Who are your influences?

[Pepe Custom]

I was wondering what all your influences are as far as art goes. I have a wide range of artist with very different styles whom I admire.
My list, in no particular order are:
1) Norman Rockwell- His paintings all have the look of slightly altered reality that I find appealing.
2) Frank Cipra- Probably the best airbrush artist whom you have never heard of. He helped me get into airbrushing goalie masks and shared much of his techniques with me. His mask art can be seen on the majority of NHL goalies over the last 10 years.
3) Ron Burns- His use of crazy dayglow colors fascinates me. Do yourself a favor and do a google search on this guy.
4) Boris Vallejo- Fantasy artist who is heavy on realism.
5) Frank Frazetta- I have been a fan of his since childhood. He has influenced many many artists including a few on this list.
6) Mort Drucker- THE Mad Magazine illustator. I would spend hours copying his drawings as a kid.
7) Todd McFarlane- much more than a comic book artist. Argueably one of the best pen and ink artists of our time.
8)H.R. Giger- Bizarre surrealist style. What's not to like?

[josie]

:hail: Luc Boivin:hail:

[blinddog 99]

Great question Pepe, there are so many...

Rodin- he should've had airbrushes when he did sculpture
Claude Monet- look at the color, texture & use of light
Maxfield Parrish-best illustrator in history (IMO) they named a blue after him!
Rockwell-I agree, great illustrator
Frazetta-is it true he only used single action airbrushes????? Is that possible?
Ron Burns- agreed again, he was crazy, but awsome.
Von Dutch-what can you say, this man was out there!
Ed Roth-rat fink man was my hero as a kid
Stanley Mouse-the Dead artist and underground comic illustrator
Rober Crumb-best funky cartoonist (keep on truckin)
Brom-great mind, some great art
Walt Disney-in a pioneer sort of way

Enough, I could go on, thanks for the post, it got my brain in gear!

[mongoose]

Great thread, Pepe. For me the ones I most admire are:

Sorayama-Fantastic realistically detailed erotic works, especially when he paints metal, plastic and leather, etc. I first noticed his work with the sexy chrome robots and was a big fan ever since.
Royo-Beautiful overall looks and moods but I loved his sci-fi futuristic themes the most.
Julie Bell-If you like Boris, you'll like her too. Another artist that can make chrome look like its alive.
Jim Lee- changed the way I look at comics forever.
"Mort Drucker- THE Mad Magazine illustator. I would spend hours copying his drawings as a kid."

Althou I didn't know Mort Drucker, I loved Mad Magazine when I was a kid. It was like my bible on how to draw.
Of course my small short descriptions don't fully contain the amazing ranges these extremely talented artists have, they are mostly the reasons they have caught my eye in the beginnings.

[zackarybancroft]

There's a lot of artist that I really enjoy.
As comic book artist go.
Bernie Wrightson - one of the best 70's horror comic artist.

Jack (King) Kirby - Without Kirby, the comics we know would be a lot different! I don't care what Stan Lee says!!

All of the EC Comic artists - What can I say, if you ever read any EC comics, you would know what I'm talking about!

As painters go:

Frank Frazetta - one of the best fantasy painters all time!!
(To blinddog 99 No, Frazetta used paint brushes and oils. )

Alberto Vargas - Some of the most beautiful Pin-ups

Olivia - Love her cheesecake!

..and a lot of the old timers who did Pin-ups around WW2.

[jason prouty]

Andy Warhol
Naoto Hattori
Josh Agle
Todd McFarlane
Mitch Kim

and...the unknown artist that makes you stop dead in your tracks and empties your mind of everything you were just thinking

[corey]

Mine are a little more modern
Giger and vincent english. I also like the art of Beverly Boolittle

[moose]

I know this may sound cheesey and a cop-out answer BUT I have been and still am influenced by each and everyone that has ever put pigment to media. Images abound everywhere we look and they each influence us in some small way even if it is only to say "Gee" that is horrible or "Man" that is great..

