Luke Feldman is a man who crosses continents, genres, and mediums when it comes to his art. Currently living in San Francisco, the Australian artist has built up an impressive folio of pieces, both still and animated. Refusing to be pigeonholed, Luke creates his art from a variety of inspirations and, accordingly, in a number of different ways. His unique approach has led to an increasingly high demand for his skills and fueled the move to San Francisco. Some might say that this is fitting reward for a man with such a punishing work ethic.



Like so many, Luke found the creative spark when he was young. 'I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I was always encouraged to be creative by my mother and art teachers. As with most concerned parents I would be reminded that I would not be able to make a living as an artist. I did continue to develop my style throughout the years and I attended various multimedia courses. To be able to illustrate and then animate my characters, whether it be in 2D or 3D animation, has been really satisfying.'

Regardless of their starting point, every artist needs to find their own style along the way. The signposts along the way are generally the work of others, and Luke is no different. 'I have always been a big fan of surrealism and artists such as Salvador Dali, Max Ernst and MC Escher. Tim Burton's dark and unique characters as well as his narrative style are always inspiring. I have always been fascinated by Dr Suess's quirky illustrations and story telling. I'm also a massive fan of Asian art and culture.'

At a glance, these influences can be seen in the strange creatures and out-of-proportion characters that populate some of the bizarre worlds that Luke has created. The clean, crisp quality of the images is a result of a lifetime of training. 'I studied Visual Arts and completed a Multimedia course in Australia. This gave me a better understanding of the fundamentals of design and animation. Since then I have spent countless hours experimenting with different mediums. Working in the design field you are constantly learning and developing your skills.'

Pinning down precisely why Luke creates these works is a little more abstract. 'The idea of creating something from nothing still fascinates me, whether it is in the creating of an illustration or writing some music. My creativity is a result of life experiences and the bizarre little things that happen.'

The growth in popularity of digital art programs has resulted in some fundamental shifts in how the 21st century creates and views art. It hasn't made that much of a difference to Luke, as digital art has always been an element of his work. 'My work methods haven't really changed. I have always dabbled in digital art mediums. It's only in recent years that I have looked into other mediums such as sculpturing and vinyl art.'



In fact it's more often than not that Luke does his work digitally. 'I predominately work in digital format, web, interactive media or print. I have recently hooked up with Pop Cling, a company based in Los Angeles to develop a skateboard line and limited edition vinyl adhesive prints. And I am currently looking into developing a plush and vinyl toy line.'

Despite working towards a variety of different ends, the content that Luke produces is very much a product of his own style. 'Regardless of what the format is, I have a set style that always starts off as a pen sketch. I then adapt it to the different formats always taking into consideration the client's needs.'

The process that then kicks in has been honed to a fine art. Unwilling to lose a good idea, Luke has adopted the Boy Scout creed- be prepared! 'It usually starts off as an idea that comes to me in my sleep, an interpretation of an experience, or from re-developing a concept that I have done in the past. I carry a sketch pad with me at all times so that I can capture the moment right there and then even if it is at a ridiculous hour. '