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Influence Map — Description
Yep, I did one.

's template can be found here [link]

From left to right and top to bottom:

1.Pixar.
After Disney’s renaissance they kinda dropped the ball in my opinion. A ball that was picked up by Pixar. These guys are worthy of your reverence.

2.Kevin Smith.
More specifically, the movies of Kevin Smith. Even more specifically, Clerks, Chasing Amy and Dogma (my personal faves). They may not have influenced me artistically, but they have definitely played a part in shaping my sense of humour. His many podcasts (SModcast, Hollywood Babble-On, Jay & Silent Bob Get Old, Blow Hard, Highlands: A Peephole History and Tell ‘Em Steve-Dave!) are now the soundtrack of choice whenever I’m feeling artistic.

3.Sega Dreamcast.
Actually all Sega consoles. I’ve always been a Sega fanboy. I just preferred the presentation and FEEL. Something that was informed by the AM2 division, honed with the Sega Saturn and perfected with the undervalued Dreamcast.

4.Street Fighter.
Street Fighter isn’t a game (or series of games), it’s a visual language. You can see a character for the first time and KNOW it belongs in this universe. There were usurpers, upstarts and challenges to the crown, but none have stood the test of time and I think it’s due to this “language”.

5.Disney.
I’ve been exposed to the magic of Disney my whole life. From the classic pre war movies: Snow White, Pinocchio etc (Not on the original release of course) to Disney’s renaissance: The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King etc, plus all of the outstanding TV shows: Gummi Bears, Ducktales, Talespin, Gargoyles etc.

6.Marvel.
Spiderman, Hulk, Iron Man, the X-Men et al. Who isn’t influenced by these guys?

7.Art Attack.
Sadly this show is no longer being made. But as they ran it for 17 years there’re plenty of back episodes to get through. The show was hosted by Neil Buchanan who is nothing short of a genius. What he couldn’t do with crumpled up newspaper…

8.Photography.
My interest in photography is evident in my often liberal use of grain, depth of field, vignetting and (the dreaded) lens flare.

9.Sean E.
I had no idea that people could just “colour” other people’s drawings until I came across this guy’s work on another art community website called Renderosity. Sure, I had colouring books when I was a kid, but this guy was doing it professionally! He even showed you how to do it on his website. I still use some of the techniques I learned to this day.

10.Charles Holbert Jnr.
Over 2 and a half years! That’s how long I’ve been colouring the kid’s work. Super talented and super nice. Not a common combination. I still don’t think I’ve done any of his work justice, but I’ll persevere and hopefully get there eventually.

11.DC.
Without DC and more specifically Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster we may not even know the term superhero.

12.Star Wars.
The original trilogy of course

13.Jeff Smith’s Bone.
I’m ashamed to say that I’d never heard of this until my girlfriend bought me the first book for my birthday. I’ve read these books at least a dozen times cover to cover. They’re sweet, epic, beautiful and just plain fun and every household should have them.

14.Matt Synowicz ([link]).
I don’t know how I found Matt’s work, but I’m sure glad I did. My colouring took a more cartoony vibe. Something I feel more affinity for and am far more comfortable with.

15.Deviantart.
Fairly obvious this one.

16.Thundercats.
Pre Teenage Mutant Hero(sic) Turtles, post He-Man, this show (and the others) was like crack to me. The intro was mind blowing and still stands up to this day.