Tim

[sharonsstudio]

1st is monet through school I would study his work

2nd airbrush artist fitto love his work first saw his work at a laconia bike week and fell in love with his work

[sharonsstudio]

1 I love monet I would study him

2 Fitto fell in love with his work a while age saw it on a bike in Laconia bike week In NH

[Pepe Custom]

1st is monet through school I would study his work

2nd airbrush artist fitto love his work first saw his work at a laconia bike week and fell in love with his work
Fitto rocks. His stuff is so intricate and detailed that you can't help but stare at it. You'll need to look twice so you can discover details that you missed the first time.

[A.P.W.]

Fitto for sure!!!!!!!!
Royo
Frazetta
Craig Fraser
Sorayama
Mike Levalle
Brom
Dorien Cleavenger
Lorenzo sperlonga
Giger
David Nestler

[jason prouty]

I know this may sound cheesey and a cop-out answer BUT I have been and still am influenced by each and everyone that has ever put pigment to media. Images abound everywhere we look and they each influence us in some small way even if it is only to say "Gee" that is horrible or "Man" that is great..

Tim

amen to that Moose!!!

[colourshift]

Influences:

Robert Nagel (love his grace of line)
Jack Vettriano (mostly because he paints in a style that stymies me, and his pieces make me smile)
A.D.Cook (fantastic large scale nudes, and one hell of a nice guy)
Michael Cacy (the McGyver of the illustration world, and a damn good fine artist to boot!...both a friend and mentor to me)
Frank Frazetta (his style is timeless)
Jonathan Pantaleon (fantastic automotive muralist, his samurai bike - blue and white pearl - blows me away)
John Harris (best #$*&^$## flames in the business IMO)

[gphood]

Tim White - introduced me to super-realism
H.R.Giger - showed me what you could achieve with freehand airbrushing
Patrick Woodruffe - not an airbrush artist but he creates exquisite works of art - www.patrickwoodroffe-world.com
Rodney Matthews - my introduction to fantasy art -www.rodneymatthews.com
Ty Lawer - one of the best in the UK - www.pageantpaintwork.co.uk
Jonathon Pantaleon - showed me how advanced things are in the States - www.jpantaleon.com

[Cowboy]

Just thought I,d give My 2 cent,s Alberto Ponno Is World class in My opinion. For Those Who have never heard of Him, Heres a link , You really have to take a look Cowboy http://www.albertoponno.com/pgs-us/home_us.htm

[kruble]

Fitto, Frazetta, Lavalle, STEVEN, Craig Frasier

[Hekinsieden]

I have 4 MAJOR people who influence me.

1) ColourShift - Met her on Yahoo answers and she has been helping me ever since, chatting with her on YIM was great, she ALWAYS had the greatest advice for my airbrushing and helped me actually get into airbrushing.

Without you I wouldn't have come to this forum, and I probably wouldn't be so into airbrushing!

2) Mr. Gold (OTC airbrushing teacher) - My future teacher this year, I met with him and he gave me amazing tips and I watched him create AMAZING ghost flames on a motorcycle.

I do so hope I can learn much when I go to OTC.

3) Mr. Hedges (OTC airbrush teacher) - Another of my buddies at OTC, he is an amazing guy and I hope to learn all of his techniques.

He was the one who reccommended to get an Iwata Revolution.

4) Neil - I am praying I can go to his workshop in Akron in April, he is an amazing body artist and I would love to learn what he has to teach.

Would be awesome to meet him. ^_^

There is my list, sorry if I left someone out but those are the 4 main people I can think of.

[daylite67]

What did I see that made me pick up an airbrush?

Alberto Vargas
H.R. Giger
Hajime Sorayama

Airbrushing also got me into the jetski world. I'd by Spash Magazine back in the mid to late 80's just to check out the custom skis. Now my life pretty much revolves around them.

I became a fan of Steven Craigs stuff when he did the Spawn sitdown.

I'd have to agree with Moose on an answer to who influences me now.

Daylite

[SophicMan]

Terry Hill

I went an airbrush get-a-way here in dallas in '95. I was totally green to this stuff and I was completely in awe of what Terry could do with an airbrush.

I only do t-shirts and batting helmets. no place to do auto stuff....would really like to get into that.

I dont get out much.

:)

P.S. Anyone needing help in the DFW area, I'm available.

[Mike Alsa Canada]

I would have to say my biggest influence is my brother, Matt. He's just an awesome artist and the cool thing is the more he creates and tries the more that I do and vice versa.......
We've been like this for years with a BIG pause in between, but the fire has recently been reignited.....

