FRUSTRASHOW

I’ve been practicing drawing heads and faces with the help of a book when I noticed the style emerging out of my sketches. Something about their cartoony but at the same time realistic look reminded me of Brian Bolland or Dave Gibbons–both of whom are my art heroes. Of course, those guys are on a totally different level and maybe it’s just me who sees the similarities but at this point, I’m just glad to see their influence in my art.

I’ve never tried hard to establish my own style. Some artists do but the thing is, I don’t want to get stuck in a particular style just for the sake of having my own style. After all, I believe all of us already have unique styles anyway because no two people perceive and translate experiences the same way. So whatever style I end up with in the future, I want it to emerge naturally and easily–not forced in the pointless pursuit of individuality.

But like I said, I’m really happy to see my art heroes’ influence in my work! I particularly like the guy with the thin, pointed face above wearing a surprised expression because he reminds me of Brian Bolland’s The Joker in The Killing Joke, one of my all-time favorite books. 🙂

How about you? Who has influenced your art or your style? Do you consciously try to emulate that person’s style or is it something that comes naturally?