Creativity Spark From Masters Of Illustration
Creative thinking is an essential part of design workflow. Whatever sketch you are working on, at some point you find yourself in the situation where you simply need some fresh ideas to find your path around the creativity block. Going away may help. Listening to the music may help. But particularly the works of the famous graphic artists may help. In fact, studying them very closely, you can not only explore new ideas, but also learn the smallest details – they form the profound foundation of every masterpiece.
In this post we’d like to present you an ultimate breakthrough for your creativity blocks; over the last weeks we’ve been searching for the most popular graphic designers, illustrators and artists around the world. We’ve selected some of their works to give you an idea what style they have and what details of modern design you can expect and learn from them.
So what do we have as result? Over 100 breathtaking illustrations from some of the best contemporary graphic designers, illustrators and artists; besides you’ll also find references to further (mostly unknown) sources for inspiration you can use on a daily basis.
Once you’ve selected the artist whose works you like, click on the image to get to his/her portfolio and explore his/her work in more depth. Please notice that most artists listed below are well-known in the worldwide design community (and so are their works); hopefully you know not all of them.
Please be patient, it may take a while until the images are loaded. Please be aware that it also may take a while until you’ve seen most of showcased images.
Further suggestions and ideas? Please comment.
Creativity Spark From Masters Of Illustration (Graphic Design)
1. Radim Malinic (UK)
2. Neil Duerden (Manchester, UK)
3. Büro North (Melbourne, Australia)
4. Evgeny Kiselev (St. Petersburg, Russia)
5. Maciej Mizer (Poland)
6. Pete Harrison (London, UK)
7. Alberto Seveso (Rome, Italy)
8. Emeric Trahand (Saint Etienne, France)
9. Mario Sánchez (Newcastle, UK)
10. Peter Jaworowski (Warsaw, Poland)
11. mcfaul (Emsworth, Hampshire, UK)
12. Chuck Anderson (Chicago, USA)
13. Platinum, FMD (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
14. Seth Weisfeld (San Francisco, USA)
15. Kacper Spala (Poland)
16. Scott Pollard (Manchester, UK)
17. Adhemas Batista (São Paulo, Brazil)
18. Raquel Falkenbach (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
19. Tom Kan (USA)
20. Nicholas Ainley (London, UK)
21. Drew Flaherty (Brisbane, Australia)
22. Alex Mapar (Melbourne, Australia)
23. Mark Verhaagen (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
24. Alex Trochut (Barcelona, Spain)
25. Alexander Radsby (Kalmar, Sweden)
26. Taobot (Mainz, Germany)
27. Gui Borchert (New York, USA)
28. Si Scott (London, UK)
29. Alex Cherry (California, USA)
30. Paul Hollingworth (Newcastle, UK)
31. Jacques S Alton (London, UK)
32. Susanne Paschke (Berlin, Germany)
Galleries of Graphic Design & Illustration
- DigitalAbstracts
A design community that strives to deliver a unique blend of content, discussion and creative inspiration to its army of readers. - 2Photo.ru
The projects showcases the best works of contemporary illustrators, artists and graphic designers on a regular basis. In Russian. More works on Designcollector.ru. - Bak Magazine
A magazine related to digital photography, illustration and graphic design. 8 .pdf-issues are available for free download. - Artzmania
Artzmania is an independent venture showcasing outstanding international creativity and culture. 5 .pdf-issues are available for free download. - Cpluv.com
One of the most comprehensive resources related to digital photography, design and illustration. Dozens of categories, dozens of resources, hundreds of sources for inspiration. - NTMY – Nice to Meet You!
A growing gallery of resources (weblog) related to graphic design and illustration with hundreds of references to creative agencies and designers. - digitalthread
The designer’s arrivation point. A growing index of design-related resources and design companies.
John Smith
January 13th, 2008 10:37 pmBut it’s excellent and good looking Adobe CS shit :) anyone can call themselves masters, but true masters will always stand out somewhere else.
zacgh
January 24th, 2008 12:40 pmWhen did graphic design become the art of putting swirly patterns around things in photographs? Lame.
P
February 8th, 2008 4:51 pmNisrod, could you shut the F**k up with your lame hateful comments? Are you retarded or what?
wow, this is great
February 24th, 2008 12:01 pmpeople love kitsch since mankind, this is the kitsch of today, fellas.
ahmed sayed
March 4th, 2008 4:49 amwoooooooooooooooooooooow
i can’t say any thing about this unblivabol designes
Evan
March 5th, 2008 3:55 amawesome! I’m stunned.
patti
March 11th, 2008 2:47 pmyawn!
dont get me wrong they look beautiful but are you not completely and utterly bored shitless of swirls and curls?
