visual influences of the Night Parade art

art references part 1, european mythology, japanese-american style influences 

Written July 27th, 2013, covering art from May 2021 -  July 2023

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･✧･ﾟ

Helloooo I just wanted to share some pieces of art that inspired me visually and creatively. This is going to be a 4 pt series where I highlight reference pieces that make up the visual universe of the Night Parade ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

REFERENCES #1: Visual Influences

This style of work I made for Night Parade is very personal! It's a lot more detailed in texture and narrative, it takes a lot of planning and time. This is very different to my commercial/contract art where i'm often drawing for speed. It makes sense that some of the inspiration for the Night Parade is deeply personal and come from my earliest childhood memories.

I grew up reading a lot of mostly european fantasy and mythology. I deeply imprinted on...

 The Fairy Books illustrated by Henry Justice Ford 

green fairy book by andrew lang

D'aulaires' Book of Greek Myths illustrated by Ingri d’Aulaire and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire...

 d'aulaires book of greek mythsscreenshot from daulaires book of greek mythscreenshot of an illustration d'aulaires' of gaia

and the Letters from Father Christmas illustrated by JRR Tolkien

screenshot of a jrr tolkien illustration. water color illustration of the northern lights.

illustration by jrr tolkien from letters to father christmas. santa in caveillustration by jrr tolkien from letters to father christmas. bear and elves fighting goblins

I also subconsciously absorbed a lot of yokai // spirit imagery in Asian American media (or, media about Asia for American audiences).

Like Pokemon and Sanrio 

image of 1990's sanrio characters

image of the original 101 pokemon

Usagi Yojimbo written and illustrated by sansei artist Stan Sakai 

image of usagi yojimbo by stan sakaiimage of usagi yojimbo characters by stan sakai

Studio Ghibli // Hayao Miyazaki

 

The title sequence from Mulan is engrained in my brain permanently!!! I can feel those clouds being painted it in each of my bones!! 

 

themes: puffy, soft round shapes, big eyes, giant heads, flat graphics, cute <---> scawy creatures, chimera or hybrid beings, animal people, mischievous spindly demon creatures, frames, illustration + narrative, monsters

Wow even looking at the screenshots of the last three -- usagi yojimbo, totoro, and mulan -- makes me so emotional. they're such strong visual influences for me *:･ﾟ✧*:･✧