I enjoyed this, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen his art before somewhere but now I know who it is. I also really like Yuchi Hirako’s work and would be interested to see a video about him and his process. I saw his exhibition in Seoul last year and I found it interesting and cool 🤩 🌲
God I love Nara's work! I have three of his prints in the entrance to my home. They're probably the first thing you see when you walk through the door. I put them up 17 years ago when we first moved here and they're still there! Whilst other art gets moved or swapped for other stuff his stuff just speaks to me in a big way and never gets moved. I am the only female in the house, with only sons and the husband. So, maybe that's why I need to see them every day 😆However, I did not realise he was a fan of The Cramps. As soon as I glimpsed that poster I understood why I love his art. I've generally had some form of Cramps poster/art in my house since I was 15 (on my bedroom wall from the first time I saw them live) and I think I "get" where he's coming from a little more after seeing his work/living spaces. As an artist I also totally get the stepping back phases of the painting process. I have a particular spot in my studio where the piece is placed whilst I sit about 5 metres away. Another way I can "step back" is by taking a photo of the piece and by looking at the photo and not the painting itself, it's just like doing the physical "stepping back" part. Anyway, thanks for this video. It just popped up on my feed so you've got another sub 👍🏻. All the best!
I really like a lot of his art. I do hope he can kick that life-threatening habit of smoking. As an ex-smoker myself, I know it can be done. 35 years clear of it now for me. Good video, Alex!!!
I am a scrap metal artist who is self taught. I took some art classes in college way before I got into making art myself but I learned there is a "low brow, high brow" differentiation in the art world. In most cases unless you have a degree in art you're never taken seriously as an artist and can be shunned, even if your art is exceptional. I've seen incredibly talented self taught artists looked down on because of their lack of degree?! It would be good to mention whether he was classically trained or self taught just for interest. Thanks for a great video!
He is largely self-taught. But he did get a BA and MA degree in the late 1980s which may have helped refine his style. A interesting detail that i'll keep in mind for future videos - thanks.
I don't agree with this to be fair I feel as though this is the best time to be a self taught artist and there are a lot of self taught artist in the modern world right now. I also feel like this is the best time to be a creative in general you can be an artist and touch multiple mediums without being stuck in your material bubble. I personally wouldn't go to school for art because it's pointless in some degree. Why go to school for something that a lot people have had success in being self taught. Do art on your own are the tools are here maybe take some classes here and there but yea living it and breathing something is the best way to do it.
Yes I agree with this as well. Art school is largely a waste of time in my opinion. There may be some exceptions for things like Prop design, costume design or fashion design that really require a dedicated studio with certain tools and equipment. The major benefit of art school, however, is that you get 1-on-1 coaching and regular feedback from experienced tutors. Which is very hard to get outside of art school. But I think art undergraduate degrees should be shortened and condensed down to 1 year or 1.5 years at most.
Great series, I appreciate the insights! I think Brâncuși is a must for this series. He lived and worked in the same building and would often photograph his sculptures in the studio because he was invested in the relation between the works and the studio space. So invested that he only did that towards the end of his life.
Your previous video on James Jean helped demystify his painting process for me. I didn't know he created his paintings digitally before applying colour. This is an excellent video series; keep it up.
Thats really cool to hear. Yea James does sketching on paper, then works out all the colours in digital before going to canvas. Love his work. Hopefully meet him one day.
So glad to have your channel be recommended to me ! For a long time I’ve been hoping to find videos that dive into the processes before and during the creation of artists’ work. Excited to see what else you do!
Great glimpse into a familiar lifestyle and practice. Despite the somewhat random appearance, there is a very tight adaptive order to how the space is used even the apparently random brushes paints etc are all placed and grouped very specifically and efficiently.
So glad this popped on my feed today! LOVE this peek at his studio and process.Thank you! I find it fascinating learning how other artists set up their studio and their process of working. We are all unique and different in what works for us.
Alex, i recently stumbled upon your videos and I’m fascinated. I’ve been looking for content like this for years now, until I found your channel. Artists like Nara, Murakami and James Jean are one of my favourites, and you have videos for all of them! Your channel is like entering a toy store as a kid, thank you!
Thank-you very much for your small documentaries on artists and their work space, I find it very inspiring. And at time it help me understand my own relationship with my art studio. Thank-you!