Everywhere you look, they’re there……what happened to bold and kooky, eye catching and interesting?
I feel a bit bad that this dude who posted all these has had so much shit…..and then I thought so what!
he he
Mark
March 18th, 2008 4:29 pmTO ALL COMMENTS ABOVE WHO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PAGE “AS GRAPHIC DESIGN”
READ THE FUCKING TITLE OF THE ARTICLE YOU FUCKING MORONS.
love all the work, it’s superb, art is all about trends..and this is a current illustration trend..which is excellent eye candy. The reason it is everywhere IS because it looks great..other styles are out there that have no swirls, curls, grunge, florishes, circles drips and splats…but why aren’t they popular..??..The fact is that whatever becomes popular does so because the masses admire it..the same as Music, Sport, Film & Literature.
If you hate this work, go produce something else,,don’t bitch and moan about how much you hate it. To above comment..change is good, design evolves, all these works are eye catching and interesting..the trend will eventually go away…if your bored shitless..produce your own work..be a trendsetter…. but this is doubtful, because just as you followed everyone else’s comments here…you probably do the same in your work. he he…destined to be a follower and bitch about being a sheep but never straying from the herd…just another button monkey hey!!! lol
Mark
March 18th, 2008 4:35 pmread the article title dipshit
Evan
March 22nd, 2008 3:55 pmIt’s new to me. I’m not a huge follower. Why you want to rain on my parade?? ;-)
PS
March 26th, 2008 8:55 amnisrod, you cant compare Silveryn to these guys, if you think he can then theres something wrong with your monitor or your eyes.
People that ‘Hate’ comment should just stay out of this because you are just proving yourself that jelouse because your not a master at Designs. In Design you cant do this in Photoshop alone, you would need other programs. they are called masters for a reason
span
April 2nd, 2008 3:43 amreally! great work n great post
RobertXC
April 4th, 2008 2:28 pmGuys,
First up – thank you – great post. I know some ppl say its repetitive but it all comes down to personal taste. I luv them – so again thank you !
Also interested to know if any one some some GOOD links to tutorials that show how to do this kind of art !!
Thx much
Emily-Nicole
April 8th, 2008 9:20 amJerk….don’t be like that. These Designs are all freaking awesome. The more the better. If it WAS horrible it would never have grazed our gaze…
Brian Mikhail
April 15th, 2008 10:26 amDoes anyone have any good tutorials similar to style #20? The 3d text i love!
Jessica
April 16th, 2008 5:24 amNossa!!
Incrível essas imagens…amei!
Orlandin
April 19th, 2008 5:30 pmthere are no words to decribe that you have done …
this is really amazing …
Keep it up…
i think you are one of the few people left in this world
smart, creative…
Ferd_Randa
April 30th, 2008 12:15 amthey are all really very good illustrator, it is really an Art, but i admit its true that they are all in the same style., swirls and curls are over used, everywhere i look now here in the Philippines there are vector swirls and curls, ads, banners, TV ads brochures, its too much but most people appreciate it, xD its a trend and no body can stop that unless you create a new style a new trend…. lets start making our own styles now ^_^
yes they are Masters! and its all about the trend!
juan bermudez
May 17th, 2008 10:55 pmWOW!!!!!!! nice work…….real art , but i’m seeing too much of this……maybe me need to do some of this too…..hmmmmmmm..maybe a dog taking a dump with mucho swirls and flies coming out of swirls…..hmmmmm. ok gotta go to work
emma royal
May 22nd, 2008 7:16 pmI LOVE YOU
shiva
June 11th, 2008 1:01 amSuper super super…………………………………………
bert barandino
June 11th, 2008 4:21 amthe best graphic work I had ever seen! They really inspire me. I’d dream that I can do something like that.
mata
June 13th, 2008 6:20 amyeah…! cool…!
trav
June 13th, 2008 8:03 amreally really trendy. we’ll see if this has any lasting appeal.
