REINTERPRETING OBJECTS AROUND YOU
Illustration tips embrace not only the ability of drawing. Indeed there are many ways for an artist to find its creative language, and illustrators aren’t the less.
To be an artist means seeing what others struggle to see and noticing details by approaching any topic with a creative perception. What about doing so with everyday objects around us?
Christoph Nieman
To get inspired by some Illustration tips, probably mentioning Christoph Niemann is an excellent place to start. Known for his works at the NY Times, his practice is truly vast. His Sunday Sketches are superb. What Niemann looks for is an angle to reinterpret the chosen object that will eventually lead to a visual connection. “I pick a random object, put it on my desk, and then just start staring at it, desperately hoping that something clicks,” he explains.
Jesuso Ortiz
Another master of this tool is Jesuso Ortiz. He combines various found objects with his drawings to create playful, three-dimensional illustrations that give everyday items new meaning. The three-dimensional element, when paired with minimalist drawings, strikes the right balance of vibrant colors, bold details, and interesting textures.
As we might learn from these artists above, their approach is intuitive yet coherent to their visual language. They will always choose a style before abandoning themselves to the pure inspiration given by objects. Objects are indeed the tools they use to enhance their creative flow. Daily objects around us may seem static, but when we give them an emotional significance, they also own different angles.
The best way to approach this workflow is by starting from a category of objects such as bathroom items, the food inside your fridge, kitchen tools, or whatsoever. You may consider giving a name to their environment (Planet Kitchen, The Bathroom Hall, etc.), or you may also decide to create portraits of characters or design patterns.
So a bunch of flowers may become a significant head of hair, two slices of lemons a pair of wheels, a hair clip a bird’s wing and so on. The only rule to follow is to keep being driven by the fun of the creative flow. Inspiration usually gets its best out of entertaing, a fun process of concentration during which creativity really fits good in.
