My Top 7 Artistic Influences
When a friend suggested I write about my top seven artistic influences, I was worried I might not be able to think of even three.
I had this half-formed fuzzy idea that I should ‘wow’ you with my highbrow art knowledge and good taste. That maybe the prestige of the artists I would name would somehow negate the shame I feel about not having studied art since secondary school.
Slightly panicked, I let my mind sink back into my past.
Why do I love to draw?
Who or what makes me want to pick up my pencil and create?
Soon enough, I found I was struggling to limit my list to only seven. Some are actual artists whose collected artsy work influences me. And some are books, with amazing artwork that lifts and complements the story; words and pictures working poetically together.
Whilst all the following have influenced and inspired me as an artist, there is only evidence of some in my own work. But whether it’s tangible in my art or not, they have all shaped my creativity and the output of my pencil, pens and paint …
1. House by Mouse, a children’s book. Or as it’s known in America, Need a House? Call Ms Mouse! Written by George Mendoza and illustrated by Doris Smith.
I spent hours as a little girl captivated by the beautiful illustrations of the houses Henrietta Mouse designed and built for her friends and clients. The book belonged to my sister and has been out of print for decades. I searched and searched for a copy of the English version and when I finally found one from a second hand bookshop, I paid over £100 for it. That’s how much I love it.
2. The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshoppers Feast, another book, illustrated by Alan Aldridge, based on the poem written by William Roscoe in 1802.
Not only do I love the illustrations, gloriously colourful, full of remarkable imagination, detail and realism, but I love the poetry. I love how the words and pictures come together to create something that is magical and enthralling.
3. Josh Kirby, world renowned for science fiction, fantasy, and horror book covers, and film art.
I discovered him through his illustrations of Sir Terry Pratchett’s engrossing Discworld series. His ability to take the characters and stories created by Terry Pratchett, and turn them into stunningly intricate (and sometimes slightly disturbing) masterpieces, is breath-taking. Fantasy and science fiction are my favourite writing genres and his drawings give life beyond the words on the page.
4. Quentin Blake, illustrator most commonly associated with Roald Dahl’s stories.
I never really appreciated Quentin Blake’s work when I was young. I thought they were a bit scruffy and scribbly. It is only now that I see them for the works of genius that they are. I can see how those scruffy and scribbly drawings enrich the stories so artfully; sharing emotion and character, bringing them to life. There is a huge amount of skill required to capture such joy, excitement, sadness and everything else so cleverly conveyed through his amazing work.
5. Mike Sibley, fine art and graphite pencil artist.
I first came across Mike’s work when researching how to draw realistic fur, to improve my own fine art animal drawings. My research led me to his book, Drawing From Line to Life. It was exactly what I needed, so I bought it and devoured it.
I’m still excited by that discovery now, all these years later. My drawings were transformed, and each time I create a fine art pencil work, it is the knowledge and skill I learned from Mike that I call upon.
6. Charlie Mackesy, artist, illustrator, and the author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
I started seeing Charlie Mackesy’s drawings on social media a few years ago. As they did for millions of others, his combination of words and pictures spoke right to my soul. I bought the book and started following his work more consciously.
His Instagram bio is simple and perfect – ‘Grubby artist’.
I love how he draws anywhere and everywhere and leaves copies of his book on park benches, in phone boxes, on walls and against hedges. No planned strategy, no marketing scheme. Just a grubby artist sharing words and pictures as his own therapy, hoping that they help others too.
7. Live illustrators
My finance career working for B&Q, and after that the NHS, was dotted with exposure to graphic recording/live illustration. Away-days where illustrators captured ideas and conversations from the workshops; the illustration on the HR Director’s office wall depicting the HR department’s objectives; the room at Trust HQ that was wallpapered with illustrations created from strategy workshops.
I was fascinated by these illustrators ability to take words and concepts that are not intrinsically visual (nor particularly inspiring or interesting from an aesthetic perspective), and turn them into bright, engaging and memorable visuals. The more I saw their work, the more I realised that this was something I could do, something I wanted to do.
Reflecting back on my chosen top seven, every single one is about more than just the art on its own. Each artist, each influence, is about the story that accompanies the drawings as well as the drawings themselves.
Whether it’s the illustrations in a book giving life to the characters and worlds that have been written, or the energy and colour breathed into dry strategies and plans, or the way the perfect pencil stroke can capture the soul of an animal and make you believe it could jump off the page and run around your feet. With each one, the art meets the story, the moment in time, and creates a thing of great beauty, beyond what you would otherwise see.
Suddenly, my own purpose, drawing to capture words, ideas, moments and memories, and bring them to life, makes so much sense. It was there in the artists that have inspired me all along.