i'm so relieved, i've known toppi since i was around 16, in the early 00s, my german friend at highschool got me onto him... so i consider myself a hipster, at least for my generation... i ain't gonna lie, my drawing style is an homage to Toppi, though i've since ran away from attempting his dynamism and retreated into hyper-dense texturing... sharaz-de being my main inspiration... this guy is the alpha and omega of my appreciation of graphic art
He is my absolute favorite graphic artists. He took the art to another level. Thanks for featuring and honoring him. And yes Klimt and Scheele absolutely
Toppi is amazing. He was a major influence on most of the Spanish Invasion artists that showed up at Warren in the late 70's, like Luis Burmejo (Rook artist), Jose Gonzalez (main Vampirella interior artist) and Jose Ortiz etc. Those guys were so great - my favorite comic artists really. There was another European artist who was super inspirational to them as well - Alberto Breccia who did a strip called Mort Cinder. The main character Mort was a self-portrait and the art was unbelievably good.
Wow great news! Now I'll be able to read it!! I have a big oversize book collecting a bunch of the strips, but it's all in French (I think - some European language anyway). Oh well, the art alone is worth the admission price. Thanks for the heads up UN!
Thanks Rich, I really enjoy these, you always turn up something neat that I was previously unaware of. I've never heard of Toppi but I "really really" enjoyed that! I'm gonna have to get a Toppi book. I'm just now finishing "Framed Ink" based on your review, makes me wonder how many other cool books you have, looking forward to future reviews and best of luck on your project even if it means not hearing from you as often, it'll be that much better when you let us in on it.
The collected Toppi V1 was the first place I saw a precedent for Mike McMahon's "Slaine" run and "The Last American". He makes me think of Eric Canete too, but McMahon much more.
Toppi is just on a different level. His linework and hatching are insane, breaking every rule you're taught in art school and breaking those rules brilliantly. And he made it look so damn easy but you try to do it and you're going to fail several hundred times before you even get close to making a poor copy of his style without it looking like an over-rendered mess. I first discovered some of his work several years ago but only have been really intensely interested in his art just recently, while in a process of reevaluation of my own artistic technique and trying to unlearn rules and methods that have led me to a cul-de-sac in development.
Toppi did a lot of military history illustrations during the course of his career. For a time in the 1960s he was doing designs for Soldatini diCarta -- cut-out paper soldiers that were printed in magazines and newspapers of the time and were very popular then and for which he would have had to do a lot of research to get the uniforms, the weapons and the equipment correct.
Weaponry is so well done. I've handled some of those single action pistols that he drew and they are exceptionally well done and look like they could actually function. I've seen his work, but did not know who he was. Thank Rich.
I love Sergio Toppi's work, I think your right everyone should sit down and do a study of his work. You can defiantly learn a lot from his work copying a master like him.
awesome that is great to hear...he always got us the great books, turned us on to new artists we didn't know, and we went every year to his booth like it was Christmas!!
I have never actually heard of Sergio Toppi before, so this was a highly educational vid for me to watch. Thanks man. I think Serpieri is so cool, just don't tell anyone I said that though!
Love Toppis work! Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri work is amazing also! That would be an interesting SFS! Speaking of Italian painters, you should check out the work of Riccardo Federici. All amazing, thanks for sharing.
Richard, I discovered this channel of yours last weekend. Really loving it, so grateful to have come by someone as passionately into inking as you are! Thank you for all you share here. And, your own artwork is phenomenal!! Do you have any links to your Instagram or Facebook art pages?
Waat??!! What's this ---- Rich too tired to talk??!! *Unprecedented!!* Glad you found your second wind - but sad you just didn't have the gumption to say *Superfun* right. I had to do it for you - like 4 times in a row, and exaggerate until I sounded like a crazy muppet on steroids! (And I'll bet I'm not the only one... )
I can't fake the funk...I couldn't go there. hahahaha....at least I keep it real...and I did do the video!! hahaha// I'll talk about the stuff going on down the road...it's one of those days where I have to keep my cards a little closer to my chest/
Hey Mr Friend! I think you could potentially double the views of these videos if you would put some music in the background. I have been really enjoying the Super Fun Sunday series and hope you keep making them.
Reminds me a little of Charles Bragg...maybe a little Brad Holland, too. I'd love to see more of your European stuff. Are you at all familiar with the Kubert school instructional books? I've been curious about them, but I'd like to learn more. The book/DVD combos aren't too pricey if one forgoes the critique option : www.kubertartstore.com/correspondence-courses/
