Well travelled, well experienced, "well wicked".. Here is spzero76. A freelance illustrator from the UK. Combining street art stylings with digital art techniques, SPZero76 creates a striking visual with a fresh contemporary edge. Heavy comicbook influences can be seen in his work, which often portrays a fun moment in time captured for our amusement. Outside of the digital realm SPZero76 is creating some fly looking canvasses [which i want on my wall] hosting tight lines and bright colours. After getting in contact with SPZero76 I realised that he had lots to say ;)
Where are you from?
I originally moved to Bristol from the land of the North. Doncaster to be specific! I moved to Bristol to study Illustration at UWE, which I chose after seeing Normski ride a skateboard across the Suspension Bridge, on the 90s programme 'Board Stupid'. I left Bristol to live in Manchester for two and a half years, where I worked as a Games Designer for a company based in Leeds, then travelled To South Korea and around Australia where I spent most of my time in Melbourne and Fremantle! Two awesome cities! When I came back to England I had to go where my heart was and I headed back to Bristol!
How would you describe your style of art??
As a kid I discovered comics when a pack of three GI Joe comics literally fell from the sky infront of me in Toys R'Us. It was wierd. I searched the whole shop to find more and spent ages looking up to discover where the booty fell from but there wasnt another comic in the store. Comics were my number one influence but as time went on others came in, such as Jamie Hewlett (comics again... 'Swiftys Return'), Nickelodeon cartoons and eventually Street Art. Street Art became an influence through a lot of friends I knew and their links. Ive known China Mike since our first year at Uni and I got to know a lot of the Bristol scene through Tonic exhibitions, in the late 90s down at the Cube Cinema, and when I got back to Bristol and organised the art side of the first Glostunbury Festival at the Golden Lion in 2007! When you are surrounded by so many great artists and their work its hard not to be influenced.
Have you got anything exciting that you are working on currently?
There is loads in the pipeline that Im just waiting to see what happens with, but I work freelance for a Canadian Games company and have recently put up a new exhibition and been commissioned to create five massive canvases featuring Stokes Croft for a new bar in Bristol. I have also designed an image for the upcoming OutSmart project, which is organised by Gemma Randall, illustrated User Interfaces for an upcoming iphone game, created an EP cover for up and coming band 'We Start Partys' and designed posters for a Hollywood Movie Studio called Red House Films. So I've been mad busy but Im always looking to get involved in anything. Give me a shout!
What would be your one important tip for people?
Don't stop trying! So many people who used to be artists on my course have settled for shitty jobs!! Dont do it!
What other artist is doing it for you right now??
There are so many awesome artists out there. I recently bought art by Bristol artists China Mike, Duncan Jago, Will Barras, Cheba, Dicy, Andy Council and Third Eye Green Bastard but I also love the work of Kid Acne, Mudwig, Kozyndan and Mode2 amongst many more.
If you would like to commission SPZero76, then please contact him here and be sure to check out his work at flickr
I met this artist while i was at art college and was instantly drawn towards her beautiful illustrations. I have always been very interested in anime/manga artwork and wished that I had the ability to create my own version of that asian style. Well, Moonlily can and does. Her style varies from super-cute characters to beautiful girls. From bright, energetic and vibrant to subtle, serene and natural. It is clear where Moonlily has pulled her inspiration from, but she creates hers with such finesse.
I caught up with Moonlily
to ask some questions..
Hello Moonlily, where are you from?
I come from Camborne, in Cornwall [UK]. I'm a Cornish girl, through and through; I can't think of a more interesting place to live.
How would you describe your style of art?
I'd say that my normal style is very obviously influenced by japanese art and manga, which is something I've been hooked on since I was around 8. Sometimes, I tend to tell myself off for the imperfections in my style, but I've come to realise that it's the imperfections that make my work my own. I do like to experiment with different styles now and then, but usually when I draw, it comes out manga-style, whether I intend it to or not. =3
Have you got anything exciting that your currently working on?
There are a number of different projects in the running that I'd love to be working on right now; I've been planning and sketching ideas for a manga series for a while now, and I'm looking forwards to getting some of my designs ready to sell. Unfortunately, life seems to be getting in the way at the moment. =P
What would be your one important tip for people?
I think, after the year I've had studying for my BA top up, the most important thing I've learnt is that the things you work hard for are the things that are the most gratifying. The best things in life, to me, are the things that I worked really hard for.
Which artist is really doing it for you right now?
Right now, i'm totally hooked on all CLAMP manga - CLAMP is a famous group of manga creators in Japan. My other favourites would be Yun Kouga, Yoshitaka Amano, Aya Kato and more traditional artists like Hokusai. I also draw a lot of influence from Music - I'm obsessed with Imogen Heap recently.
