Illustrators Division

French artist Alex Diboine

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From the Illustrators Division

I've been following the work of French artist Alex Diboine for several years. He's kind of a genius at everything he draws. Characters, environments, color keys, even 3D models all have a deft proficiency about them that makes them look like he just busted them out while also looking well crafted and thought through. I hope to rise to his level some day. Super inspired.

Nicely curated Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Lots of older stuff on his Tumblr: LINK​

-Jake

The Idyllic Illustrations and Comics of Sarah Webb

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From the Illustrators Division

I'm currently lost in the the dense over growth of Sarah Webb's illustrations and comics. I found their work while researching inspiration for my Dusk Bunnies print and just fell in love with her organic style.

Webb currently works in the animation industry in Los Angeles, but is originally from Alaska, and I think you can see a lot of her upbringing in her work.

More here:

Current webcomic: LINK​

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK (No art, but a "personal visual journal")

Twitter: LINK​

Tumblr: LINK​

-Jake

Surreal symbolic art of Helvetica Blanc

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From the Illustrators Division

Gosh, I just love the work of Helvetica Blanc. Based in the Pacific Northwest, with a back ground in graphic design, Helvetica is "an artist exploring mysticism, the subconscious, and worldbuilding with an emphasis on form and texture."

The compositions, shapes, textures, and colors hint to an unknown world of iconography that feels familiar but altogether alien. Like, if we discovered a long dead civilization on Pluto and all we had left were their statues and art, I feel like it would look something like this.

More here:

Website: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Prints: LINK

-Jake

Gobli Prin

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From the Illustrators Division

Remarkable character designs by Tokyo based illustrator Gobli Prin. If Yoshitaka Amano and old school Hayao Miyazaki had a baby you'd get the work of this artist. And yet, some how I think he's bringing something of his own to the table besides just his style. I don't know what he's cooking up, but I want to see a world book or comic or game based on his designs. Hoping this all leads to something!

I wish there was more out there about him; a website or something, but all we have are his twitter and instagram: LINK and LINK​

-Jake

TELLURION

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From the Illustrators Division

I've been following Matt Rhodes since the early 2000s. He's an incredible artist who's work bridges the gap between concept art and illustration.

He's worked for years in the gaming industry on AAA titles, but the work that absolutely stuns me is his personal project TELLURION.

I was reminded by this when friend of the newsletter, Thomas, sent me an email suggesting this for the newsletter.

Here's Thomas's note in the email:

"He spent three years drawing more than 300 full-color panels. He said that he was terrible at dialogue and for a long time it kept him from doing a story. Then someone suggested he draw a story without dialogue. I was skeptical, but after a dozen images I was hooked, and binged the whole thing. It was surprisingly gripping.

It’s really a great example of not letting your weakness stop you from creating art."

A couple lessons here:

  • There is power in slow productivity. You can create something substantial by consistently chipping away at it image by image over time. No need to sprint.

  • Do work that plays to your strengths. Yes, you want to grow and improve in areas you are weak, but don't let those weaknesses be a roadblock to making something great.

​

Experience TELLURION here: LINK​

Matt's Instagram: LINK​

Artstation: LINK​

Also, I love his version of DUNE: LINK LINK and LINK

-Jake

Ghibliesque Star Wars

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From the Illustrators Division

What if Star Wars was an early 80's anime for kids? Gop Gap's vision for that is absolutely perfect.

Gop Gap is a visual development artist working out of Thailand. They do some incredible character work, but also capture moments so well. Lighting and color is on point.

Check out the links below, there is A TON more work with Star Wars, Pokemon, Marvel, and Dragon Ball.

Artstation: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

If you like this, also check out this post from way back: LINK​

-Jake

Corporate Memphis...but cool

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From the Illustrators Division

London based Brazilian illustrator and designer, Gabriel Silveira does the Corporate Memphis style...but he brings an edge to it that I think elevates the genre. Like, I think it'd be cool to see a whole comic, or animated film in his approach to illustration. Really would like to mix in this kind of polish and refinement to my own work somehow.

Check out his website here: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Behance: LINK​

-Jake

Paul Felix's Lilo and Stitch Art

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From the Illustrators Division

Lilo and Stitch turned 20 this week and it's brought back so many memories of a very impressionable time of my art life. I was in my early 20's and working at my first job at an animation studio, had my first kid a year earlier and was still trying to figure out my art style and where I fit in animation/concept art.

