Illustrator Andy Williams gives us the lowdown on his weird and wonderful cover, and invites you to get involved with what happens next...
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
2020 has been a year of unexpected challenges, and none of us know what’s around the corner. I created this illustration as part of an art challenge to create an art piece depicting what happens next. There’s so much randomness and chaos at the moment, so I wanted to see what unusual situations other artists would imagine happening next in the scene I’ve illustrated.
How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?
Usually I work to fairly strict briefs and concepts. In this particular illustration I wanted to create a compilation of unusual, random elements to act as interesting prompts for other artists to use, so the brief was very loose. I want to allow complete freedom for others to interpret the scene in their own individual way and not to tie them down too much with specifics that don’t leave much room for their imagination.
How can people get involved with the competition?
I’m running a draw-this-in-your-own-style competition via my Instagram. I want other artists to interpret this scene in their own way, and imagine what will happen next. The creative community has been struggling during the last few months, and many of us have felt uninspired and struggled with motivation. I wanted to create something that would help others start feeling creative and making art again. I will be selecting one of the submissions to receive a massive print bundle and a signed copy of the comic Neo-Tokyo 2019 that I featured in. You just need to post your submission to Instagram, and tag me (@andy_the_illustrator) and LeftLion (@leftlionmagazine) as well as the hashtag #drawitlikeandy.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
This year has been a difficult time for artists and those who enjoy creativity. In challenging times like these, it’s important to look for opportunities to be creative and express yourself. It might not always be obvious, but try to interact with other creatives, explore ideas, keep connected and communicate your thoughts.
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