When the first vector based design programs hit the market it caused a revolution in the graphic design world. Not only was it a whole new way to look at design, it was a new field for artists to explore as well! The results were often based on shapes and looked nothing like the works of traditional artists known ‘till then, shape-fans Kandinsky and Picasso aside. But leave it to artists to challenge themselves and do something totally different, create something that nobody thought possible: create art. Yuschav Arly is a self-taught artist from Bali who does just that: create portraits that you never thought could be made with vector as a medium.
Arly’s illustrations, minimalistic as they might seem, are more complicated than they look at first sight. It’s not easy to create a vivid, realistic human skin; you have to make sure you have highlights and shadows in all the right places if you don’t want your portrait to look off. Whilst with paint an artist can fade one color into another, a vector artist has to lay shape over shape, resulting in a handmade gradient. If you’re curious on this technique make sure to check out Yuschav’s Behance profile where he shares several work in progress screenshots. The muted tones and strong, geometric lines and shapes that compliment the portrait finish his work in his an unique style with a strong design aesthetic.
