It’s hard to put a finger on what makes an illustration work. You could point out its composition, clever color combinations, or refined sense of styling, but ultimately, there’s a hidden ingredient—that special oomph that really makes a piece stand out. Andrius Banelis’ illustrations have that “it” factor.
His work, though mostly digital, is very much in dialogue with the more conventional hand drawings. “Usually, I work digitally, but I really like hand drawing, so I try to mix both,” he shared with Ballpitmag, maintaining his creative process. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, Banelis minimalistic approach to art can be traced throughout his work.
“Art and beautiful things are whispering to us important details about good life,” he relays, poetically. “I guess sometimes we find beautiful things when we are searching for qualities we need but are missing in our lives. Beautiful things and art, they help to educate us.”
But when it comes to his inspiration sources, he takes a more direct approach, drawing on his immediate surroundings. “Films and books are a huge inspiration,” says Banelis. “A long time ago, while I was watching Alfred Hitchcock movies, I discovered Saul Bass, he is one of my favorites.” Indeed, his work has an eeriness to it that keeps it from being overly cute.
Scroll down to see some highlights from his Instagram page.
