20 Vector Illustrated Masterworks, Deconstructed
Oct 2nd in Web Roundups by Chris Spooner
Gianluca Fallone
Gianluca is an Argentinian designer and illustrator with an exceptional knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator. His artistic works include a mix of bright coloring and sharp vector lines to create an exciting and dynamic composition.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use intense colors to highlight and draw attention to specific areas of a design.
Ray Frenden
After being featured as one of our inspiring T-Shirt designers we already know of Ray Frenden’s awesome illustrative work for apparel. In Ray’s portfolio are more great examples of his unique style, recognizable by the precise linework and vivid choice of colors.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Fine-tune your personal illustrative style, allowing it to then be spread across a range of products from album art to t-shirt designs.
Radim Malinic
Highly sought after and internationally renowned illustrator and designer Radim Malinic of Brand Nu has seen his work commissioned by a range of large clients, including O2, Smirnoff and Toni & Guy. His work is described as imaginative, sophisticated, sensual and sexy and is presented through a mix of photographic material, bright coloring and hand-drawn elements.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Don’t be afraid to mix mediums such as photography and hand drawn work with your vector illustrations.
Matthew Skiff
Another artist recently featured as one of our kick-ass t-shirt designers was Matthew Skiff. A master of hand-drawn illustration his work features excellent linework which is combined with stunning color combinations to create some wicked tee designs. As a skate and snowboarder himself he naturally creates apparel design material that fits perfectly in the industry.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Focus your work on a topic you live and love, allowing yourself no end of inspiration and interest towards your work.
Alex Trochut
Alex Trochut is a freelance graphic designer from Barcelona with an exceptional focus on type based illustration. A large majority of his portfolio showcases examples of his awesome work combining flowing vector lines with typographic words, many of which are highly recognizable from his use of ‘gooey drips’. Alex’s work is a good example of the benefits of concentrating on a developing your own personal style of work.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Develop and gain credit for your own personal style, therefore becoming a source of originality.
Robert Lindström
Robert Lindström, the founder of Design Chapel, has produced a variety of work for a range of clients. Using his skills as an Art Director and Graphic Designer he understands the commercial benefit of illustration which shows in his work produced for magazines and large format canvasses. Producing a mix of stylized vector figure portraits and slightly more abstract geometric designs he creates eye catching and visually attractive design material.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Harness the use of vector imagery in commercial design to create impactful and attractive designs.
Adhemas Batista
Renowned illustrator Adhemas Batista has produced his vector based illustrations for large scale clients including Coca Cola, Absolut Vodka and Toyota. Portrayed as a specialist in colorful and playful stylized compositions his work showcases great use of vector shapes particularly in the form of swirls.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use simple shapes and colors to the maximum to produce and enhance your desired composition.
Nando Costa
Director and Graphic Artist Nando Costa creates design material for animation and film, illustration and paintings, logos and typefaces and design for print and web. Taking this varied spectrum of uses he is able to tailor his vector art into a variety of products, making the most of the versatile format of vector graphics in their ability to be used for print, web and motion.
Much of Nando's work includes a variety of vector shapes, lines and intricate patterns to create extremely detailed images.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Learn to use the tools available to create a variety of vector shapes and resources which can then be applied to create detail in your work.
Guilherme Marconi
Brazilian Illustrator Guilherme Marconi makes use of multiple vector graphics and illustrations to completely cover an entire canvas area resulting in an eye-catching, detailed and fantastic piece of design. With limited colors and varied line weights on each individual image the overall design gives a great chaotic pattern effect with scattered highlights of color appearing throughout. A slightly larger image is often placed to provide a focal point to draw in the eye.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Create an unusual yet interesting background by reusing elements of your work in different ways.
Emil Kozak
Inspired by skateboard art, Emil Kozak uses vector graphics in his designs to produce a range of illustrated creation from skateboard decks to sneakers. His use of crisp vector lines and very few flat colours allows the underlying composition to show though the design leading the eye to a specific goal.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Limit your use of colors and shapes to allow a planned composition to show in your work.
Joshua M.Smith
The creative mind behind Hydro74, Joshua M. Smith has grown his company to meet the style demands of his targeted market. With clients from a range of extreme sports brands, apparel and music industries his work is largely tailored towards intricate illustration with extremely detailed linework and often little color.
