Oh, I have a special treat for you! A sneak peek at some of the fabulous illustrations for TRUSTING TRUE NORTH! The awesomely talented Kevin Keele has answered a few questions about creativity and inspiration today here on the blog. Please check out his great answers below, as well as a few (only a few! I had to keep some secret!!) of the illustrations that he created for TRUE NORTH. They just pull you right into the story and add dimension and feeling. Please also check out Kevin on Instagram @kkeeleart. Thanks for your creative genius, Kevin, in these illustrations, and for talking to us today!
What are some things/people/books that inspired you to become an artist?
My parents were both art majors and met in art class, so I almost feel like my future vocation was set in stone. I love reading and grew up drawing scenes and characters from my favorite books. I’ve always been inspired by a good story.
Did you always like drawing as a little kid?
I was always drawing as a kid, and as I grew up my enthusiasm for it never dimmed. I have taken a sketchbook with me everywhere for as long as I can remember.
Can you explain your artistic process? And what’s your favorite part? Least favorite part?
I have different processes depending on the medium I’m using, but I use Photoshop and work digitally for most of my professional art. I always start with a very rough sketch that I refine over a few layers. Once the sketch is solid, I work out the values in black and white. Next comes a rough color pass; the image is still fairly malleable at this stage, so I make sure the art director is happy with the direction it’s going before adding the finishing touches. The last step is to do the final rendering and bring all the elements of the image into harmony. I used to prefer certain parts of the process, but I’ve been doing illustration long enough that I’ve come to enjoy all the individual stages along the way that makes a final image.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
The best advice I have is to practice! Like anything, to get good at any aspect of visual art you need to do it every day. Keep a regular sketchbook and focus on the fundamentals. There are so many great resources these days to help you refine these skills: YouTube tutorials, art books, online courses, Instagram, etc. It’s an enthusiastic industry that is eager to share.
What is your favorite medium to work in?
For me, nothing beats the old-fashioned pen and paper. I truly love digital and traditional painting of all types, but traditional drawing makes me the happiest.
Do you have any favorite artists/books/authors that you enjoy?
My favorite book ever is The Hobbit. I’ve read it at least ten times, and I buy a copy whenever I come across an edition I don’t own (I currently have 14 different editions). I like books from every genre and for any age range. A good story is a good story, period. I feel so fortunate when I get to create artwork for today’s great authors, like Gina Linko! 😊
My favorite artists include Justin Gerard, Mike Mignola, Rodney Matthews, Alponse Mucha, and J.C. Leyendecker.
Why do you think that art and being creative is important?
Being able to express ourselves and communicate in ways beyond the spoken word is really rewarding. Telling a story through art - be it literature, music, or illustration - is among the most profound ways to really touch hearts and change minds. Even when a bad situation is too inflexible or out of our control to influence, good art can console and contextualize in almost supernatural ways.
