Here's a footnote to the posts on "borrowing" from artists you like.
I should write a post about blatant plagiarism as my work has occasionally been horribly ripped off. That shows a complete lack of respect for the artist whose work is being plundered.
The respectful homage however, which is what I do every so often myself, is a different matter. I've even found an example of where someone has given me a friendly nod in this way.
Christian Birmingham is a very talented illustrator whose work you might know. I am a big fan of his work. His draughtsmanship and control of his chosen medium of oil pastels are exceptional. His version of A Christmas Carol was a great source of inspiration to me when I was illustrating my version of that book.
Above is a picture from Christian's version of The Snow Queen, which came out a few years ago. I've never even met Christian, but I take his referencing my design for the architecture of the Snow Queen's palace as that "friendly nod" I mentioned. There is no question that he could have invented a setting that was all his own, but I believe it's a case of one guy beavering away in his studio and, in a fairly oblique way, sending out the message " Hey man, I like your stuff".
I like to think so anyway.
My Snow Queen is below.