I saw Lili and Stitch and it's combination of cute, fun, and sci-fi made a massive impact on what I wanted to create.

I got the Art of Lilo and Stitch book and studied that thing front to back. I picked up watercoloring and worked on my design skills from it. One artist stood out to me above the rest: Paul Felix.

There's no Paul Felix website and as far as I can tell there's no social media account for him either. What there is though is the "UNOFFICIAL PAUL FELIX" blog.

To see a lot more work of his, check out the blog here: LINK

-Jake

Got my eye on you

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From the Illustrators Division

I'm in awe at the colors of this Beholder drawing by Canadian artist Darren M. A. Calvert. I thought it was digital at first, but no, this guy knows his way around design markers. Fabulous. I'm taking notes.

More of Darren's work here:

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Etsy: LINK​

This got a good chuckle out of me: LINK​

-Jake

The Gungy Futurism of Scott Vanden Bosch

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From the Illustrators Division

I fell in love with Scott Vanden Bosch's work a few years ago. Recently, I did a deep dive to try and find all of his drawings over time. It was cool to see how he's evolved as an artist and embraces the cartoony style he's settled on.

Here's a guy who has such a thorough understanding of composition, light and shadow, and design principles that he could do something pretty realistic with his work. But then his art would look like very other concept artist out there. No, Scott has a voice, and it's been a lot of fun to see what he does with it.

These samples barely scratch the surface. You should see the little sculpts he does of these guys.

Website: LINK​

Tumbler: LINK​

Blog: LINK​

Twitter: LINK (the most current collection of his art)

Instagram: LINK​

-Jake

John Berkey Websites

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From the Illustrators Division

Hot dog, what a treat to discover these websites. I've been a fan of Berkey ever since I was like, seven, when I saw his art on the cover of "Our Universe" at the library. Blew me away that someone could paint like that. Plus, that book opened my mind to the beauty of space science.

His fan website is a stash of art I've never seen along with some classics. My only nitpick is the images are low res, and often scans from the printed source.

Berkey's official website is pretty good in that regard, but the selection of work is limited.

Berkey Fan Website: LINK​

Berkey Official Website: LINK​

(Thanks to TachyonArt's newsletter for the Berkey link. Read his newsletter here.)

-Jake

Ma-ko

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From the Illustrators Division

I'm seriously in love and in awe with these drawings by online artist ma-ko. Can't find any background info on him, a real mystery of a guy!

Here's a person who understands atmosphere and composition. I love an artist who gives the back ground and world of their art just as much love as their characters (if not more).

See more here:

IG: LINK​

INPRNT: LINK​

-Jake

Calum Alexander Watt's Gyrobikes

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From the Illustrators Division

Calem Alexander Watts has been one of my favorite concept artists for over a decade. He's got a great style. I'd describe his style as French ligne claire meets American concept realism. I was really excited to see his designs for the recent Star Wars films.

These gyrobikes are just killer. Love the look and style of these. Would absolutely want to cruise around the desert on one of these beasts. though... I'd hate to fix a flat tire on that thing.

Website: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

-Jake

The Neo Romantic Illustrations of Evan Cagle

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From the Illustrators Division

I love these DUNE: House Atreides comic covers by Los Angeles based artist Evan Cagle. I'm a big fan of the eccentric and romantic look of DUNE he captures. I did love the film directed by Denis Villeneuve and the grounded brutalist design...but DUNE should be a little funky and wild in my opinion.

Cagle is a master of the scratchboard line-heavy illustration style reminiscent of Franklin Booth. He takes this early 20th century technique and style and washes it over contemporary compositions and subject matter. It is lovely. He's one of those artists that makes you realize the potential of the medium.

See more work on his website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Here's my favorite drawing of his: LINK

-Jake

Lee White's Tarot Deck

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From the Friendship Unit

My buddy, co-host on the 3 Point Perspective podcast, and partner over at SVSlearn.com, Lee White has just launched his Kickstarter project.

I'm not just a friend of Lee but also a HUGE fan of his illustrations. He's been talking about doing this for years and lately has been working on it behind the scenes. I'm so excited to see all of this come together in this project.

I love the unique take he has on the subject matter. Each one of these card has been re-thought from the ground up. I don't really know much about tarot decks, but Lee explained ti this way:

"The more modern use of the cards is they just give you a topic to think about and how it relates to your life. The cards aren't magical or tell the future or anything like that. They are more like themes to meditate on and use in the way that fits your life."

You can check out the project here: LINK​

-Jake