06:08 nice to see a copy of photographer Harry Callahan's book on the table (largely obscured), the Vivian Maier self-portraits book, and that famous Arbus 'twins' picture on the wall (with two tiny toy figures on top of the frame).
Interesting segment, thank you for sharing this composition. Got inspired watching Nara's process, painting over concepts and discovering the characters along the way.
Beautiful coverage -- thank you. As a painter, I'm stunned to see that he works in acrylic: the quick dry time alone wouldn't seem to fit his visual style. I know of a few of his pieces close by, and will visit them this weekend to scrutinize the canvases now knowing this. Hard to get that glow in acrylics. Again, thank you -- well done.
Thank you! He doesn't work exclusively in acrylics, but the majority of the time he does. In nearly all of this studio images/videos he has a bucket of water for his brushes, which he wouldn't have if using oil paints. But some of his work is a combination of both oil and acrylic.
This is the second video I’ve watched of yours(the first one being the video on James Jean) and I think these are wonderful glimpses into artist’s spaces/minds. Thanks for sharing! The care you put into these videos really shines through.
Very insightful content. Thankyou. I quite enjoy seeing people who create their own working life. Being whomever they want to be, a ciggy smoking, rock music blasting, well organised and financially successful artist. Not giving a shit if anybody else doesnt like it. Oh if only we all felt the freedom to create our own successful life. The daily grind is not conducive to such freedom when our energy is sold to an hourly rate. Rock on Nara 🤘 And a definite subscription here. Enjoyed your insight and presentation. Professional delivery. 👏👍
@Bettinasisrg indeed. At 54yr old. The home run. I'm understanding the impotence of a "job". It's the creativity that sets us apart as humans from the wild, and yet the wild is where our creativity thrives, the untameable energy. Wishing you well on your journey 🙏
Been really enjoying your videos! I’m a final year BFA student and I’ve gotten so much inspiration for my own home studio. My favourite palette is a cheap bit of white Perspex it cleans off just like glass
Love this series and your thoughtful commentary - so well done. Might be interesting to explore artists with different subject matters / styles. For example figurative - what do the studios of Jenny Saville or Tracey Emin look like? Maybe some abstract artists like Mark Bradford or Rick Lowe? Etc.
Thanks for the recommendations! I'll add those names to my list. Although I am somewhat limited to what images/videos are available online. I'd love to explore Jenny Saville's creative space but there aren't too many photos of her studio, at least from the research i've done.
what a well-structured video and narrative! It was very captivating to watch. I would also be interested to see another type of artist analyzed by you too other than painters. :)
Really cool artist! Never heard of him before. There's a surprising amount of studio/process images on his instagram as well. Definitely a possibility for a future video!
I liked this video. I get to know about the process of this artist that I saw often but not really dwelve into their art. I cannot shake the feeling he is heavily inspired by Margaret Keane in a way...
With so much repression in Japanese society, also deep traumas from war which many Japanese prefer not to revisit, Nara's work opens up broken feelings and psyche. These feelings are instantly recognisable as depicted by Nara, in our vulnerable child selves, almost preverbal and deeply emotional.
I enjoy creative clutter my brain registers it as cozy. I like vignettes of organized spaces and ample space of empty spaces. What a contradiction but I get why Yoshimoto Nara needs his space to be as it is. There’s a coziness about surrounding with items that bring inspiration and comfort.
I will inevitably expand the series to cover other kinds of creative studios beyond fine artists. There's a lot of potential. For now, however, i'm just going to focus on fine artists. Although i'm open to suggestions!
This is obviously about his art but I cannot but notice the musician elements. CD of London Calling, poster of The Cramps etc. Besides wanting to have his visual art, he would be a great DJ at any party.
Awesome video. My wife turned me on to Nara, he’s such a great example of artist doing the same thing over and over, how an artist can really explore through limitations. I didn’t watch all your videos yet, but would love to see studio videos of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Basquiat, Brice Marden, Keiichi Tanaami and Philip Guston, and Matisse.
Yea I always admire artists who are able to stick to one thing and refine it over a long period of time. It's easy to be swayed/influenced by other people's art. Sticking to one specific artistic path says a lot about the genuineness and honesty of his work. I recognise a few of those names, but some are new to me. Thanks for the suggestions!
