HOME | DD

Published: 2011-02-28 00:18:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 14515; Favourites: 243; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
I've spent entirely too much time today working on this, but this is such a worthwhile meme, IMHO, that I had to do it.This is a map of my influences from over the years that have molded my art and creativity into what it is today. I have so many miscellaneous influences that it was hard to pick which ones to touch upon. These are the major ones at least, the ones that have influenced me the most in my life.
1. Susan Seddon Boulet - [link]
SSB has the most amazing spiritual, shamanic artwork I have ever seen. Granted I did not come across her until I was in my late twenties, but she has majorly influenced my direction and what I wish to "say" with my art. For that reason she is #1 in my influences.
2. Ron Spencer - [link]
Ron Spencer does the best werewolf art I have ever seen, hands down. I discovered him when I was first introduced to WW:TA back in 1993 and was utterly blown away by his illustrations in those game books. I love how muscled and shaggy and huge and powerful his werewolves are! Everything that a pissed off werewolf should be in my book. I have always striven to be as good as he is, at least with my own werewolf art. He has influenced my snarly werewolves more than anything else, and that is why he is #2.
3. Bev Doolittle - [link]
I discovered Bev's art when I was first in high school and was handed a copy of "Southwest Art" magazine. I was immediately floored by her work. She works in watercolors, which still blows my mind, and her "hide and seek" style is what completely made her as an artist. Not only that, the woman is a compositional goddess and a detail whore like me. She is probably the biggest influence for my "style" than any other.
4. Michael Whelan - [link]
MW is an illustrator god. He simply does everything perfectly. I can't think of anything this man can't do with his paintbrush. His use of colors, composition, lighting, anatomy...just every single aspect is genius. If there is any artist out there that I would say I consider to be the benchmark of perfection, it is Michael Whelan. I continue to strive towards his awesomeness.
5. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - [link]
When it comes down to what has inspired me -the most- with my anthro art, and especially my werewolf art, it is this game. I was introduced to it in 1993 and instantly became hooked. Here was a race of werewolves, spiritual in nature, who protected nature against the ravages of man and an evil bent on chaos and destruction. Anyone who has ever played this game can see what a major influence it has been on me.
6. Southwest Art Magazine - [link]
I was given issues of this magazine in my high school art class to learn from. It is here that I first found Bev Doolittle, and the first place beautiful illustrations of wolves turned my head. I had never seen such gorgeous art before! I was hooked, and learned a lot from those magazines.
7. Sue Dawe - [link]
When I was younger, the only thing in my world was unicorns. OMG, I was so crazy! Of course that was the mid eighties and Sue Dawe art was -everywhere-. I had posters, and folders, and notebooks, and stickers, and anything I could get my hands on that had Sue's artwork on it. I longed to be an artist like her.
8. The Howling -
I've loved this movie since I first saw it in the mid eighties. The creature effects of the werewolves were groundbreaking at the time, and I was just in love with the idea of being able to turn into a big, snarly werewolf. When I would try and draw werewolves, I would try to draw these guys. Upright on two digitigrade legs, all hairy and big with huge claws and teeth. The Howling werewolves, and the art of Ron Spencer, have influenced what my werewolves are today.
9. The Dragonriders of Pern Books -
I remember when I first picked up a copy of "The White Dragon" in Jr. High. I had never really read a full-length novel before, but I -devoured- that book. From then on I was hooked on dragons. I wanted to be a Dragonrider SO BAD!!! These books would influence me in my creativity for many years.
10. Windstone Editions - [link]
I came across my first Windstones in a store in the mall in the late eighties. I can't tell you how agog I was over these beautiful creations! The dragons and gryphons and unicorns were SO lifelike to me that I expected them to move at any time. I continually revisited the store just so I could stare at the Windstones in abject WANT, planning which ones I would buy someday. Luckily the store had a layaway plan, so I eventually paid enough money to get my first dragon. I still have him today! The Windstone creatures majorly influenced my artwork for many years.
11. Denis Beauvais - [link]
Den Beauvais is in the same league as Michael Whelan, yet Den's artwork seems to be even more colorful and animated. I've always loved his dragons and fantasy art, and many of his pieces influenced me heavily in my "dragon" years.
12. Serendipity Books - [link]
What little girl wasn't absolutely enraptured by these books? I adored the colorful, whimsical illustrations that always made me long to be able to draw like that. I adored the stories as well, which were always good and had an excellent moral point.
13. Dragonlance - [link]
After I devoured all of the Anne McCafferey books, I turned my sights onto the Dragonlance novels. I really got into these characters and the epic quests and adventures. And Raistlin gave a girl all kinds of bad ideas
14. The Last Unicorn -
Much like the Serendipity books, a lot of girls were crazy for this movie, and I was no exception. This movie influenced a lot of my early artwork (that has been now lost somewhere).
Original meme is here:
Related content
Comments: 57
Rashirou [2011-02-28 00:32:36 +0000 UTC]
cool.
I love The White Dragon too, and the 1st volume.xD
And Dragonlance is awesome as but Forgotten Realms is really amazing too.xD
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Opal-princess [2011-02-28 00:23:42 +0000 UTC]
I love your work!My favorite one is'Heart song'
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Biorave [2011-02-28 00:23:15 +0000 UTC]
Hay! Golden, have you visited the Windstone Forum???? [link]
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
the-stormborn [2011-02-28 00:21:52 +0000 UTC]
I love dragonlance too. If you like itand its amajor influence on yoru work you should try R.A. Salvatores Legend of Drizzt. One of the best and lesser known fantasy sagas of all time. ChecK it out I think you'd liek Guen Drizzt's 600 pounds pet panther!
Mice inspriation map! Keep up the good work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Sincara [2011-02-28 00:19:58 +0000 UTC]
These are very influential ^^ Thanks for sharing! I may have to check out some of this myself!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0