Opallene's Influence Map

In no particular order.  Labelled for easy reference (below).  Long description, but it's mostly for me. ^3^

A. '80s Cartoons/Characters
Shown here: My Little Pony, Popples, Care Bears.  I love all of the colors, variations on a theme (i.e. different color schemes, symbols, etc.), and the spirited natures of these animal-like characters.  Not pictured -- I also loved The Wuzzles. I drew lots of these characters as a kid.

B. Thick Outlines
I could've chosen from several different 90s/2000s cartoons that use this style (bold outlines and thinner inner lines).  The Fairly Oddparents seemed to fit the bill quite well.  Plus, the backgrounds boldly defy geometry in a stylistic way (notice the table, for instance), which is also something I like.

C. Fashion Design
Shown here is a promotional illustration for Henri Bendel.  I LOVE the wispy, curly and glamorous style of classic fashion illustrations.  Not to mention the fashions themselves, and the confident-looking women who wear them.

D. '80s Glam
Funnily enough, I didn't watch JEM much at all, but this screenshot perfectly captures the "outrageous" hair, makeup and accessories from the 80s that are just SO much fun.  You'll sometimes find me randomly piling extra bows, jewelry, etc. onto the subjects of my drawings.  Plus, PINK.  No apologies.

E. Wings
More like, "Unexpected wings", perhaps?  These are both illustrations from books I loved as a kid.  Black & Blue Magic by Zilpha Keatley Snyder; Catwings by Ursula K. LeGuin.  I really seem to have a thing for wings on the backs of animals, wings on the backs of people...wings on anything but birds, really.  I'm not sure how I feel about angels, though, because they're pretty overplayed.

F. Opals
Especially light-colored ones.  The colors!  The light!  Why wasn't I born in October?  (*The opal is October's birthstone.)

G. Manga & Anime
Shown here: Ritsuka from Loveless by Yun Kouga; Kirino from Oreimo.  Yeah, so what's really to say?  This style can be visually beautiful, emotional, colorful, detailed, and make excellent use of palettes... A lot of people love it, so I can probably stop making my case now.

H. Cats
And other mammals, especially predatory ones.  They are elegant machines.  Beautifully proportioned.  Felines are nature's perfect animal. *_*

I. Hatcthing (Style)
I've gone through periods of addiction where I probably added too much hatching to my linearts. But it's an irresistible technique to add dimension, and I sometimes find myself doing it without really planning to.  It's very soothing to follow contours with the pen.  I'm much more apt to do it when I'm drawing by hand than when I'm drawing digitally.

J. Pokémon
Whether or not it shows (orz), I've been drawing Pokemon for years...and years...and years...it seems.  From that first time copying a picture of Eevee out of my Pokemon: Blue Version instruction booklet in the back seat of my parents' car on a vacation...to the dorky fanart I make today, Pokemon has always been there, at least somewhere, in my brain.  Even when I draw Digimon (which I also LOVE), I'm most certainly influenced by Pokemon's character designs.  (They've infected my brain.  I wonder if they'll still be there when I'm 50.)

K. Opalina
This one is very personal.  Opalina, my namesake, was the wise, cheeky ghost-cat from a little-known book by author/illustrator/fine artist Peggy Bacon.  This book had a very limited print run in the 1960s.  In 4th grade, I discovered a copy in my school library, and I spent the next decade (plus some) looking for another copy.  It was as phantasmagorical as its ghostly subject.  At long last, it's available as an e-book.  If you have any interest in cats, friendly ghosts, children's book illustrations, or American history, I implore you to check it out.  (No pun intended.)  A character in the book shares my given name, and the author died the year I was born.  Am I superstitious?  No, but if I were...

L. Don Bluth
This animator had a way with his characters that was (and still, I think, is) unique.  Although I don't animate, there was a certain vibrance in the movements of these characters that I find inspiring.  Not to mention, the visual palettes were impressive.  The depiction of "doggy heaven" is one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen.

M. Disney
Although Bluth Did It Better, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Disney.  The Lion King and other animal movies from Disney had me captivated as a child.  Props to them for studying the real thing for reference when they made these characters come alive.  (Those "making of" documentaries showing real lions in the drawing studio?  Yes, yes, yes!)  Pictured here are Adult Simba and his daughter Kiara from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, because -- Dads & daughters.  C'mon.  Girls, you know you liked Kiara just a little bit better than you liked young Simba.  (Or maybe y'all were fixated on those human Princesses.  I wouldn't know too much about that. :I)

N. Art Deco
Anytime anyone says it's tacky, I'll punch 'em in the face.  (Not really.)  I absolutely, positively love the geometric patterns, swirls, and lines of this style.  Is it structured or is it freeform?  Is it sharp or is it smooth and organic?  All, or any, of these at once.  I also should have included some of those old propaganda posters and Americana pieces that use this style to really draw the eye in.  I love those, too!!  I'm not sure how much of this love comes through in my own art, so maybe I need to make an effort there.  But mark my words -- If I become rich, my mansion will be designed in Art Deco.  (And my charity cat shelter will be, too. )


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