Influence Map

So here is just a little bit of what has influenced me in art.

1. Cartoons such as Batman (the 90's version) really influenced me on what a good animation is. Behind that little square are others such as Superman, Spider-Man, and X-Men the animated series. All which really knew how to carry a good story line and (most of the time) great art.

2. Botticelli is the first master painter I fell in love with. Venus and Mars was my favorite painting for the longest time. And the way he painted young men so beautifully is still something I'm trying to achieve.

3. Tim Bradstreet's Hellblazer covers impressed me the most in their striking yet uncomplicated compositions. He's one of the few artist who could draw someone just standing there looking at us, without being boring. There is a quiet intenseness to his covers that makes me think of that moment in classical music just before the crescendo. A drum, quiet and then *!*

4. Jo Chen, to put it simply, I adore her.
she draws the prettiest characters ever. I wish I could hire her so she could draw for me all of my favorite book characters. She's just amazing.

5. Linda Bergkvist is not just one one of the greatest digital painters out there, but also the reason why I started painting digitally in the first place. If I hadn't seen her work, I think I wouldn't have hurried to buy a tablet.

6. I honestly had no idea who Naruto was until I started seeing him all over DA's fan-art section. So I got curious.
And well, as you can probably guess looking at my gallery, I freaking fell in love with it. Which means that whatever bit of Anime-ish style you might see in my work could be put to blame mostly on Naruto.

7. I'm a total bookworm. And R.L. Stine is probably to blame on that. Ever since Goosebumps and Fear Streets, I haven't been able to stop my addiction to Horror and Fantasy novels. Anne Rice was later guilty of making me a big vampire fan. That is until twitards or whatever Mrs. Meyer's groupies are called ruined the vampire cool.

8. Jean Baptiste Greuze who's work is just so damn beautiful.

9. Every time I think of drawings some sort of children artwork Harry Potter comes to mind. If I ever do decide to do some sort of children book (even if it's just for myself) I will probably try to keep it in the spirit of HP.

10. Fashion was actually my first introduction to art, I used to watch a certain fashion designer draw beautiful dresses on equally beautiful ladies at small boutique in West Hollywood.
I was about 3 years old. And for the longest time (most of my childhood) drawing girls in pretty dresses (with their hands behind their backs) was all I did. Now days, I mostly just enjoy the beautiful fashion ads like the amazing Dolce & Gabbana. Gorgeous stuff.

11.And last but definitely not least J.S. Sargent, one of the best portrait painters ever. How could anyone not Love his work?

There.

Their are so many more artist out there who I couldn't include, and also much music and movies that have been a great influence on me.
Looking at this map I realize once again that there is still so much to learn from each single image in it.
I wish I could thank each artist personally for bringing such amazing and inspirational work to us.
But I guess this distant thanks will have to do.