The reason why with acrylics, you might use a non-cleanable palette like wood, is to see how new colors cover old ones, before applying the paint. that's my thought.
Je viens de découvrir que la reproduction que j’ai acheté au MOMA il y a quelques années est celle d’une œuvre de cet artiste. J’adore cette reproduction de Oh ! My god ! I miss you. 😊❤
Never heard of his before but his art looks amazing. If there's enough studio images/videos he could be a great one to look at. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thank you for these videos. I’m wondering if you could do one on Ruth Asawa. I have studied her a little and have always been curious about her practice since she is a woman who had kids, which gives me hope:)
People have lost their taste and their minds for art that is truly skillfully rendered and with messages that are meaningful. I would put Nara in the category of cartooning.
The fact you don't see "Cartooning" as a form of art in the first place says a lot about your close minded deep bleached view on what art is or should be
Thanks for watching! Drop a like if you enjoyed - it really goes a long way!
Thank you for the great video, anyone told you that you look like a discount Daniel Radcliffe?
This "art" is stupid. The king is naked.
I enjoyed this, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen his art before somewhere but now I know who it is. I also really like Yuchi Hirako’s work and would be interested to see a video about him and his process. I saw his exhibition in Seoul last year and I found it interesting and cool 🤩 🌲
Big fan of Yoshimoto Nara's art style...
God I love Nara's work! I have three of his prints in the entrance to my home. They're probably the first thing you see when you walk through the door. I put them up 17 years ago when we first moved here and they're still there! Whilst other art gets moved or swapped for other stuff his stuff just speaks to me in a big way and never gets moved. I am the only female in the house, with only sons and the husband. So, maybe that's why I need to see them every day 😆However, I did not realise he was a fan of The Cramps. As soon as I glimpsed that poster I understood why I love his art. I've generally had some form of Cramps poster/art in my house since I was 15 (on my bedroom wall from the first time I saw them live) and I think I "get" where he's coming from a little more after seeing his work/living spaces. As an artist I also totally get the stepping back phases of the painting process. I have a particular spot in my studio where the piece is placed whilst I sit about 5 metres away. Another way I can "step back" is by taking a photo of the piece and by looking at the photo and not the painting itself, it's just like doing the physical "stepping back" part. Anyway, thanks for this video. It just popped up on my feed so you've got another sub 👍🏻. All the best!
U have three pictures of little girls drawn by a grown man? Gross pedo
this short documentary about him is bloody awesome ! thank you ....
I really like a lot of his art. I do hope he can kick that life-threatening habit of smoking. As an ex-smoker myself, I know it can be done. 35 years clear of it now for me. Good video, Alex!!!
Maintaining control and focus! I have to remember that one.
😂
I am a scrap metal artist who is self taught. I took some art classes in college way before I got into making art myself but I learned there is a "low brow, high brow" differentiation in the art world. In most cases unless you have a degree in art you're never taken seriously as an artist and can be shunned, even if your art is exceptional. I've seen incredibly talented self taught artists looked down on because of their lack of degree?! It would be good to mention whether he was classically trained or self taught just for interest. Thanks for a great video!
He is largely self-taught. But he did get a BA and MA degree in the late 1980s which may have helped refine his style. A interesting detail that i'll keep in mind for future videos - thanks.
@@alexwilliamytthere must be a psychological reason why his paintings are so expensive, I find nothing special in these at all.
@@alexwilliamytBA and MA in what? Art
I don't agree with this to be fair I feel as though this is the best time to be a self taught artist and there are a lot of self taught artist in the modern world right now. I also feel like this is the best time to be a creative in general you can be an artist and touch multiple mediums without being stuck in your material bubble. I personally wouldn't go to school for art because it's pointless in some degree. Why go to school for something that a lot people have had success in being self taught. Do art on your own are the tools are here maybe take some classes here and there but yea living it and breathing something is the best way to do it.
Yes I agree with this as well. Art school is largely a waste of time in my opinion. There may be some exceptions for things like Prop design, costume design or fashion design that really require a dedicated studio with certain tools and equipment.
The major benefit of art school, however, is that you get 1-on-1 coaching and regular feedback from experienced tutors. Which is very hard to get outside of art school.
But I think art undergraduate degrees should be shortened and condensed down to 1 year or 1.5 years at most.