Moonlily is taking on commission work. For more information please contact: Rhi@moonlil.com or become a fan on facebook
Here we have digital artist Tom Mac who's work instantly caught my attention. He has adopted a very contemporary, colourful, vibrant illustrative style and seems to mainly focus on portrait imagery. There is a lot of vector style imagery floating around the internet these days, but Tom Mac injects a real sense of individuality and intricacy into his work. Also, while looking through his work I noticed that Tom Mac is also playing around with some motion graphics. Being a huge fan of the scene I'm interested to see what he'll come up with over the coming months. With plenty of commission work under his belt and having recently completed a cover for 'SQ magazine' Tom Mac took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for me.
Hey Tom Mac, Where are you from?
South coast [UK] born and bred. A little seaside town called Bexhill is where I spend most of my time, and the rest is spent dotting between Eastbourne and Brighton.
How would you describe your style of art?
My work is heavily vector based. I spend a lot of time experimenting with different styles but I mainly find myself drawn into portraits in a non-literal style, as I have an obsession with faces.
Have you got anything exciting that your currently working on?
I find myself always working on something. Even as a student I am constantly looking for jobs such as magazine illustrations but it varies. An example of the variation includes a typographical piece im working on at the moment for a music blog called 'the smoothest gooch' this involves me creating the letters out of pube ridden wax strips!
What would be your one important tip for people?
My tip for people would be look at others work. Constantly. Your never going to keep up to date with design trends and styles if you dont do this, and although individuality is the key - you need to know your competition.
Which artist is really doing it for you right now?
Gabz. His work is so inspirational to me. After stumbling across his site I was quite jealous at first as the way in which i enjoy creating portraiture is similar to his...although his is to an entirely different level!
If your interested in commissioning Tom Mac, then you can contact him via his facebook page here
Here we have self titled 'world class illustrator' Juicy J. This guy has got style flowing through his veins. I first spotted his work via a comment on myspace years ago and have since seen his work making appearances all over the net and on the pages of Computer Arts magazine. His work is bold, colourful, vibrant and so sexually in-your-face that it makes you wonder how much of a man you really are!? Wondering how a person can portray so much attitude via his artwork and being aware of his self-depiction of being a god-like figure I mentally prepared myself and went in for the interview.
*strong language has been used!
Hey Juicy J, where are you from?
I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. But, I'm not sure that has any real baring on my art or point-of-view. The world is infinite and getting smaller with books, internet and social media. I try to stay open to everything and become a product of my physical environment.
How would you describe your style of art?
I don't know. I work primarily in vector, but that's a broad spectrum. I guess it's cartoony and fun. But I guess I try to convey 'awesomeness!' in most things I do. So if I had to describe It I would say I specialize in awesome!
Have you got anything exciting that your currently working on?
Mostly everything I do is interesting... to most people. I'm a contributing illustrator and writer for a young, urban magazine. I'm getting into the world of tattooing and photography. I'm in beginning stages of doing concept and illustration work for a pilot animation on Cartoon Network. But the most interesting thing I'm doing for me right now is a series of pin ups of my girlfriend.
What would be your one important tip for people?
Stop being so cunty and mediocre, as I believe that's the source of most people's shitty lives. Most people suck at life and instead of figuring out ways to make their situation better they generally opt to bitch, complain and tear people down to their cunty level. My tip is surround your self around positive and cool people. Your life, art, and anything you do will drastically improve!
Finally, which artist is really doing it for you right now?
I don't really follow art or other artist, as I don't want to fall in to the trap of replicating my peers. I draw most my inspiration from movies, friends and life... And sometimes from smoking greenery.
Juicy J has loads more fly work on his web portfolio. Please check him out over at:
pixel-pimp.com
[ladies man - Juicy J]
Here is an artist I have been watching for quite some time. Soulatech is a 26 year old freelance graphic designer with a very distinct style. By composing experimental, abstract shapes layered with tight graphic design elements and intelligent colour palettes, Soulatech has formed a very contemporary visual style. I love his work and get a very sci-fi/alien/digital graffiti feel from it. Soulatech is also the online designer for Rubik Records who he says have always been very supportive and are always willing to offer feedback.
[Soulatech - Demo]
So Soulatech, Where are you from?
Birmingham, UK.
How would you describe your style of art?
Digital, urban, abstract design.
What would be your one important tip for people?
Stay focused on your goals with your personal work, no matter how big or small they are.
What other artist is really doing it for you right now?
This is a hard one to answer as I like a lot of the designers I follow on deviant art. But Nicogamer, his style and flow are just dope. I have been following his work for a while...watchin' another design progress is just amazing and his style is fresh!
You can view Soulatech's gallery over at Deviant Art and he is available for commissions.
