German illustrator Manuel Kilger, a.k.a.
Schattenkino, represents everything I love about art. His intricate creations convey a refreshingly unique and humorous perspective while being filled with so many whimsical details that I find myself examining them over and over again, looking for clever little nuances I might have missed upon first glance. He is brilliant. And, I am not the only one who thinks so. His wide range of clients include: BOOM! Studios, Cartoon Network, Dark Horse Comics, Electronic Arts, Light Grey Art Lab, MTV Germany, Nickelodeon, SPIL Games, Studio Ü, and so much more.
Just in the last eighteen months, he has been part of shows in Amsterdam, New York. Brussels, Paris, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. Even right now he has a piece in the
Popeye 85th Anniversary Official Art Show at Hero Complex Gallery in L.A. Currently, he is in the beginning phases of working on a comic, the details of which he is not at liberty to share.
In a recent
interview with Light Grey Art Lab, Manuel gives a great explanation where he draws his inspiration:
When I was a child I loved to watch cartoon series, for example, on Nickelodeon - Ren and Stimpy, Rocko's Modern Life, Hey Arnold!, Batman: The Animated Series, and Disney's Gargoyles. They influenced me a lot, especially concerning style and character design. Movies for children are a big source of inspiration as well - movies from my childhood like Mio, My Son, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, Labyrinth, and The Last Unicorn. What I like most about these movies is that they are quite serious, sometimes a little spooky and not too kitschy and "sweet" like many children's movies today. As Guillermo del Toro said, 'children's movies have to be a little spooky, too, that's what makes them special…' and I think he is right.
Manuel Kilger was kind enough to share with us a few pieces of art he hasn't gotten to post on his various sites yet. Those will be the first three images you see. If you would like to explore his work on your own, check out his
Website,
Tumblr,
Behance,
DeviantArt,
Facebook, and be sure to get yourself a t-shirt or print from his
SHOP. Also, check the mind blowing Graphic Novel
HEADZ he made for his Diploma Project.
**Click any image to enlarge!
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