual otherworldly style. His lettering style alone I envy(my graphic design teachers on the other hand thought him a very bad influence upon me-"Simplicity Edward!Simplicity!"- and placed him up the with Norman Rockwell and Jim Ross hssssssst! as the great evils of the artistic world). This guy was a FIRST kind of guy before there was a FIRST(he did most of his work in the 70's). You got to see the house he designed. I don't think there's a straight curve to be seen anywhere! The guy had numerous ideas far too ambitious for the technology of the time. My favorite is the dragon scale pattern he designed for a commercial airliner. That would look soooo cool swooping down into an airport. Check out MAGNETIC STORM to get the inside scoop on ROGER DEAN.

CHRIS ACHELLIEOS: I have to admit. Achillioes' work is definitely risque(bordering on pornographic,at the very least sensual) but the guy is probably the best at doing (mostly female) figures of any artist I know(he doesn't even use reference). He has a great eye for detail that give the picture character and tells the story behind the subjects in his pictures.Check out MEDUSA to get the scoop on what makes him tick.

PHILLIP CASTLE: I would've picked castle just for one of my all time favorite pictures "What Was That?". It feature Castle's trademark subjects: the Chrome Angels. A mechanized pin up girl with silvery wings.Usually posing with some sort of jet (usually military) playing tag in the clouds. This picture feature a brunette "showing off" while a Trio of F-14 Tomcats race by. I'm just dying to paint it on a leather jacket. Castle is also a 70's artist and his style often has that painterly graphic style of the era but it is also playful and clever(his Mr. Spock Heineken ad is a classic). Check out AIRFLOW to find out more. If you can't find that try AIRSHOW a more recent but less impressive collection.

HAJIME SORAYAMA: His work is definitely not for the kids and some of it is not to my taste really but his mastery of metal is what knocked my socks off. This guy is well known by the airbrush community and he is a master of the art. If I needed someone to teach me how to work the airbrush it would be him.

MICHEAL WHELAN: If you read alot of Sci-Fi or Fantasy then you've seen his work. He is very prolific and very popular. What I like about his work is it's very majestic and breathtakingly beautiful without being overly dramatic. I would recommend THE ART OF MICHEAL WHELAN a great albeit expensive($50 hardcover and I haven't found a soft cover version. And my copy was stolen along with my copy of AIRFLOW,MAGNETIC STORM-which I since have bought again-,MEDUSA and numerous other books).


JOHN BYRNE: The master of the comic book battle. Read FANTASTIC FOUR #'s 249-250 to read the best comic book battle EVER for proof. He is a comic book legend most known for his classic run in the X-Men.

PAUL SMITH: He has a sharp linear style that reminds me of a comic book version of Patric Nagle. He caught my eye with his work in X-Men from the 160's up to #175. The series went WAY downhill after he left and I haven't been back since. In fact I've stopped reading Marvel altogether though I've heard they've improved in quality.

MICHEAL GOLDEN: I remember him from THE MICRONAUTS. His lively curvy style gives weight and urgency to the story. I regard him as a "tease" artist. He's a designated artist (Like ROCKETEER creator Dave Stevens, who does aw some cheesecake pics check out JUST LOOKING. Reincarnated Vargas!) who does the cover to lure unsuspecting readers in who buy the book only to discover a lesser talent was hired to do the actual book. I won't hold that against him though.

Misume Sharow(APPLESEED, GHOST IN THE SHELL) Inspired tech and just plain terrific design. Now if only he'd write dialog that wasn't like he was lecturing a philosophy class.

Katsure Otomo(AKIRA) Another great manga artist who transcends the genre with his eye catching design and attention to detail.

Terry Moore(STRANGERS IN PARADISE, Katchoo and Francine are the best couple in comicdom) Moore earns a better reputation for his writing (which is brilliant and heartfelt but take a closer look at his art and you appreciate his quality workmanship.

The Hernandez brothers(LOVE and ROCKETS) The best comics from the 80's. Jamies work is better in my opinion but Gilbert's Palomar storyline is nothing to be ashamed of.

Jeff Smith(BONE, BONE # 16 is the best single comic issue EVER!) I just read the whole series in the phone book sized graphic novel. Best. Comic. Series. Ever.

Barry Windsor-Smith. What eye catching beauty. His line work is to die for.

Bernie Wrightson. The man is amazing with his figure work and use of light and shadows.

Alan Davis. A very underrated talent who is particularly good at illustrating women.

Joe Mandura. He's part of the Marvel new breed that tends to leave me cold but his lively work sparks inspiration in me every time I see his work.

Jason Pearson(BODY BAGS) His story writing needs maturing but his art is very eye catching and sharp

Mark Schultz(XENOXEIC TALES aka CADILLACS AND DINOSAURS) What JURASSIC PARK SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Think Frank Frazetta doing a black and white comic book. Such loving detail on every page.

Boris Vallejo. A classic who's use of color is unique and inspired.

Patrick Woodruff.This guy is something to behold. Some of the most imaginative stuff you'll ever see. It transcend media definition.

Olivia.Gorgeous airbrush work, literally.

Alex Ross (Marvels) The best work Marvel has put out in years.

Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (ATARI FORCE, NUMEROUS DC TITLES) He's not only great at character and production design but also very creative use of lettering.

Geoffrey Darrow. How this guy gets a book done is beyond me. He is a detail nut!

Dave Sims. A bit of a jerk but a great story teller.

Bill Whilingham.I LOVE THE ELEMENTALS!

Shawn McManus. His character design come alive on the page and are endearing to behold.

Frank Miller. His graphic storytelling style is just awesome. If you liked Sin City his comics are like that.

Howard Chaykin. Another artist known as a bit of a jerk but pick up his book American Flagg and be amazed.