Great series, I appreciate the insights! I think Brâncuși is a must for this series. He lived and worked in the same building and would often photograph his sculptures in the studio because he was invested in the relation between the works and the studio space. So invested that he only did that towards the end of his life.
Really nice recommendation, thank you. I will definitely be doing some more research in his setup.
love how simply these fabulously wealthy artists do generally live.. it’s their love of art and producing it and not the cash…
Your previous video on James Jean helped demystify his painting process for me. I didn't know he created his paintings digitally before applying colour. This is an excellent video series; keep it up.
Thats really cool to hear. Yea James does sketching on paper, then works out all the colours in digital before going to canvas. Love his work. Hopefully meet him one day.
You do a great job on these studio tours. I look forward to more. I'm also interested to see where/how your studio tours evolve. Best wishes to you.
So glad to have your channel be recommended to me ! For a long time I’ve been hoping to find videos that dive into the processes before and during the creation of artists’ work. Excited to see what else you do!
@calahharrold8431
I searched 'gallery curator ' & got this & other nice results 🤔
Great glimpse into a familiar lifestyle and practice. Despite the somewhat random appearance, there is a very tight adaptive order to how the space is used even the apparently random brushes paints etc are all placed and grouped very specifically and efficiently.
Very nicely said.
So glad this popped on my feed today! LOVE this peek at his studio and process.Thank you! I find it fascinating learning how other artists set up their studio and their process of working. We are all unique and different in what works for us.
So cool to see behind the scenes videos. Great content!
I‘d love to see more works in progress of contemporary figurative artists
Alex, i recently stumbled upon your videos and I’m fascinated.
I’ve been looking for content like this for years now, until I found your channel.
Artists like Nara, Murakami and James Jean are one of my favourites, and you have videos for all of them!
Your channel is like entering a toy store as a kid, thank you!
Awesome, thank you!
Thank-you very much for your small documentaries on artists and their work space, I find it very inspiring. And at time it help me understand my own relationship with my art studio. Thank-you!
My new fave Chanel, excellent vids brother,
Good thing coming…
I can relate to just sit in front of what you’ve just made and let it breathe on it’s own. It always is a special moment.
Great video, and it's nice to see this artist being highlighted like this. Also reminded me that I have one of his 'Too young to die' ashtrays :)
06:08 nice to see a copy of photographer Harry Callahan's book on the table (largely obscured), the Vivian Maier self-portraits book, and that famous Arbus 'twins' picture on the wall (with two tiny toy figures on top of the frame).
This is cool, thank you for explaining how Nara handles his very spontaneous process. I can't want for the next video!
Great video! Thank you.
Nara is one of my favorites and this makes me love ❤him all the more!
Much appreciated 🙏
Wow, I have chills, this artwork pierces the soul!
Very interesting and well done video- thank you! Looking forward to see more of yours!
Interesting segment, thank you for sharing this composition. Got inspired watching Nara's process, painting over concepts and discovering the characters along the way.
Loved seeing his work in Perth, Australia this year!
Beautiful coverage -- thank you. As a painter, I'm stunned to see that he works in acrylic: the quick dry time alone wouldn't seem to fit his visual style. I know of a few of his pieces close by, and will visit them this weekend to scrutinize the canvases now knowing this. Hard to get that glow in acrylics. Again, thank you -- well done.
Thank you! He doesn't work exclusively in acrylics, but the majority of the time he does. In nearly all of this studio images/videos he has a bucket of water for his brushes, which he wouldn't have if using oil paints. But some of his work is a combination of both oil and acrylic.
This is the second video I’ve watched of yours(the first one being the video on James Jean) and I think these are wonderful glimpses into artist’s spaces/minds.
Thanks for sharing! The care you put into these videos really shines through.
Much appreciated, thank you.
Wow, all the rationalizing the system has to do so rich people’s assets will hold value. The art world is wild.
