Want to know who my favourite Artist's are?

Innovative and captivating creative content would not be possible without there been a source of inspiration for each artist out there. Early artist’s in history were inspired by the real world around them and to this day reality is still one of the greatest sources of inspiration for all artists. What draws people into creating artwork isn’t just reality’s captivating form, but the content and creations of other artists popular or not shown throughout our planet in every shape and form.

This fact universally known by all artist’s is never the less true to my own creative works and is the driving focus of all my content when developing them. In today’s blog post I shall be sharing with you artist’s whose style and content have strung a cord in my creative heart and are the leading inspiration for my passion in both Illustration and animation. Specifically, I shall be breaking down why I find each artist so captivating so that it is clearer where I draw my Idea’s from when developing my own content.

1. Mcbess:  http://mcbess.com/

Matthieu Bessudo is a French illustrator based In London who self Identifies as ‘Mcbess’. Primarily working in illustration, Matthieu has worked and directed on various animations as well as been a core member within the band ‘The Dead Pirates’. Other feats include Co-owning the brand ‘The Dudes Factory’ which merchandise apparel and art prints designed by primarily Mcbess himself. I would consider Matthieu my favourite artist  due to the theme, style and passion he brings to all his creative works.

Above showcases a landscape illustration of wide abstract scene signature to the Mcbess identity.

Although I have the inspirational passion I take from Mcbess etched into my mind and heart

Permanently, I first discovered his signature style through a music video he had developed with artist and animator Simon Landrein for his band (The Dead Pirate's) song 'Wood'. What drew me in and instigated me to investigate Mcbess further from this video was the charm and effect his style has nostalgicly reminicent of early 1920's handdrawn 2d animation. Animation from that era was something that had and maintains great appeal to me due to the process, style and charm that is brought about from the qurky form and motion of the era's common drawn method.

Music video 'Wood' performed by 'The Dead Pirates'. Video designed and animated by Mcbess and Simon.

The process that Mcbess utilises when creating his illustrations is to handdraw his concepts in thick clean linework by either using Ink methods on paper, digitally drawing with a pen display or a combination effort. Regardless of the approach he takes to his work he consistantly follows the style of thick linework following effective line weight variation that can be described as the marrying of Sailor Jerry tattooing with Fliecher studios early animation work. I make the suggestion of these 2 styles due to the effective approach he uses from 'stippling' and other textured effectives with the visuals and charms commonly found in that era of creative content. 

illustration of a 'Spooky' and 'Mysterious' abstract scene signature to the Mcbess identity. Hidden within the illustration of little treats and spooky details to explore.

Aspects of Mcbess’s style that I am drawn to the most include his clever use of composition and texture. I am keen to experiment with the vast canvases that he creates and fills with abstract visuals and narratives. The way in which these illustrations consistently contain tiny details for the viewer to explore and excite over when discovered is something that appeals to my storyteller tendency’s as a content creator. Rewarding the viewer for taking the time to look closer rather than taking a first glance view of the scene.

Experimenting with texture, sets the tone and mood for any concept when conveying intentions as a content creator. Even leaving it clean and blank is a choice that sets its own tone. The way in which Mcbess uses texture to set a specific tone signature to his style is something that resonates with me completely. I am keen to use this rough style of texture within my own productions in to convey an experiment with how my creative works can convey an emotional response and what that response is. 

Overall Mcbess is a talented content creator and the achievements he has accomplished alongside the work he is passionate about speaks to me as an artist. I strive to take my own passion along Its own developing path holding Mcbess as an integral inspiration as a person and an artist’s when moving forward into new territory for my artwork. 

A self portrait style illustration of Mcbess Drunk/Intoxicated having murdered a person in his dazed state.

A Completly handdrawn Illustration titled ' A waste of time ' drawn at A2 on paper with Ink. 

 Two Faceless near naked ladys painted in Mcbess's siganture style. They are covered in 'Sick' Tattoos. 


2. Trudi Castle:  http://www.trudiart.com/

Trudi Castle is an Illustrator who creates concept art, comics and environment illustrations for company’s and herself. Born in London, she is currently a game artist living in Vancouver candada, working at Red Hook studios on their game 'Darkest Dungeon'. Although I have personal admiration of Red hook's game, art style and Trudi's collaborating contributions to the company, I also admire her personal project titled 'The coffee crew'. 

Promotional Illustration created by Trudi for Red Hook Studios to advertise a new update within the game Darkest Dungeon.

What the 'coffee crew' is, is a group of characters that Trudi has designed portraying personality’s and charm each fitting to their own merits. The characters visuals are designed around the idea narrative that they are all part of the 'Coffee crew club'. The CC club is a group of fantasy characters that are obsessed with coffee (Based on Trudi’s personal love of coffee) that band together to explore and achieve their personal goals in a fantasy style world. This world and their characters stories are portrayed through drawings, illustrations, and comics that she posts on her social media accounts for entertainment of herself and her audience. 

A WIP illustration of all the current characters in the Coffee Crew Club out on a stroll.

As previously mentioned in my discussion about Mcbess, style is something that sets a tone to any reaction that comes from artwork. The style that Trudi has developed for the world in which she conveys her characters and narratives within, expresses an impression that is unique and engaging in nature. I find Trudi’s depictions of the Coffee Crew to be inspirational to my own visions in narrative regarding style and creative expression. In the future when I begin to tackle my target of creating an animated short It is artists such as Trudi that experiment with their passion in visual communication that will fuel my drive to produce my own creative works as far as I can take it. 