Using a combination of illustrated objects along with varied line weight and proven shading techniques makes his work fascinating to see.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use intricate linework to create a sense of shading and depth to your work, helping create focal points of areas that stand out to the eye.
Siggi Eggersson
The unique work of Siggi Eggersson takes pixel art to a new level, using the basic shapes and flat color of vector graphics he reflects the style of traditional pixel based graphics of early digital design but with a twist of smooth, rounded edges.
Mixing this style with great color palettes gives a range of fantastic illustrative work.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Take traditional forms of art and design and bring them up to date with modern techniques and technologies.
Evgeny Kiselev
Digital artist and Illustrator Evgeny Kiselev is a master of creating stunning vector patterns with flowing organic shapes and lines. Using a high number of swirling shapes and color, every area of his designs has some intricate detail.
His diverse work has been featured in a range of publications including Computer Arts magazine, Grafik Magazine and Beautiful Decay.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use the smooth flowing curves of vector graphics to your advantage to create intricate patterns and organic shapes.
Matt W. Moore
Matt W. Moore is the man behind art and design studio MWM Graphics. His spectacular vector illustrative work takes an assortment of geometric shapes and combines them with brash color schemes to create extremely dynamic designs. His talent and work has been commissioned by clients such as Nike, Mazda and Cadbury.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use a mix of vector shapes, patterns and resources, combining them to produce striking artwork.
Karoly Kiralyfalvi
Freelance designer Karoly Kiralyfalvi (aka Drez) specializes in vector based graphics and illustration. Inspired by music and graffiti his work shows an explosion of abstract shapes and color creating intricate patterns and textures.
Expanding his work across printed posters, flyers and magazines to skateboard decks, t-shirt designs and even wall art he makes the most of the versatile aspect of scaleable vector graphics.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use the scaleability of vector graphics to increase the size of your work to fit skateboards, posters and even wall decorations.
Andrew Groves
Andrew Groves is a talented illustrator working under the name IMAKETHINGS. With a passion for the outdoors his work showcases a mix of illustrated scenery populated with a collection of fantastic character designs.
Andrew’s hand-drawn illustrations have been featured as skateboard deck designs for Foundation Skateboards as well as an array of character designs being commissioned for animated usage.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Use your own unique style of drawing and illustration to create distinctive design material.
Jeffrey Bowman
Jeffrey Bowman, also known as MrBowlegs is a UK based designer and illustrator with a multidisciplinary approach to design. His rough and dirty illustrations give a great natural feel to his work, showcasing the manually drawn elements of the design including irregular and unusual proportions and shapes that give a fabulous quirky feel to his illustrations.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Don’t always be tempted to create realism in your work. Sometimes roughly drawn, peculiar illustrations can give a more original feel.
Nils Carlson
Graphic Designer and Illustrator Nils Carlson uses simple vector based patterns as a background base for his work. From uniformed circular dots to diagonal lines they create a foundation for a range of geometric vector shapes and hand-drawn elements that combine to create a stunning illustration. Using an unusual palette of turquoise and purple in much of his work ties it all together and brands it as his personal and unique style.
What can we learn from this vector master?
The palette you use can help define your unique style as an illustrator.
Chuck Anderson
Often referred to as a spectacular Photoshop artist, Chuck Anderson of NOPATTERN also extends his work into vector format. Following from his bright and vivid lighting effects and arrays of color in his trademark work, his vector illustrations take on a very similar approach, using exceptionally vibrant colors and masses of elaborate detail.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Extend your personal preferences of style and color into a new format allowing for the opportunity of new ventures, still carrying your distinct brand.
Veerle Pieters
Founder and one-half of the design team Duoh!, Veerle Pieters often presents her love of vector graphics through her online journal, Veerle’s Blog. With a love of geometric patterns and diverse shapes much of her personal illustrative work encompasses a range of experimental imagery, often documented in the form of tutorials.
What can we learn from this vector master?
Experiment with vector software to create new and intriguing images and graphics that can be put to use in future work.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Adam October 2nd
I hope I’m not out of place here, but this article just seems like a list of cool designers more so than a deconstruction of works. I don’t feel as though I’ve learned anything new.”Use bright colors” “refine your own style” and “experiment” are all things I do on a daily basis and I’m sure any serious graphic designer does. Coming up with a great design has much more than just “experimenting” behind it. I thought I was getting a breakdown of the thought, or even technical process for some effects.
