How I Begin An Illustration

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Starting on the illustration for a Winter catalog cover for Kidstuff. Here is how it all begins with a super rough gesture drawing to work out the composition, work out perspectives and get a flow going. Its a restaurant scene with kids playing with a wind up toy product, so I want to make the product the hero of the image.  I'll post further developments later. Its always fun seeing how the finished paintings are transformed from something as simple and rough as this. Lemme know what you think....thanx!

 

 

How Fian Arroyo Art Has influenced Others

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A childhood friend Chris Maggio, who is now a successful medical illustrator wrote me these kind words on how my art had influenced him early on...makes me feel good to know when my talents have helped others. Thanx Chris! Check it out:


You might laugh at this, but your name actually came up many years ago when I was in college... I was doing a paper in an art history class and was tasked with writing about artists through the ages, people that strongly altered or influenced our artistic direction. I had Giotto, Brunelleschi, some of the other ancient standards, and... Fian Arroyo. The instructor assumed I was pulling names outta my ass and questioned me on this "Arroyo fellow", as he couldn't find him in the books, and inquired to which century did he live, and who were his contemporaries. I explained that you were an 8 year old childhood friend... and we lived in a now-lost paradise. He raised both eyebrows, so I described watching you curl simple gesture lines with a paintbrush on brown butcher paper, how the quiet strokes of the cheap brush soaked in dark smelly poster paint became a cougar with extended claws and long swooping body. How I went home and painted for hours trying to get that simplicity to work, and how frustrating it was to not get it right the first time, (or the thirtieth time), as I saw you do. How, Fian, sitting on the hardwood floor in the hallway of his dark house easily breath out lively images while I mimicked. The professor's response was "Oh, I meant classical artists, but I guess that works." Don't let that go to your head! HAHA But I did soon find my own niche and have been making my mark ever since. But, thanks for the free lessons! I owe you a beer.

Children's Ebook Illustration

Here is a humorous children's book illustration for a potential children's ebook. I initially did it to promote the ebook for other avenues. Since then, I have had to pass on doing the rest of the ebook. I just have too many projects on the table that will keep me busy for a long while...which is always a  super good thing! Don't you think? :-)

 

Kid Stuff Fall Catalog Cover Illustration

Recently I created an illustration for the Kid Stuff fall catalog cover. The client wanted to show a mixed ethnic family in a restaurant setting, so I thought a caucasion mom and son and hispanic father and daughter would be the best combo. I really thought that showing the boy with a missing tooth was funny and appropriate for that age...what kid that age isn't missing one or more teeth? :-) The Veggie Tales toy was the main focus so I made sure that one of them was in the center of the illustration to catch the viewers attention immediately.



Fian Arroyo art on H-Street skateboard

Mike Owen at a skateboard signing, signing his H-Street signature model with the artwork I did for it last year. Always cool to see my illustrations on the end product. Gave it that regal eagle look, a slight departure from what I usually illustrate. That was such a fun piece to work on, especially when I am so passionate about skateboarding myself.

Click on the image and check it out.

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