UPDATE: This post was originally published on September 19, 2012. We’ve updated the links and added new artworks. Enjoy, Creatives!
Most artists, designers, and illustrators start their design process from sketches on their sketchbooks. Sketches can be classified as either one of the following:
- Observation — a documentation of the artist’s external world
- Invention — a series of drawings showing the internal journey of the development of composition and ideas
They are usually seen on various exhibits and private art displays. But even with the growing popularity of digital art lately, sketchbooks are still in the spotlight in terms of showcasing one’s artistic skills in illustration and design. Due to technological advancements and the birth of the internet, marketing one’s artworks has never been this easy.
Uploading a scanned or photographed file of your artworks on the internet dramatically increases your exposure that can lead to landing jobs or clients. For your inspiration, we’ve gathered several astonishing sketches of some of the most renowned illustrators around the world. Whether on a moleskine or ordinary sketchbooks, their works can surely inspire creative people and leave them wanting to fill up their own sketchbooks. Check these out!
Kim Jung Gi
Korean illustrator Kim Jung Gi’s ability to create highly detailed illustrations without having to sketch using a pencil made him a YouTube sensation. He studied fine arts at the Dong-Eui University of Busan and just like any other Korean citizen, served in the army’s special forces for two years. His amazing visual memory and supreme control of the medium allows him to create stunning scenes and illustrations out of thin air. The time-lapse videos on YouTube showing his actual process is a real pleasure to watch.
Irina Vinnik
Russian illustrator Irina Vinnik will make you say “wow!” over her sketchbooks. She was educated as an architect, has worked as a web designer, and has written and illustrated children’s books. Her unique style in manipulating ink lines and strokes in her sketchbook illustrations are amazingly felt in her floral designs and patterns.
Sketchbook Illustration by Irina Vinnik (Source)
Oleg Tischenkov
Oleg is an illustrator from Canada who specializes in character design and typography. His sketchbook shows us lovely doodles of cityscapes with some touch of natural elements like trees, leaves, flowers, animals, and vines incorporated in each page.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Oleg Tischenkov (Source)
Eniko Déri
As a graphic designer in Hungary, Eniko Déri specializes in print design, typography, and packaging. Her sketchbook is so unique in terms of composition and idea. Each page is composed of different lines that create abstract and surreal patterns delighting the eyes of anyone who looks at them.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Enik0 Déri (Source)
Norio Fujikawa
Norio Fujikawa is an illustrator based in San Francisco who created 3D design models. He specializes in character and concept designs that makes his sketchbook extremely unique and full of fun and adventure!
Sketchbook Illustrations by Norio Fujikawa (Source)
Lesya Nedzelskaya
Based in Ukraine, Lesya specializes in illustration, painting and drawing. Most of her subjects are based on the female figure incorporated with surreal and natural elements defining a unique style and feel.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Lesya Nedzelskaya (Source)
Ben Templesmith
The award-winning Australian comic artist Ben Templesmith have worked for various big-time projects in the comic industry, most notably for Image Comics. He also worked for popular series like Star Wars, Doctor Who, GI Joe, Army of Darkness, Silent Hill, and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. His sketches reflect how professional he is as an artist; his unique style is just incomparable.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Ben Templesmith (Source)
Audrey Kawasaki
With the influence of Art Nouveau and Japanese manga, Audrey‘s works are very popular in terms of delicate features and flawlessness. She’s a painter based in LA focusing on erotic and decorative feminine portraits on wood and canvas. The doodles on her sketchbook are just a glimpse of how great an artist she has become.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Audrey Kawasaki (Source)
Mateusz Nowakowski
Irish illustrator and printmaker Mateusz Nowakowski created stunning sketches as a recording of different places he went and people he met and various ideas floating into his mind.
Sketchbook Illustration by Mateusz Nowakowski (Source)
Zlatina Gocheva
Based in Bulgaria, Zlatina Gocheva is an illustrator and blogger who has this “cute” element on her creations. Her sketchbook is full of simple yet imaginative sketches with very unique concepts and adorable ideas.
Sketchbook Illustration by Zlatina Gocheva (Source)
Artem Solop
Another Ukraine-based digital illustrator manages to maximize the use of his sketchbook. Artem Solop compiled his most amazing sketches with every detail on subjects like robots and mutants — each one impressively done with pencils and pens before being digitized later on. Here are some of his collection, the most remarkable ones are enlarged.
Sketchbook Illustrations by Artem Solop (Source)
What do you think of these amazing sketches? Share us your thoughts by hitting us in the comments below. Stay around for more creative stuffs!