Dali is my all-time favourite, but I also like Barbara Hepworth (her sculptures more than her artwork), Rembrandt, Monet, Manet, Renoir…I’d say those as a group have created most of the artwork I enjoy looking at. Classical painting and fine attention to detail, something Dali managed to combine with a surrealist approach, are things that I really like though I’m open to other stuff too.
For example at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, there were these absolutely incredible sculptures, so strange and surreal, like there was this one room full of all of these strange, brown furry objects draped over things like a sofa and a fireplace. I’m not really into modern art, but the stuff in there certainly caught my attention. And despite being a Pixar fan, I’m not really into the artwork associated with animation, either (though Pixar’s The Art of… books are certainly an exception!)
The Lord of all animation, Chuck Jones, is my favorite artist. I always have loved cartoons, but once I read his books “Chuck Amuck” and “Chuck Reducks” I have learned that animation is an art, much more than just cartoons.
I perfer his earlier works to his later, but he is a brilliant animator and artist.
William Blake, especially his pen and watercolour work. Elohim Creating Adam is a personal favorite.
Gustav Klimt, notably Hope, The Kiss, and Judith and the Head of Holofernes. Been to the Belvedere in Vienna, loved it!
Chuck Jones! Probably the finest in animation ever, especially if one includes philosophy. My Chuck Amuck copy got dogeared soon after it was published. Saw him speak in DC–great!
Charles Addams. Even his signature looks creepy.
John Byrne or Frank Miller? Call it a draw.
Graeme Base of Animalia fame.
Jakub Dvorsky of Amanita Design. The Machinarium game is a feast of curious, wonderful drawings.
Aside from people in animation (not sure if I have an ultimate favorite–I would probably hang a Lou Romano print on the wall, though), there are artists like Ishida Tetsuya, Audrey Kawasaki, René Magritte, Heather Gabel, Mark Ryden… stuff like that. They’ve been my biggest influences.
Chuck Jones was always my favorite Looney Tunes artist as well. Watching the classic shorts as a kid, his style was the one I can remember responding to the most.
Here are some other influences I’ve been having:
Hanna-Barbera
Matt Groening (I’ve found his drawing style to have an appealing quality to it)
Charles Schulz
The late Joe Ranft’s storyboard art
I forgot to mention Walt Stanchfield. He’s not a great at the ‘details’, but he’s fantastic at gesture-drawing. His two-volume series ‘Drawn to Life’ is an inspiration.
Flik-E: I’m glad there’s someone else here who appriciates Chuck Jones. Have you read his books?
And I like your list.
I have a love/hate relationship with Hanna-Barbera. But I appricate their influence on animation, however I do like their style (Secret Squirrl, Top Cat, Yogi Bear. Amazing!)
Charles Schulz: I really like him, his drawings are cute. I’m kind of required to by unwritten law since I literally go to college in Peanuts-ville USA.
Ranft: How can you NOT Love him! RIP.
tdit: Stanchfield sounds awfully familier. I think we had to draw some of his drawings in my drawing class. Just by the pic you put I can tell he’s a great festure and figure artist.
Unfortunately, I haven’t. The only art book I still have relating to Looney Tunes is on the making of Space Jam, and I wouldn’t even consider that close.
The thing I like about Joe Ranft’s artwork is that storyboards are often just roughed out sketches that don’t have to be that good, but when I was looking at Joe’s sketches for Cars I found that he had such natural talent in his drawings that you’d think “I’d like to see the movie in his style!”.
I love the art of Caricature, and my favorite artist of Caricature is by far Al Hirschfeld, who did caricatures of famous Hollywood actors. His career started in the 1920s to his death in 2003. His ability to use simple lines to evoke such character always amazes me. Here are a few of my favorites:
WC Fields, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Chico Marx in Animal Crackers
Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind
My all-time favourite artist is definitely Glen Keane! I just admire his work so much. There’s so much life and personality in his drawings!
Of course, Jeff Smith as well, Bone is my favourite comic! I just love how much emotions he shows in the comics he draws. And not only is he an amazing artist, he’s a really nice guy as well. Yeah, I actually met him once - it was so awesome!
And last but definitely not least - anyone that has an unique art style and knows how to use it!
I’m not an artist (you don’t want to see my drawings ), but I really like Marjolein Bastin. She paints a lot of birds, which are my favorite animals. You’ve probably seen her art on greeting cards.
I had to split up to another class a few days ago (we always go to another class if a class doesn’t happen for whatever reason) and of course I went to drawing… they showed a clip of Vincent Van Gogh’s work and a lot of information. I must say I grew to rather like his style, especially all the colours…
Oh, and he was Dutch, like me, so that’s a major reason why I like his work as well~
), but I really like Marjolein Bastin. She paints a lot of birds, which are my favorite animals. You’ve probably seen her art on greeting cards.