#worldcupillustration

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Last night's World Cup final between France & Argentina was probably the best ever, capping a phenomenal tournament. Bringing my World Cup series to a close: Ritsu Dōan Japan were one of my teams of the tournament. To not only navigate their way out of the 'group of death', which contained 2 previous World Champions with 5 trophies between them but to top it is nothing short of remarkable. The quick turn around of the goals brought a huge level of excitement. Doan was a huge part of this, netting one goal against these two teams. Studio Ghibli was my inspiration here. I thought it was a good match: my favourite team and my favourite animation style. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar #worldcup #2022worldcup #2022qatar #japan #japanfootball #japanesefootball #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CmXGe3pMWJJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in my World Cup series: Dušan Tadić. Serbia lost, their last group game encounter, to Switzerland in a highly charged political encounter resulting in a group stage elimination. Due to the high stakes and history between the sides involved this was always going to be a fiery encounter and it didn't disappoint.  The game's total of 11 yellow cards has only ever been beaten in three other World Cup matches. This description makes it sound like a UFC bout but this isn't entirely fair, there was some cracking football being played too. Slavko Krunic was my inspiration for this piece. I love his use of enlarging the eyes on portraits. It feels trippy and surreal but the characters also look cute and friendly, perhaps in an unsettling way. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #worldcup #2022worldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration #serbia #serbiafootball #serbiafootball #groupstage #football #footballillustration #qatar #groupg #footballartwork https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl37Rqvs7IF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in my World Cup series: Luis Suárez Uruguay have actually won the World Cup twice before, when the planet was still in black and white. Unfortunately they won't be adding a third this year because whilst Ghana tried to win a match they started 12 years ago, South Korea snuck in through the backdoor and qualified themselves. It was odd to see Ghanaians celebrate Uruguay's exit as if they had gone through themselves such is their disdain for El Pistolero. Suárez is a truely unique player. Unlike other players who will wait for a half-time orange if they feel peckish during a game, Suárez prefers to try and eat his opponents by taking bites out of them. Carlos Páez Vilaró was the inspiration here. What initially drew me towards his work was his love for cats. However, I also found myself appreciating the varying thickness of lines, free flowing shapes and exciting use of colour. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar2022worldcup #football #footballillustration #footballartwork #worldcup #qatarworldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration #uruguay #uruguayfootball #southamericanfootball https://www.instagram.com/p/Clyef2UMo5W/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in my World Cup series: Gareth Bale isn't it! Bale will probably be on a golf course somewhere about now. Wales returned from a 64 year absence from the World Cup but in 3 games it was all over. Brutal. Not even a Michael Sheen channeling Braveheart's William Wallace speech could save them from a group stage exit. Hopefully it won't be as long until their next participation in the tournament. Shani Rhys James was the inspiration for this piece. Like her work I used a predominantly reddish colour palette to represent fervent patriotism of the Welsh people.  Iechyd da! #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar2022world cup #qatarworldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration #worldcup #qatar #wales #walesworldcup #wales2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/Clt2aPPM_qN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in my World Cup series Son Heung-min. Despite initially going through five World Cup tournaments without winning a match, South Korea became the only Asian team to reach the semi-final stages of the tournament. They haven't fared so well since though having only got out of the group stage once in the last four World Cups, with another early exit looking likely. But with captain, Son they always have a chance. He ranked 11th in the Ballon d’Or 2022. He is so important to the team he is still playing with a fractured eye socket but he does get to wear a masquerade type mask. The guy is so popular in South Korea there is TV channel dedicated to his footballing highlights. Kim Jung Gi was the inspiration for this piece. His use of minimal colour, confident line art and vivid imagination make for a striking style. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #worldcup2022illustration #southkorea #korearepublic #footballillustration #football #worldcupillustration #worldcupartwork https://www.instagram.com/p/ClorInPMrhY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Bloody hell mate Australia can still qualify for the knockouts!! Next up in my World Cup series Jackson Irvine. Sporting the best 'Tash of the tournament by a country mile, Irvine operates as a defensive midfielder for the Socceroos. Australia left it to the last minute to qualify for the World Cup, winning in a penalty shootout to secure their spot. They've also left it just as late to see if they can progress out of the group stages! Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri is the inspiration for this piece. His use of rich, earthy tones and dot painting technique taps into the unique heritage and huge history of Australia. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #socceroos #australia #worldcupillustration #football #footballillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/Clln06nMEnj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in the World Cup series: Lionel Messi. Argentina shortly kick-off their campaign and are many people's favourites to win the tournament and it probably has something to do with this guy. His list of achievements are comparable only to a certain CR7. However, there is only one major trophy he is yet to achieve in football, the World Cup. The romantics of the world are hoping his 1000th game will see him lift the trophy, a perfect end to a glittering career. Emilio Pettoruti was the inspiration for this piece. It was a challenge to work with predominantly geometric shapes and straight lines but I think it makes for a really unusual unique style. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #worldcupgroupc #footballillustration #worldcupillustration #worldcupartwork #messi #argentina #lionelmessi #argentinafootball https://www.instagram.com/p/ClQkLv6MTfP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in the World Cup series: Manuel Neuer Germany are one of the most successful teams at the World Cup. They have won the tournament four times and have appeared in a total of eight finals! In 2018 though they unfortunately were a victim of the World Cup 'winners curse' losing to South Korea and leaving in the group stage. Neuer captains both club and country and has been a mainstay of the side since 2009. He was named the best goalkeeper of the decade from 2011 to 2020. He has been described as a sweeper-keeper due to his speed and unique style of play. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was my inspiration for this piece. I love his eerie colour palette and expressive strokes. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CkjFXMwsblP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next in the world cup series, Mexico’s stalwart between the posts: Guillermo 'Memo' Ochoa. 2006 was his first World Cup and 2022 is set to be his last. With his '6 fingers' he will most certainly become the greatest goalie on the planet.. for three weeks 😉 This will be Mexico’s 17th appearance at the World Cup and the inevitability of their qualification is seemingly only matched by that of their defeat at the first knockout stage. In the last seven tournaments they have headed home at the first knockout stage. Inspired by Frida Kahlo I chose a more muted colour palette and extended the neck to add an element of surrealism. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CkbWnFkDDC6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next up in my World Cup series: Christian Pulisic. Not all Americans play football with helmets. Some have joined the rest of the world by playing the traditional way, with their feet. USA are back in the World Cup this year having missed out on the last tournament, their first omission since 1990. They'll quietly back themselves to get out of the group stage behind England. The Pop Art movement was the inspiration for this piece, particularly Roy Lichtenstein. I've always loved comic book style artwork. I wasn't sure which one was my favourite to use but luckily that's not such a problem with Pop Art #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #worldcupartwork #worldcupillustration #popart #comicartwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CkQ-rxmM_2Q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Next in my world cup series- HARRY KANE; a man who will personally be looking to become the first player to retain his Golden Boot at two different World Cups Miraculously England reached both the semis of the last World Cup & the final of the last Euros so will be hoping to go one step further by lifting the trophy this time. David Hockney was my inspiration for this piece. This really tested my skills as it was incredibly difficult for me to refrain from using a clear line art as an outline and limited shading. #worldcup2022 #worldcup #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #worldcupillustration #HarryKane #england #england2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj_TMb_M4F7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The Netherlands are my personal pick to win this year's tournament. They've come close three times before, twice in the 70s with Total Football and in 2010 when they tried to kick the shit out of Spain on the way to victory, so they are owed one. Van Dijk is a colossus at the back so they will need to keep him fit should they break their World Cup curse. I've also tried to pay homage to a famous art style or artist originating from the country. So I've tried to include the stabbing brush strokes and swirls of Van Gogh's work #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #worldcupillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj8hy_wMdOp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=