Artists - Silent Hill-esque Art

[patient]

Hey, all. I'm beginning to gather research for a new project--I'll say no more than that, in case I jinx myself and end up being lazy and fruitless. (This is for fun and inspiration purposes only. I don't intend to rip-off of anything, and will credit if I do kinda do that.)

So, I could use your help! In this thread, how about we share some artists that you would call... "Silent Hill-ish."

Art that's disturbing. Art that you think could inspired Silent Hill, or art that really did inspire the games.

I'll submit some stuff I find along the way later (if I can find anything), but for now I'll start you off with Francis Bacon, an artist Team Silent used for inspiration.

Example of his work
Website archive containing his paintings

His artwork is known for its bold, austere, homoerotic and often violent or nightmarish imagery, which typically shows room-bound masculine figures isolated in glass or steel geometrical cages set against flat, nondescript backgrounds.
--wikipedia

[BogeyMeph]

well there's the obvious jhonen vasques with his Johnny The Homicidal Maniac series.. and SQUEE< I Feel Sick, Everything Can Be Beaten, but his normal work is quickly dark as well.

bioshock 2 picture he did: www.questionsleep.com/mindspill/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sistersss.jpg
tarhead: www.questionsleep.com/mindspill/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/20.png
Babybee (full-small): www.questionsleep.com/gallery/beebig.jpg
Babybee (close up): www.questionsleep.com/gallery/beetail.jpg

More can be found at www.questionsleep.com


The more important one I'd like to bring to attention is the brilliant Stephen Gammell.
stateofaffairs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/church.jpg
stateofaffairs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/skull_insky.jpg
stateofaffairs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/scary_lady.jpg
stateofaffairs.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/scary-guy.jpg
farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/3410337900_b41760c89b.jpg

He illustrated the Scary Story series of books I read as a child. ... he's one of the reasons I'm so strange now I think.. anyway, he's an AMAZING man. I can't find any information on him like.. in one spot, so i suggest looking him up to see if you can find anything, but he could've very well been an inspiration.. the style is just so... silent hill... or rather, silent hill is so stephen gammell.. when I think "horror" I think of him. There's something very unsettling about his work, perhaps that everything in it is whimsy and has no ground.. so literally, nothing is settled. He certainly knew how to capture horror, though.. and I think that qualifies him for this thread :3

[Tabris]

Beksinski and Francis Bacon for sure. I think they even show a Francis Bacon art book in the making of Silent Hill 2 documentary. Good call on that one hah.

Beksinki has been my favorite artist for 7 or 8 years now.

Check out his stuff or google images and you'll see what I mean.

www.beksinski.pl/

[BogeyMeph]

I actually forgot to mention the guy who drew/wrote Paper Eleven:

manga.clone-army.org/pxi.php

maybe not an inspiration, but definitely in the same vain as the series :3 check it out and see what I mean. it's an awesome comic and the art is brilliant.

[patient]

Thank you very much for the help!

Here is Masahiro Ito's gallery, which you all have surely seen. I forgot the link a long time ago (though just googling his name would have led me to it). www.geocities.jp/nobu_hill/gallery.html

I've always loved Gammell's work. And don't feel like you're weird, because I read all of those books too. Well, maybe we're both weird but at least you're not alone. The second picture you linked from him makes my skin crawl, and the first picture is especially Silent-Hillish.

Beksinki has some gorgeous work. Quite the website too (it confused me at first D:). And gotta love surreal! www.beksinski.pl/przegladarka.php?name=126

Speaking of surreal, some of Salvador Dali's may be relevant.


Thank you, keep it coming! : D

[Tabris]

Ahhh I'm not sure why i never mentioned Dali before. He probably influenced Silent Hill at least to some degree.

[alx]

I am not sure what you are asking for; art of a similar style to Silent Hill or art that inspired the creators of Silent Hill?

[patient]

Anything that reminds you of Silent Hill.

It can be actual Silent Hill inspiration, or it can be art from the creators, or it can just remind you of Silent Hill. Silent Hill-ish work.

[alx]

Okay, I'll throw out some inspiration artists for you. Since I have no idea what you are going for, I can't guarantee that they will be helpful in any way but here goes...

Gustave Dore Anything he does, but especially his work in the Divine Comedy. However, each time you are inspired by his work, you are required to scream "GUUUUuuuustaveee" in a falsetto voice

Hieronymus Bosch Not only because he has a funny name, but because he was the first Surrealist (Dali was the best, but hardly the first. Also, why did he paint so damn tiny?)

David Lynch You're probably thinking he is simply a director, when in fact he is an artist, photographer, carpenter and many other things that I will not bother to mention. One of the last true Renaissance Men left standing

yeah, that should be more than enough to get you started down the right track...