Thank you! Fascinating and informative video. I love his studio layout and the mess; it obviously works magic for Nara. Xxx
I really enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing 🫡
Thank you! Love your videos too :-)
Great video! it would be cool to see inside Aya Takano’s process!😊
Noted! 🙂
Very insightful content. Thankyou. I quite enjoy seeing people who create their own working life. Being whomever they want to be, a ciggy smoking, rock music blasting, well organised and financially successful artist. Not giving a shit if anybody else doesnt like it. Oh if only we all felt the freedom to create our own successful life. The daily grind is not conducive to such freedom when our energy is sold to an hourly rate. Rock on Nara 🤘
And a definite subscription here. Enjoyed your insight and presentation. Professional delivery. 👏👍
Well said! I lament all the creativity stifled behind an hourly, barely covering it wage! I can relate and live vicariously.
@Bettinasisrg indeed. At 54yr old. The home run. I'm understanding the impotence of a "job". It's the creativity that sets us apart as humans from the wild, and yet the wild is where our creativity thrives, the untameable energy. Wishing you well on your journey 🙏
I'd agree with that for sure! Thanks for the sub!
Love your videos so much. Thanks! I'd be curious to see a video on Mark Ryden, Keith Haring and Marc Chagall.
Great suggestions, thank you! Mark Ryden's work and studio is facinating. Really different to the studios i've looked at so far.
Thanks for putting all of this together!
Reminds me of the “big eyes” paintings front he 60s and 70s
Nice discovery, I didn't know about this artist. Thank you for it!
Great video! It's nice to see someone else's process.
I really like the video! Keep up with this kind of quality content!
Really enjoyed this, thank you! Nicely done, made me look forward to more videos from you. New subscriber!
Much appreciated! 🙂
Wonderful video, look forward to more!
Very interesting, I love how you pointed out the conditions he created in his studio to facilitate that looser style of creating.
Been really enjoying your videos! I’m a final year BFA student and I’ve gotten so much inspiration for my own home studio. My favourite palette is a cheap bit of white Perspex it cleans off just like glass
I'm happy to hear that :)
Love this series and your thoughtful commentary - so well done. Might be interesting to explore artists with different subject matters / styles. For example figurative - what do the studios of Jenny Saville or Tracey Emin look like? Maybe some abstract artists like Mark Bradford or Rick Lowe? Etc.
Thanks for the recommendations! I'll add those names to my list. Although I am somewhat limited to what images/videos are available online. I'd love to explore Jenny Saville's creative space but there aren't too many photos of her studio, at least from the research i've done.
Great video, I really like Masamune Shirow, and Kentaro Miura.
I found this useful and insightful. Thank you.
Thank you, what a great break down :) really helpful
what a well-structured video and narrative! It was very captivating to watch. I would also be interested to see another type of artist analyzed by you too other than painters. :)
Very well analyzed.
Good work. Thank you for your research and for sharing.
My pleasure!
amazing!
Great video, so carefully done! Thank you so much!
How about a video on Matsuura Hiroyuki?🙂
Really cool artist! Never heard of him before. There's a surprising amount of studio/process images on his instagram as well. Definitely a possibility for a future video!
Love these series, I would love to see a video about Ron Mueck's studio aswell.
Thanks! Great recommendation - i'll definitely see if there's more information online.
His style is a Japanese rehash of Keane’s Big Eyes art
Thank you. I knew it seemed familiar, albeit much less skill involved
His work technique is not...
Thanks for such a really informative video!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fascinating, thank you.
I liked this video. I get to know about the process of this artist that I saw often but not really dwelve into their art. I cannot shake the feeling he is heavily inspired by Margaret Keane in a way...
would love to work that way in such studios, living the dream, creatively speaking
With so much repression in Japanese society, also deep traumas from war which many Japanese prefer not to revisit, Nara's work opens up broken feelings and psyche. These feelings are instantly recognisable as depicted by Nara, in our vulnerable child selves, almost preverbal and deeply emotional.
awesome channel dude keep going
Thanks for sharing this video 🎉❤😊
Tyy. Loved this one!
you are doing really lovely work--- it would appear you found a niche and hopefully you see it through. Greatly appreciated storytelling.
Nice to have space ,all makes sense,thanks find mine soon😄😅😃😂😁😢
Great, informative video. Keep them coming!
I enjoy creative clutter my brain registers it as cozy. I like vignettes of organized spaces and ample space of empty spaces. What a contradiction but I get why Yoshimoto Nara needs his space to be as it is. There’s a coziness about surrounding with items that bring inspiration and comfort.
Really nice description of your experience, thanks.
Extremely valuable work. Thank you. Liked and subd.