Thomas Conn Hartley
June 25th, 2008 5:57 pmI have to agree with the chorus of too-much-of-the-same. It’s all very impressive, but taken one after the other you start to realize how the genius for originality doesnt necessarily come with technical skill.
santosh
July 24th, 2008 9:22 pmYa its tooooooooooooooooo good graphics.
greg
August 5th, 2008 5:06 am“Bad design is frequently the consequence of mindless dabbling, and the difficulty is not confined merely to the design of logos. This lack of understanding pervades all visual design.” -Paul Rand
bogie
August 9th, 2008 2:35 amIt’s so cool…they are profestional graphic design…
I love it…- Bogie from Thailand
Nisrod
September 3rd, 2008 10:01 pmWell to ‘P’ and ‘PS’ (gee,thats original)…you totally missed the point of my comment and i was on no way ‘hating’ on these pieces,just pointing out obvious influence. However,the obvious seems to be something you missed.
ardhian.satrya
September 14th, 2008 11:59 pmsome are great, some are just chaotic visuals. It’s art, not design.
santosh
September 21st, 2008 1:46 amnaice super works maind bloyng fantastic
vishan
October 10th, 2008 2:17 amvery nice graphic designs… …..Bishan Rathore
mike
November 3rd, 2008 9:15 amI swear if I see another ‘Swirly-vector-light-effects’ piece I’m going to be sick
Oblib
November 16th, 2008 6:00 am“Give me excess of it that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken and so die.”
It reminds me of when people started using airbrushes (pre-photoshop -actually before computers had monitors) and discovered how to do chrome effects. Very beautiful, but ultimately without an underlying point: Or -moving forward 30 years- whenever adobe introduced a new filter or effect, suddenly it was used everywhere without any real thought.
The best of the above is founded on great photography/strong typography. This remains constant, whilst the surface adapts to the ebb and flow.
khoma
November 18th, 2008 6:54 amwow, everything’s so.. exactly the same.
fkabba
November 23rd, 2008 9:13 pmI must admit that a few years ago I was crazy over shit like this, but university definitely changes ones perspective, learning the history of design and actually seeing the astonishing work that came before us goes to show that what is represented here in this gallery is a very popularized urban pop art style that lacks substance. Design is about communication it’s intellectual, and although i’d now consider some of these very nice illustrations i cannot respect them as design pieces. they are eye candy, and thats about it.
Zando
December 6th, 2008 5:20 pmadorably beautiful pieces of art, for a while I felt in heaven..thank you for publishing.
Wildmushrooms
December 9th, 2008 7:41 amToo gorgeous for words.Truly inspiring <3
toh
December 10th, 2008 4:58 amA thousand designers are doing the same thing. Trendy ornamentation that hides behind clutter instead of solid idea. Trend followers not idea leaders. Every one of those designers already knows what they are going to do before they even see the brief, >template>insert>save>Aw, shucks thanks guys
toh
December 10th, 2008 5:04 amb
ivalki
December 12th, 2008 7:29 amhahahaha , the year of the swirls LOL, thanks guys
zuman khan
December 21st, 2008 8:26 pmgoddddddd they are imagine , im really impressed. hope i’ll be able to be good as them one day as a graphic designer!!
aimee
January 9th, 2009 1:33 pmthis is very inspiring work. i love art like this.
Elaine Third
January 29th, 2009 3:07 pmSome concepts are good. The overall look is typical mind based human creativity>sexist to the extreme in most cases. I bet most of these guys cant think past their dicks. Look at all those plastic whores that is portrayed in their work. Im sick of it. Reminds me of the 70′s airbrushed vans.
GET OUT OF YOUR BOX or more appropriately stop thinking with your dicks
Jorge Flauzino
February 6th, 2009 3:00 amNossa, as artes são muitíssimo boas. São até motivadoras.
stu
February 10th, 2009 2:59 amtacky, trendy pish.
Gumbo
February 12th, 2009 5:34 amIts funny to see how outdated these images look already, after 2 years. Certainly not withstanding the test of time very well.
m0h
February 19th, 2009 1:17 pmwhat software is being used to make a bright glow colour effect?
honey
February 26th, 2009 10:25 pmi love the designs… good work!
Jayanta Talukdar
February 28th, 2009 6:14 amIt’s amazing i love the designs and is the good reference for the designers.
a_Khan
March 2nd, 2009 2:31 amAwesome work really really inspiring!!!!!!!!!
francis
March 3rd, 2009 6:39 pmgoood
Simon Davies
April 8th, 2009 4:57 amIf this is what I am up against I best get practicing every day! Amasin work here!! I am more than impressed. why not visit my site and see what i have to offer…
daviescreations.synthasite.com
Sielo
April 8th, 2009 9:57 amWell done. Bravo.
francisa
April 16th, 2009 10:34 pmsmashing again
rudiville
April 27th, 2009 9:15 pmvery inspiring design… so amazing nice and creative design, beautifully done!
jorge
June 9th, 2009 10:47 amexelente mix , felicitaciones desde argentina.
Gustavo Pimentel
June 10th, 2009 5:15 pmExcelente. Um dia chego a este nível.
