3 Illustrators That Inspire My Own Creativity

One of the things I believe is essential to being an artist is finding inspiration from others. Whether it be creative inspiration or new techniques and styles, I learn a lot from looking at and studying the artworks of fellow artists and illustrators. In this first post, I want to share some of the artists I follow and admire, and share how they inspire my own creativity and practice.

LaveraGrace

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  Toadstools by LaveraGrace

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  Sunken Treasure by LaveraGrace

(Images sourced from the artist's Etsy shop, which is linked in the pictures)

Grace is an illustrator from Australia who primarily works with watercolors and colored pencils, although she occasionally creates digital illustrations as well. She most frequently illustrates scenes of different types of faeries and mermaids that are heavily inspired by nature as well as some folklore. From an artist's point of view, I'm inspired by her use of watercolor as I can never seem to make mine as pigmented as hers. This most likely is accomplished through patience and layering of the watercolors. I appreciate her illustrations as each character seems to have their own personality as well as a story to tell. As a viewer, her art encourages me to embrace my own whimsical nature and appreciation of faeries and folklore.

Lily Seika Jones

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  Shelter by Lily Seika Jones

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  Forget Me Not by LSJ

(Images sourced from the artist's website and Etsy shop, both of which are linked in the pictures)

Lily Seika Jones is a Vancouver based freelance illustrator and watercolorist. Her work focuses on a combination of nature as well as fairytales and myths. Her work reminds me of different stories I grew up with, such as the Redwall series which is about different woodland creature warriors who fight to protect Redwall Abbey. Her illustrations have such a charming nature that I aspire to convey in my own artworks. Much like the previous artist, I am appreciative of her understanding of the layering techniques watercolor painting requires. Since my own style of artwork tends to be on the more realistic side, I love how her artworks portray more realistically represented animals while placing them in fantasy settings.

Rovina Cai

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  Cardan and Jude by Rovina Cai

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  The Tower of Swallows

(Images sourced from the book How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories and the artist's website, which is linked in the picture)

Rovina Cai is a freelance illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. She has illustrated quite a few books as well as designed cover art. Her focus is on "poetic imagery" which I feel like she is successful at since one cannot help but be swept up by her illustrations. I first came across her artworks while reading How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, a novella of short stories that is a companion to the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. Her illustrations perfectly encapsulated the characters she portrayed and aided in the storytelling and overall feel of the book. Her use of line and mark-making is so unique as well and adds a fluidity to her illustrations. I feel inspired by the way her illustrations really seem to tell a story and I hope that one day my own illustrations can do the same.

While there are many artists I find inspiring, these are just a few that really make me feel creative and encourage me towards creating more whimsical and story-filled artworks and illustrations.