Linkage: Inspirational Artists for January

JAMES JEAN

Yeah, everyone and their dog has heard of Mister James Jean, but that’s no reason not to heap even more kudos onto him. He makes me want to down all tools and never draw again, and yet, conversely, he inspires me to drawdrawdraw like there’s no tomorrow. Damn him. I think I might have to order his book. Don’t forget to check out his blog.

JOY ANG

Joy Ang has carved out an almost James-Jean-esque style for herself, but it would really be doing her a disservice to compare her solely to Jean, as her work is gorgeous and entirely her own. Check out her recent work Terrorsel, and her step-by-step description of her process on that particular piece over on conceptart.org.

WESLEY BURT

I remember being blown away by Wesley Burt’s sketch thread on conceptart.org years ago, and his recent work is just as gorgeous. Take a look at the old thread on CA and be amazed at how each and every page of his sketchbook is a complete work of art. He makes me want to eat his brain - in the very best and most polite way, of course.

ROLF HARRIS

I know! But I just saw an interesting documentary about his life, and I remembered watching Rolf’s Cartoon Club as a very small kid and the Rolf Harris drawing book I used to copy slavishly. Tony Hart always seemed faintly creepy to me, so Rolf was my childhood art idol. Yes, he’s cheesus maximus, and yes, his music is cringeworthy, but he seems genuinely lovely and he’s a hugely talented artist. I find it hard to believe that he simply quit painting for about ten years. His work may not be to everyone’s taste, but his enthusiasm for painting is infectious.

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In other news, I just sent off my application to the Black Church Print Studio’s spring screenprinting workshop. I know the demand for places is high, so here’s hoping I manage to get in. MmmScreenprinting.