Gustavo Pimentel.
Porto Alegre – RS. Brasil.
krick
June 12th, 2009 7:10 amexelente !!!!
salu2 from santiago d3 CHILE !!!
Sunoj pappad
June 15th, 2009 5:45 amhey supeb man
Independent Web Designer
June 29th, 2009 9:48 pmStunning images, How can we become a graphic artist to that level? amazing.
Wowzer
July 9th, 2009 8:12 pmTOTALLY INCREDIBLE!!! I know bacicly that these people use photoshop and whatever but it just seems soo impossible to create such beautiful pictures!!!
Michael
July 10th, 2009 9:29 am“It’s all so beautiful”
DJ Vikram
July 28th, 2009 2:38 amGuys its awesome !!! Real inspiring work !! :)
Stacey
August 18th, 2009 12:46 pm… boring… overused style. Was awesome for the first… six month – but now im so desensitized to it all. Shame.
karolina calderon
September 6th, 2009 7:54 amexcelente trabajo!!
Saludos desde Perú
Yorsh
September 16th, 2009 9:27 amDon’t you think everybody designs the same like the same???? there aren’t authory or some touch of originality…. some design using analogy. that’s just illustration and ??? do they think are DESIGNERS??? BORING., overused style, shame. the coment above mine I agree.
Garth
September 21st, 2009 12:31 pmSo wait, every single one of these is by the same person right?
The internet again showing us how it doesn’t foster creativity, but sameness.
ick.
david
October 2nd, 2009 4:47 amWhat a load of computer generated bollocks, can anyone actually draw by hand any more, instead of yet more lifeless static photoshop poop
cockaine
October 26th, 2009 8:22 amok…am i`m MEXICAN and i saw every photo if this page…and it`s really amazing…so fuckin amazing…and i think is beautiful everything…geniales las fotos de vdd!!
super lokaz muy xidaz eh la neta!!!
xaoo
ayazdesigner@ymail.com
October 29th, 2009 8:12 pmhi i check very deeply and note every thing in pictures, not sure that work is very hard and good but i feel some over usage tools and mismatch combination of theme. So, really designer that one who ? I think he is real artist when sketch 1 single line and viewer see many different angle feel different look.
shahzad
November 6th, 2009 2:21 amreally i’m very impressive your illustration….
i love your creativity.
BIGmac11-rae
December 21st, 2009 10:15 amAlright, so I’m not even out of high-school and even EYE can tell what the difference between actual creativity and the effects of “pretty colors” are. Nothing on that page stuck with me because it was all the same (maybe the exception of #7 thats the only one I seem to be able to remember). What we need is something that is totally the opposite from this crap. I’m sorry, it’s like a kid decided to grab his crayon box and jack up his dad’s issue of PLAYBOY (harsh? maybe…). But yeah I can agree that this web page has helped me and inspired me on what to avoid. THANKS EVERYONE!!!
bikalak
February 12th, 2010 4:04 pmgood
very inspiring design
thank you
Ana
April 9th, 2010 9:05 amYes I wish they could pay more attention to illustrations made without computer help, but times change it can be help.
PS.some of the photos or posters whatever you want to call them are good.
Veronica
April 23rd, 2010 5:19 pmBrilliant work, balance of colour, shapes and styles are amazing
coso
June 5th, 2010 2:33 pmThis is like a repetition of the same no-idea thousands of times.
muin
July 6th, 2010 6:35 amI just dont get how an over crowd of random cutouts and decorative shapes can make people want to buy something. :/
gili
August 4th, 2010 8:59 pmsmashing designs….!
zillustration
August 8th, 2010 3:48 amI’m not sure how I can classify all of these as illustration, but rather a merger of photo and graphic design. The only bit of “illo” are the vectors pulled from Adobe Illustrator or a 3-D program. I’d be more impressed if there was less photography showing through on many of them.
I call many of these “photo manipulation”… not that there’s anything wrong with that… just not illustration. I saw similar work in photo mags from the 70s and 80s. It just wasn’t classified as illo.
I like those that are truly illustrated throughout.
tony
August 8th, 2010 8:35 amthis is not graphic design. please get your facts straght.
and the only true illustrator here is si scott.
zillustration
August 8th, 2010 4:06 pmTony: a difference of opinions, no doubt. I can’t say that you’re knowledge of the vast field of illustration could be summed up in one person’s work, albeit SI Scott. I’m a member of the SI too, and don’t think these are all classified as illustration. Photo manipulation and graphic elements can’t be other than good graphic design, in my opinion.
Sanjay
June 28th, 2011 4:59 amexcellent