Fantastic idea for a blog! But its proving hard to narrow down, so apologies that this is a long ass blog post, I've tried to pick a mix of artists whose work has continued to captivate, inspire and entertain pretty consistently over the years since I've discovered them ( in the case of the ones still alive anyway ) some old, some new.
Here we go then, In no real particular order....
I've always loved street art, growing up at the same time as Hip Hop culture started to build, watching it from afar in chilly Scotland, and being from a country with lots of social unrest and antigovernment sentiment, especially North of the Border, so I was always aware of graffiti as political statement growing up, but it took a while to discover the more creative pieces, and in turn the more amazing artists, ( helped when the internet started making the world a smaller place, )but the very first major street artist I discovered, is still my very favourite who works in that area....the incredible Futura.
I discovered his work through Mo Wax record covers, then he kinda blew up and started doing toy and sneaker collaborations and started his own clothing label, but many folks don't know he's also an incredible photographer, and posts loads of his photo work to the page linked above. His graffiti work is mostly just shown in galleries these days, but there is an incredible book dedicated to his work that Mo Wax put out a few years ago, you can find copies on eBay every so often for not too much money...
I love his Pointman figure work..its evolved lots over the years, but here's a few of his bit and pieces.. and one of the man himself :)
staying with street art, and with a little bit of added regret, I have to put Banksy on the list.
Most folks know his name and his main pieces,but for me, and i'm not sharing this to try and sound cool, I first heard of him when an Ex gave me a handmade screen print back in 2002 when you could buy his prints direct from him, I think she paid £50 for it. I had no idea at the time who he was, loved the design and then started finding out more about his work. then he kinda exploded in 2008 and I sold it to fund an American trip and it went for £2500 - pretty sure if I had been able to afford to keep it, it would be worth even more, not that the amount in money terms dictates the quality of the work, but in this case, I really, really did love the print.. I had this one..its the only piece of genuine Artist proofed 'Art' I've ever owned.
I can't remember when I first was introduced to Salvidor Dali, I think most likely around 5 or 6. I was very lucky to have been born to a father who hates sport and organised religion, loves art, art history, sculpture and architecture and a mother who adores music, I can recall being taken to galleries anytime they had a Dali painting on loan to show to the public.
These two have always been among my favourite pieces he did, I can't remember the titles. I can get lost in his paintings for ages and always marvel at not just the immense imagination but also his incredible technical ability to be able to manipulate and reimagine form and figure with such apparent ease in order to layer in so many different interpretations into every object on his canvas.
Being a photographer, other photographers work is always a source of inspiration and at times utter despair, sometimes both at once, never more so than with stunt kid, who is also an amazing illustrator but I've long admired his photography, he has such bold ideas and works with some amazing make up artists to produce truly unique and always memorable shots..Love his work, seek it out if you don't know of him.more need to!
Another photographer who I admire immensely is David LaChapelle, his work is so far, far away from what I create myself, he stages almost everything in camera, and uses huge sets, massive crews and enormous budgets to create his shots, they are always very much a production in themselves, but look past the gloss and sheen, the use of colour and the incredible staging of the frame and he must have a truly amazing way of interacting with his subjects, he is able to get so much humour, sexuality, playfulness and trust from his subjects. his own website is a rabbit hole you can vanish in for hours...
here's two of his celebrity portraits and then from his "jesus is my homeboy' series..
Other Photographers I adore and deserve mention are:
His portraits and especially self portraits are always pretty cool, plus he started Dazed & Confused magazine, he always makes me feel lazy.
And i'd be remiss If I didn't also give a mention to SG's own @gemmaedwardsuk as another massive photographic inspiration, her work here is always absolutely breathtaking, its hard picking from her sets for an example as there are just so many amazing ones to choose from, but I really like this set with @vivisect which could definitely use more love, so here's two from it...
Still hanging in there?? well done you! More treats ahead..
Moving into Comic books, still the most widely under accepted branch of the arts tree in fine art circles, beyond Lichtenstein they never really showcase comic book artist and writers in gallery settings, which is a huge oversight, the power of my first chosen artists work has reshaped contemporary culture, inspired countless movies and changed the very nature of the characters he worked on.always, always for the better. the genius that is Frank Miller.
I loved Frank Miller's work before I even know thats whose work I was reading. I fell in love with Marvel and DC pretty early, the UK's 2000AD was my first regular comic book from around 5years old purely as thats the one the nearest store to my home had. but when I got into American comics, I was all about Daredevil in the beginning. I had Spiderman cartoons and Batman TV show to watch so initially sought out characters I hadn't heard of, and this cover was the first ever Daredevil comic I bought...
one of Frank's best, he also wrote the incredible 'year one' retelling of Daredevil - the Man without fear mini series illustrated by the incredible John Romita Jnr, for anyone who likes the Netflix series of Daredevil, they took so much inspiration for the show from this series..especially for his pre suit suit!
Frank's The Dark Knight Returns from 1986 utterly, utterly blew my mind. I love it every bit as much now and I did then..
And can't talk about Frank without also mentioning Sin City.
I feel this is becoming more of an essay than a blog post, so I'll try and rattle through my last few...
Still in comic books, though kinda also cartoons too I guess, is the demented Jhonen Vasquez, creator of Johnny The Homicidal Maniac, Squee, I feel Sick, Filler Bunny and of course, Invader Zim.
I have a few tattoos based on his scribblings. most visibly a pretty hefty Z? symbol on my arm.
I absolutely adore Invader Zim, but I fell totally in love with his sense of humour in JTHM
and lastly I wanted to include a sculptor whose work i've loved since i was taken to one of his shows in the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh when I was 8, the man in question uses found items from nature to create his artwork, often with thorns and leaves, I met him when I was a kid and was so transfixed by what he was creating.. there are a few of his pieces on permanent display in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, including this amazing Whale Bone sphere ( made with the remains from a beached whale)
This is the work of Andy Goldsworthy...
usually he creates pieces for installations, if he ever comes to your area GO!! his work is always very relaxing and so well crafted.. here's a few more pieces..
I've loved reading all the other blog entires on this one, hopefully I'll awaken a few people to the artists I've shared here too.
@rambo @missy @lyxzen @bloghomework
thanks for reading y'all.