[diehard]

Not really an airbrusher, but I have always admired the artwork and creativity of Chip Foose.

Craig Fraser was the main inspiration to switch from pencil to airbrush.

I also like the work of Mike Lavelle, Javier Soto, Van Demon, Rich Evans Mike Learn and Crosseyed.

Saying that, there is a lot of inspiration on forums such as these, and as stated before, any pigment on metal is inspiring.

[jerseycrazee]

okay im no ass kisser
but everyone on this site because of the great info and awe-inspiring art i have seen here
thanks all
glad to be a part of it
cheers
ron

[paintedlady]

Jack Kowalchyck

Terri - never knew her last name, but she's totally one of my idols

Joann (crazyhorse) Borteles

Monet - my favorite since i was a child

my grandfather, oil painter - I still use his homemade easel!!

really, like moose said, everybody who makes art - I think we see the world in a different way. We have a bond and comraderie that is unique. And when you mix that with the bizarre passion for grinding bare metal, spraying toxic chemicals, and buffing the whole thing to a glassy shine...well, that's just hot, baby!

[GCA]

Legends

Hieronymus Bosch
Van Gogh
Dali
Frazetta
Picasso
MC Escher
Luis Royo
Rockwell

Contemporary, colossal talents
Steve Nunez
Rod Fuchs
Dru Blair

Other

David Lenz (mind blowing oil paintings)
http://www.davidmlenz.com/

Octavio Ocampo (nothing is what it seems)
http://www.visionsfineart.com/ocampo/aa_index.html

[Chewy]

Frank Frazetta, and Boris were my main stars, but you've gott love Rolf Harris too.

[colourshift]

Oh god, I remember Rolf. And who was that guy with the Emu? I can't remember, that used to make me howl as a kid.

[Airbrushkid]

Nobody. When I started years ago I had no one. And as time as gone on. Theres some nice work out there but none influence me.

[diehard]

i've already replied, but i have recent;y discovered kat Von D....she's a tattooist, but does some fantastic work.

I also think that EVERYONE is influenced a little by current trends, because the customer usually decides

[Chewy]

Oh god, I remember Rolf. And who was that guy with the Emu? I can't remember, that used to make me howl as a kid.

Aw, now you are bringing back memories, I remember the face but not the name, but somehow Rod sticks in my mind...I'll sleep on it and get back to you...lol

Just remembered...Rod Hull...

[sdriscoll]

My inspirations are Artists that when I first saw their work I couldn't stop looking at it. I was hipnotized by their skill and ability to know exactly what they wanted.

1st is Norman Rockwell. I have copied many of his works starting back as far as Jr. high. His work is still my favorite.

2nd is Chuck Close. He is the person who painted huge( 9'x7') portraits of people he knew. Starting in 1968 with a self portrait and continuing today. He had a spinal issue years ago and is now paralized but still puts out some wonderful work. His work from the late 60s and early 70s was all airbrushed and VERY photorealistic. He used a drill with rubber cylinders in it to erase his highlights out. He may have been the 1st to do that.

3rd is Frank Frazetta. I would spend hours looking at his work while I was younger. His use of color and negative space is soooooo fabulious. Like Rockwell he could tell a whole story with a single image.

4th is Maxfield Parish. I am lucky enough to live in a city that has both an original Parish and Chuck Close in the same gallery. I can spend an hour looking at each of them only. The security guards love me there.



Steve.

[colourshift]

I recently saw a breakdown of how Parrish painted...he glazed over blue, then red, yellow... kinda like CMYK. I think it was featured on the "painters keys" a free online artists newsletter.
I've included a link...
http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/maxfield-parrish.asp

I like his work too..it's luminous.

What? No Elvgren? No Varga? Lol...

[Chewy]

I was influenced by Boris, Frazzeta, and there was a guy who's name escapes me, he used to break down his subjects using a computer to pixelise them and copy them exactly. And his work was just like a photograph, I saw some of his work in the Canberra art gallery about 20 years ago, even close up the canvas looked like a photograph, i really wish i could remember him, bloody old age and too much aussie beer (destroys brain cells, strips furnature and dissolves fossils)...just wish I could get back that enthusiasm though...
Mike...