Sometimes we as artists need to look to the past for inspiration. Right now we have very little limiting us and our creative nature. But before, designers were confined by the technology and methods of that period. What this means is the art and design work stemming from that time gives us a glimpse upon the life and time of the designers and the audience of the work itself. What we then see in the present is designers using these ideas and creating riveting work with modern technology that has a vintage feel.
I love older work, and any time I can I try and grab as much as possible for reference.Half price books is great for this as not only to they actually have older publications, they have good older resource books.. I recently picked up a book called: Euro Deco. Buy it here
Its FULL of vintage artwork from MANY many classic designers and artists from the early 1900′s to just before WWII.And not just posters or fliers.. Products, adverts, toys, typefaces, logos, etc.. It has really started influencing my work as it has exposed me to a great Era and style of work, Art Deco.
stuff like this:
How about you guys? What period of art really inspires you? What resources do you have that are coming out in your work?
as always, comments appreciated..
I am a big fan of the Russian avant-garde, including but not limited to – suprematism, constructivism, futurism, and the proun works of El Lissitzky. This was an age where concept reigned over aesthetics and many brilliant ideas were pushed into a visual form and shared with the world. Due to the nature of this art, it can be difficult to pull aesthetic inspiration from it, but it has encouraged me to always think about what it is I am creating, and to make sure the idea behind image is just as strong, if not stronger, than the image itself.