ARTISTRY INSPIRED BY VIDEO GAMES
Art inspired by video games is, and has been for years, on the rise. It is true that video game graphics themselves can be highly beautiful and atmospheric (take, for example, the platform games Ori and the Blind Forest and Trine) as well as fascinating and inspiring like the adventure game Journey, upon which comparisons may be drawn with the compositions of Clemens Ascher, as they each utilise an element of blank open sections that paradoxically contribute to the fullness of the image as a whole.
Video Game Inspired Art
However, what is truly incredible is both the volume and variety of art that video games have inspired. The artwork comes in the form of a mixture of media, along with diverse ranges of styles and techniques. The woodblock prints of “Ukiyo-e Heroes“, crafted in Tokyo by David Bull, deliver a traditional mode of showcasing relatively modern subject matter, thereby bringing together the concept of new and old as mutually compatible. The handmade woodblock prints offer primarily colourful depictions of such video game characters as The Legend of Zelda‘s Link and Pokemon‘s Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander and Bulbasaur, all reinvented in a distinctly traditional Japanese style. Contrastingly – showing just how diverse the styles can be – is Redbubble Parisian artist “Orioto”, whose pieces (which include those inspired by the settings of Final Fantasy, specifically his work entitled “Before Kuja”, and Dungeon Hearts) are rendered in gorgeously blended tones that prove striking not due to their individual impact but their collective one.
A large portion of the market demand for video game inspired artwork is made up of posters. A fantastic example of retro and pop-art styled poster artwork comes from “Marinko Illustration”, whose work explodes with colour and a sense of motion; on the other hand, “Gametee” offer giclee art prints displaying what at a first glance appear to be book covers of generic old titles, but on a closer inspection, reveal themselves to be video game and film references disguised by cleverly formulated implications and puns. In this manner, “Gametee” provides an utterly original take on video game artwork, that is subtle yet intriguing.
For those who wish to begin creating and sharing their own video game-inspired artwork, as well as peruse through other people’s, creative and open websites such as Etsy have proven to be a reliable option. One of the most detrimental factors is finding a platform from which your artwork will be accessible to the greatest number of people who may potentially be interested in it. It is clear that all artists inspired by video games have a different aim and agenda: some strive to comply with the graphics style already implemented in the game, some to connect with the spirit of the game, and some to reinvent it altogether. This artwork allows for the exploration of known worlds seen as new worlds, much like the pieces of painter Anthony Banks, whose art transports us to existing locations yet gives us new perspectives on them.
Also susceptible to the influence of video games is the film industry. While films often used to act as inspiration for video games, the tables have now been turned, partially as a result of the increasing use of CG. The Matrix, Transformers and Scott Pilgrim Vs The World are all believed to be examples of films created under such influence.
It is clear, then, that the effect that video games are working upon the visual arts is not only strong, but also set to increase in the future. Subsequently, we may confidently look forward to more and more works of creative genius being born as a result, to enthral our eyes and capture our interest.
