Meet LA's fast rising digital artist
LEO LI IS A NAME TO REMEMBER
Music lovers know the beat makes the song but the cover art is what attracts the audience. Hiphop especially has steered away from the cliche album cover with just the artist and some fancy car, jewelry or tons of girls. Today, you look for more graphics, bright colors and distinctive twist from that artist. We contacted the 17 year old digital artist Leo Li to dig deeper into art.
1. How did you get into art?
I got into art since I was around 6, since then I’ve taken art lessons but they were all very boring to me and I stopped when I was about 10. Then when I was around 15 I got into rock and rap music, and the album covers influenced my art a lot. I really digged some of the trippy stuff and started self learning and drawing.
"Most of my inspiration actually comes from a lot of the music covers"
2. Your art is very different, in one word, what would call/describe your art? why?
I wouldn’t necessarily describe my art as any genre, I make them digitally and I sketch out characters and add some dope effects to them.
3.Usually how long does it take you to create a piece?
It takes me around about 2 hours to do a piece which isn’t very long.
4. Where does your creative inspiration stem from? why?
Most of my inspiration actually comes from a lot of the music covers. i think what inspired me the most is Kanye’s “my beautiful dark twisted fantasy” and “graduation” albums. The abstract feel and vibrant colors really got me into that style of art.
5. What are some of difficult things u face as an artist?
Some of the difficult things that I face personally as an artist is finding the time to do art. I have no trouble in finding inspiration. We live in a time which all types of art are accepted, and with no censorship. Its not at all difficult to get inspired by all sorts of things - music, paintings, books etc. But whats hard for me is just simply not having the time to make art. I have a lot of ideas but sometimes lose them for other things I have to do in life.
6. If you could could do animations 4 any anime/ cartoon series, which would chose & why?
I would do animations for Rick and Morty. I love the show and love the style of it. The portals, creatures, everything about it is so edgy and kinda trippy.
"I wouldn’t necessarily describe my art as any genre, I make them digitally and I sketch out characters and add some dope effects to them."
7. Favorite artist? why?
My favorite artist is Kurt Cobain, but thats more into the rock genre. Don’t really have one for art but a lot of my inspiration come from the digital artist @mr.kinaesthetic.
8. How big does “originality” play on your art?
Originality in my art goes more into the effects and edits I add. I usually use a picture of an artist and sketch out the outline, make a portrait etc. then I color it with my tablet and add effects (smoke, cracking skin etc.) however I see fit. I would say thats what the EYE-catching part and original part of my art is.