( )Robin October 2nd
Very nice post, ill keep these things in mind!
( )accessoire October 2nd
I agree.
At Nando Costa:
What can we learn from this vector master?
Learn to use the tools available to create a variety of vector shapes and resources which can then be applied to create detail in your work.
Lol? This is the most ridicilous tip sorry but omg … there are almost no shapes and you don’t have to be a illustrator geek to do this artwork. Honestly … these tips suck a little much. Of course the tips themselves are always true but erh … well depending on the works picked up … disappointing.
( )andrew October 2nd
Nando’s piece is a bit lude don’t you think? A graphic representation of female genetalia with a vector text that says “dik” Interesting, but hardly good.
I tend to agree with the other posts. This would have been a better entry if it were simply a round-up.
( )Diesel October 2nd
I like what you have tried to encompass here, great artists, but unfortunately, I agree that its not really a deconstruction of works.
Thanks anyways!
( )Rob October 2nd
These are all good explanations of these artists styles
But the hardest part is finding and defining your own style!
( )r4ge October 2nd
yep i also agree, i learned nothing.
( )EatItNowPlease October 2nd
The Nando Costa piece is an illustration of a girl spreading her legs. Is it the whole reason you put this article together?
( )Alex Beltechi October 2nd
These works are a great source of inspiration. So thanks for picking these out! Alas, they are not deconstructed.
( )Dainis Graveris October 2nd
Truly masters - thanks for leading the way explaining things!
( )kidlizard October 2nd
I just really hope the people that haven’t learned anything from this post are paying plus members.
( )jonny October 2nd
I agree… I was a little let down here. I like most of the work here, but the ‘tips’ are things that i already apply.
( )Grafiko October 2nd
Great article. Good inspiration source.
( )Rob October 2nd
I was more than a little let down. The title of this article is quite misleading… there is nothing being deconstructed here. It’s a brief paragraph outlining the overall theme of the artist, and then a one sentence ‘what we can take from this’. You might suspect to get details on one particular piece… since the title references ‘masterworks’ not the artists overlaying goals, but honestly I see no breakdown of the examples - great though they may be - which were provided.
I expected so much more.
( )Josef October 3rd
I like these pieces of work….
( )im going to ponder them while i have a cheeeeessse sandwitch!!
Vector Graphics October 3rd
Andrew Groves vectors are great!
( )Roshan October 3rd
This is bunch of great tutorials. Nice.
Roshan
( )Freelance Developer
http://www.instantshift.com
Q October 3rd
Overall its a good article, I dont see why people are complaining. This article was meant to give you ideas and inspirations as designers. In the design world, no one is gonna tell you exactly how to do things, not even your clients. They may tell you want they want but they’re not gonna tell you how to design it.
Instead of complaining about the lack of quality in this article, spend some of your own time and look at the designs further in depth and try to figure them out yourself. Envato spends enough time gathering up these resources for you and you expect them to spend more time to break down each individual design for you? Dont forget, majority of tut sites are free and this is the best you’re gonna get from a free site.
( )Conrad Gorny October 4th
Those are amazing, good finds!
Conrad Gorny
( )Freelance Graphic Designer
http://www.conradgorny.com
5ivedance October 5th
Exciting and dynamic composition.
( )andrew October 8th
Q: true, but change the misleading title. The article wasn’t meant to be inspirational…
“How about some eye-candy you can learn from? In this post, Chris Spooner dissects 20 high-end vector illustrations and explains that we can learn a whole lot from every one of them.”
If a one sentence dissection qualifies as a thorough description then I wasted my time in shape and color theory classes writing 20 page dissertations. Come on, seriously, this barely scratches the surface.
What does it take to create a qualified and in-depth review of designs? Heck, I’ll write one…
Don’t get me wrong, as a round-up it is a delightful collection.
( )Evandro Guedes October 9th
Other vector “master”: http://www.samuelcasal.com
( )Del October 13th
Some interesting stuff here mixed with some very naive work. Chuck Anderson epitomises this with gratuitous use of colour - trying to squeeze every filter and gradient in to the work. It’s utterly horrendous and lacks any form of flair.
( )Tiago Pimentel October 27th
Really great tutorial to get inspired!!!
( )amatatomba December 7th
Didn’t really deconstruct the works, but it was a great compilation of some nice design. The descriptions for each piece were good, but agree that it didn’t really give any insight into the process of each.
( )