Post #223661 by Sneakytiki on Tue, Mar 28, 2006 6:04 PM

Pocky, yes Shag's influence is there! I actually developed the background technique me own self though. Don't overlook Shag's influences or you will miss alot of cool artists like Gene Deitch, Jim Flora etc..
I'm a printmaker (somewhat) and this painting is very much informed by Linocut prints made from several blox, 1 per colour.. I often look at Jim Flora for inspiration and even have the only known copy of "Dixie by Dorsey" LP in my collection. It was an EARLY Flora design.. I never would have heard of Flora if not for reading Shag interviews so I'm doubly indebted to him...
Check out some midcentury commercial artists, the new Mary Blair book looks happening.

It's hard to develop your own distinctive style an' sumthin' I needs tah work on. That is a valuable criticism right there.. Be able to do many styles but definitely develop your own style to differentiate yourself. I was always afraid of being influenced by people in the past and it really set me back. Imitating to learn is fine as long as you aren't ripping off a specific design, and give credit to your influences. You will gradually change it into your own style anyway.

..not my pic, I do have this album in my collection though.. Face look familiar?? I think maybe Shag got his chick face from this LP cover.. His pictures are very Flora/printmaking-esque, and then he throws in the tiki and bachelor pad stuff of old LP covers and media, Gene Deitch's "The Cat" and jazz magazine art, combining influences from all of these into a distinctive style all his own, just as Flora combined cartoons with Braque, Picasso, Klee, and Miro, to create his own thing.

Thanks for the props and critique Pock-man. I've been enjoying your enthusiasm toward art and wish u best of luck at illustrating as I'm pursuing illustration for a living as well...

ST

[ Edited by: Sneakytiki 2007-02-09 11:30 ]