To be a successful artist, you have to work hard on developing your skills. But technique alone will only get you so far. You also need to generate creative and original ideas that will grab people’s attention and truly engage them. So how do you go about it? We asked four talented artists to share their tips.
For Kofi Ofosu, a visual storyteller and character designer based in Ghana, idea generation is a continuous process of gathering inspiration. “I’m constantly bookmarking images, videos and links that spark my interest on the web and social media,” he says. “I also get ideas for new concepts when I look back through my old sketches. Last but not least, I love to do studies. Studying enables me to practise my fundamentals, and it has lower stakes so I steadily build my confidence, too.”
LOOK TO THE PAST
Newcastle-based concept artist Gareth Davies, aka Spudonkey, similarly finds fresh ideas for his personal art by thumbing through his old sketches. “My sketchbooks are full of little doodles, where I’ve just tried to make interesting shapes that I see potential in,” he explains. “For client work, though, I find the process can be simpler. When you’re given a set of requirements, there’s often an ‘obvious’ path to take. So it’s about
I’m constantly bookmarking images, videos and links that spark my interest on the web and social media using your expertise to fulfil the problem that needs solving, and offering suitable options to the client.”
This story is from the January 2021 edition of ImagineFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2021 edition of ImagineFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
First Impressions - Glenn Arthur
Influences from Disneyland shape the artist’s work
THE ART OF BRIAN SUM
Dominic Carter talks to the mech master about honing his cyberpunk visions, character designs, and his new artbook
Karla Diaz
Clean and cosy Discover a studio of two halves as the Chilean comic artist gives us the grand tour
A day in the life of...Daniel Hyun Lim
Learn smart The illustrator and storyboard artist opens up on his non-stop schedule, and explains why new graduates need to spend their time wisely
MATTAHAN
Dominic Carter talks to the EarthNight artist about making art for video games and how he keeps his creativity sharp
Technique focus: FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS
LEONARDO GONZALEZ explains why specific pens and pencils are so important to his creative process, including his Pokémon fan art
FXPosé
SHOWCASING THE FINEST TRADITIONAL ARTISTS
Technique focus: EMBRACE REFERENCES
Alone Lee explores being inspired by emotions, observations, and imagination
Procreate: CREATE A BOLD FAN ART PORTRAIT
Bo Feng Lin shares the process behind his quirky Wednesday Addams painting, which features suitably abstract elements
Emily Chapman
My aesthetic A personal haven where bloomcore meets splashes of boho, pastel and RGB