Creative jealousy is a thing. I’m declaring it a thing. Have you ever been jealous of someone’s creative ability? Maybe, maybe not. From social media to real life, I’ve found inspiration in numerous ways.
In Austin Kleon’s book, Steal Like an Artist, Kleon writes, “If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many, it’s research.” While I don’t define what I’m doing “stealing,” I’ve fallen in love with flat illustrations and the many illustrators that use bold/unconventional color palettes in their art.
“If you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many, it’s research.”
Austin Kleon
So this year, I’ve challenged myself to try to learn illustration. Maybe it’s the kid in me that loves some animation. I’m not quite sure where my love for it stems from. For some reason, it seems like an attainable art that doesn’t require too many supplies and instruction. Regardless, I hope that each iteration is better than the last. So for the next twelve months, I will be generating a cover art.
This month’s inspiration is Kimber Raell’s wonderful beat from the Ready to Love reunion special. Her braid, her makeup, her accessories, her fit *chef’s kiss*. I hope January’s illustrations tributes her well. The trickiest part was the braid, shading, and face positioning. I forfeited eyes, a defined nose, and the headband. Bad facial features instantly make my illustrations look amateur. Baby steps, baby steps!