A concept illustration depicting a journey of characters Marble and Cuppabot of the Coffee Crew exploring the Giant mugs of the north.


Trudi experiments with colour, shape and texture in a way that stands out against what is expected within todays artist community. Each piece she creates for her own amusement incorporates tiny detailing that transforms a simple idea into a powerful impact that engages with many people including myself to give an emotional reaction. The way in which she combines each element into her drawings gives each creative work not just a visual but an expression, unique identity, and personality. A quote that rings in my mind is 'A good story isn't planned but is the result of good characters Interacting in an interesting setting'. Trudi is example of the highest potential you can take this idea.

Another specific element that I personally admire and constantly attempt to learn from his how trudi conveys charater personality through pose and visual expression. Not just in the coffee crew but in all of Trudi's character design content it is clear exactly what kind of person each creature is by the way in which they are visually commuicated. It's one thing to convey a characters design, but to convey a characters essense is something that I am keen to develop in light of how effective Trudi is able to pull it off. This aspect of design is often what sets apart concept drawings from a memorable experience. 

Overall as an artist Trudi incorperates her professional skillset with her personal passions to create a resulting product that transcends the ingredients that were utilised. through time and practice anybody can create artwork to technical degree by followings steps and processes, but it is people like trudi that demonstrate that you can do more with art by applying innovation to every aspect of a project to push the potential and make something more from what you could by been clever and staying true to the passion you have for your own visions.

Panel 27 from a comic story Trudi developed expressing the narrative of the young bird prince training with the Coffee Crew to be a  powerful solider against the wishes of his parents the king and queen.

Illustration depicting the Coffee Crew moving into Trudi's new appartment when she had moved to her new flat.

Warm up sketch of The Young Prince captioned: 'The Prince is small and defenceless-looking, but under that cloak he carries a few secret weapons..'.

  3. Nathaniel Rueda (MUTE)- https://www.behance.net/nathanieleo   

Starting off as a graphic designer, Nathaniel slowly made the transition into been one of the most interesting bright illustrators of our modern century. Based in Lima - Peru, Nathaniel incorporates inspiration from both music and other artists to illustrate creative works with rich details and colour, more recently he has begun to incorporate Peruvian culture into his work, making his identity and background shine through his art.  

Typography experimental illustration that eneded up been utilised as a banor to advertise his creative works.


I first discovered Nathanial’s work whilst exploring the website of the popular character design festival 'Pictoplasma' where in 2015 he showcased some of his character illustrations to the public as part of the Pictoplasma academy exhibition to complete their projects. Since discovering Nathaniel, his Illustrations have been a source of Inspiration and visual reference in the way that he experiments with lighting, shading and colouring to produce interesting concepts that provoke boundless depth for his audience to explore. 

 Sixth illustration in a series of 7 inspired by classic japanese Ukiyo-e prints with a common theme of the supernatural. This one is inspired by 'Susanoo slaying the Yamata no Orochi' by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The process in which Nathaniel builds up his illustrations is something that is similar to my own methods and approach. By layering up each aspect of an image just like Nathaniel does there is a lot more flexibility given to the artist allowing a consistent use of depth and lighting to be applied when aiming for a specific target such as ambience and depth within a scene. This depth that he applies creates a visual variation in the spread-out of the value that draws in attention at key aspects of his illustration taking your eyes on a visual journey as you explore the tiny details of the picture. 

 First Illustration in a series of 7 based on a class Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. This one is based upon 'Takiyasha the witch and the skeleton spectre' by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.


A goal that has been repeatedly stated of mine is to create an animated short for the purposes of conveying narrative to invoke an emotional response to my audience. Like all artists style is the tone that we explore to convey our passion in a method that invokes a unique response, the gritty texture used alongside the block style shading that Nathaniel utilises is something that resonates with me greatly, it creates an impression that feels 'exciting' in nature and it is something that I am keen to bring to my work and my future projects by taking it in as inspiration. 
 
Every piece of artwork is case specific with Nathaniel, he always tries to reimagine his approach by incorporating his past process with something new and interesting. This kind of consistent development speaks to me and never fails to inspire me to explore new methods as well as use his response and visual reference for any new pieces I wish to develop. Weather animation or illustration visual communication is our language, there is always something someone can take from another’s creative works.  

Overall Nathaniel Rueda is a talented artist with a clear understanding of exactly what makes something look appealing. He is always keen to try something new and expand upon his previous visual legacy, a trait which I am interested in taking on for my own development. What drew me to his work is how he uses layered lighting, colours, and composition to portray an idea through a unique tone and expression. Since discovering him I continue to incorporate what I learn from studying him into my work as I explore my own approach to visual communication through my artwork.

 

 Character project developed for the Pictoplasma Academy All Stars Group Show. This Illustration is titled: UKU The hell spirit.

Compliation baner used to advertise a project that Nathaniel created for himself. This project was titled '30 days 30 characters' and had him desing a new character every day for 30 days.

Illustration depicting a girl collecting an abstract substance of 'Cosmic gunk' with a large undead looking bird on her shoulder.

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Thank you all for taking the time to read this post and explore artist's that I find appealing, maybe you know some of these artists and maybe there was some that you don't know. But I hope that by discussing these 3 artist's I have shown you a side of them that is unique to my perspective and that you can understand, by studying them, what you can take from their preferred creative content aswell as what I have incorporated so far into my own content.