Thanks for the sub!
Thanks for this video....
Interesting choice of words describing Nara and his work expensive instead of valuable. Thanks for the introduction to this artist!
Randomly came across this vid. Thanks for the insight!
Amazing Video ❤🎉 and greatings from Cologne - It's a quite creative and inspiring city here in Germany.
Many thanks! Hello to Cologne 👋
Your videos are amazing, thank you, have you done one on Hilma Af Klint?
Thanks! Not yet, she's one of my favourite artists though. I might feature her studio in an upcoming video.
Enjoyed it! I didn’t see a link for the video you referenced
All the links are in the description.
Interesting, thank you ❤❤❤
Great video. Can you please do Luc Tuymans? I’d love to know more about the artists’ tools, brushes, and paints too.
Noted! Thanks for the suggestion.
Loving this channel! Have you thought about doing a series on authors/writers?
I will inevitably expand the series to cover other kinds of creative studios beyond fine artists. There's a lot of potential. For now, however, i'm just going to focus on fine artists. Although i'm open to suggestions!
I would recommend the artist duo Cooper & Gorfer, they do really beautiful collage photos that have a very surrealistic and painterly style to them.
This is obviously about his art but I cannot but notice the musician elements. CD of London Calling, poster of The Cramps etc. Besides wanting to have his visual art, he would be a great DJ at any party.
❗️ nice video
Awesome video. My wife turned me on to Nara, he’s such a great example of artist doing the same thing over and over, how an artist can really explore through limitations.
I didn’t watch all your videos yet, but would love to see studio videos of Warhol, Lichtenstein, Basquiat, Brice Marden, Keiichi Tanaami and Philip Guston, and Matisse.
Yea I always admire artists who are able to stick to one thing and refine it over a long period of time. It's easy to be swayed/influenced by other people's art. Sticking to one specific artistic path says a lot about the genuineness and honesty of his work.
I recognise a few of those names, but some are new to me. Thanks for the suggestions!
I've seen his images before but didn't realize they can be so large! Very interesting pieces & i wonder who/what that young child represents.
Thanks for this video Alex, what an amazing Artist Nara is! Could you possibly look into the art and life of John Jude Palencar?
A great artist, but I don't think there are too many videos/photos of his studio space. I have noted his name down for the future though!
But how can someone possibly become an artist like this, what’s their full trajectory? That would be interesting to found out
very nice video
The reason why with acrylics, you might use a non-cleanable palette like wood, is to see how new colors cover old ones, before applying the paint. that's my thought.
Xue jiye would be a great one. Leigh McCloskey as well
Artist suggestions: Mark Tennant, Elizabeth Peyton, Genieve Figgis
Thanks for the suggestions!
I appreciate very much that you do not use AI
Je viens de découvrir que la reproduction que j’ai acheté au MOMA il y a quelques années est celle d’une œuvre de cet artiste. J’adore cette reproduction de Oh ! My god ! I miss you. 😊❤
Thank you for the video Alex. I enjoyed it a lot. Can you make a video about Chinese artist Ding yi..
Never heard of his before but his art looks amazing. If there's enough studio images/videos he could be a great one to look at. Thanks for the suggestion.
Nice video thanks. Would like to see Jonas Wood studio vid
Added to my list! Thanks for the recc.
Could you make a video of Yoshitaka Amano's studio? In my opinion it's one of the most interesting ones
Added to my list! Definitely a possibility :)
@@alexwilliamyt Thank's man👌. I can't wait
You can do artist: Sean Scully. He has studio content available
emotionally complex ??? right
Thank you for these videos. I’m wondering if you could do one on Ruth Asawa. I have studied her a little and have always been curious about her practice since she is a woman who had kids, which gives me hope:)
Thanks for the suggestion! :)
It's nice but I don't get the prices. Well the art market is shady
Can you make one about his ceramic output?
Yea he has done a lot of sculpture work. I try to keep the videos fairly short so I decided to focus mainly on his painting work.
People have lost their taste and their minds for art that is truly skillfully rendered and with messages that are meaningful. I would put Nara in the category of cartooning.
The fact you don't see "Cartooning" as a form of art in the first place says a lot about your close minded deep bleached view on what art is or should be
Do Jean Giraud AKA Moebius. One of the most influential comic artists ever.