The Inspiration
Ralph Steadman, the Gonzo Artist, is one of my personal favorite illustrators/artists. He is probably best known for the illustrations he created for the work of the Gonzo Journalist himself, Hunter S. Thompson. Steadman’s work has such a raw energy to it that makes it impossible to ignore. His seemingly random ink blotches and kinetic lines were the main inspiration for this set of textures. I wanted to try and capture that raw energy and spontaneous creation. Here is a very brief sampling of his work:
See more of his work on his official website.
The Textures
The method for creating these is very simple, and boatloads of fun. I would simply lay a piece of bristol board or watercolor paper on top of some newspaper, completely cover a brush in paint, and then use quick and staggered arm motions above the paper. I would also attack the paper in an angled downward motion and smack the brush head against to paper, which created the streak connected to a bigger splotch. After these were finished (and dried), I scanned them and then digitally combined them with some vintage paper textures to give them a little more attitude.
I hope you all enjoy using these as much as I enjoyed creating them. Do you like this style? Comment below and let me know what you think!
I really like these. So great for a graphic kit. Which I am not good at!!
These textures are great fun. I can’t wait to play with them. Another technique that might be fun to try sometime is marbling. Thanks again for providing the wonderful resources that you do.
Thank you for these and the other textures you offer here! I’ve been having a field day today, browsing through your site.
wow! these are really neat! can’t wait to make some papers with these…COOL!!!
these look great!!
thank you for sharing this!
These spots are truly inspiring!
One million thanks for sharing all these useful textures and resources
Wonderful work!
I adore the colors and the perfection of those textures, thank you very much for sharing them (: