The Art Of Stephen Kulp

Stephen Kulp is a Character Designer, Concept Artist and Illustrator based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is passionate about creating art for the Animation, Film and Gaming industries. He specializes in character design, specifically the development and designing of 2D concepts. ​In his personal capacity Stephen enjoys collecting retro gaming paraphernalia, vintage computers and is ever inspired by art, animation and video games from the 90’s. Stephen also enjoys spending time with his family, three daughters and lovely wife.

[stephenkulp]

DAY 9 - PRECIOUS - The Mauritius Saddleback Tortoise and a Giant Skink enjoying the simple pleasures of life, love, travelling and eating. These were two precious animals that were also endemic to the island. They too were sadly wiped out by humans and their domestic animals in the 1600s. Both can be viewed as life size metal statues at La Vanille Nature Park, beautiful place by the way! SWIPE FOR CLOSEUPS #extinct #Mauritius #inktober #inkdrawing #inktober2018 #precious #saddlebacktortoise #slink #giantskink #tortoise #friendship #lavanillenaturepark #characterdesign #digitalart @inktober @jakeparker @lavanillenaturepark https://www.instagram.com/p/BouNa81hqvI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dxp8wkrcq161

[stephenkulp]

DAY 8 - STAR - Due to the fact that the Dodo was endemic to Mauritius, and sadly became extinct, it is one of the most iconic symbols in the country. "Dodo" is old Portuguese for "simpleton", but I don't want to depict it that way as I don't believe that was an accurate description. Flightless yes, but still cool in my opinion. #star #inktober #inktober2018 #dodo #Mauritius #extinct #iconic #cool #famous #inkdrawing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bors-W4hzFa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jwnl4hvcjxct

[stephenkulp]

DAY 5 - CHICKEN - Upon my arrival in Mauritius all I wanted was to eat a lamb or beef curry roti, as this was one of my favourite meals in Cape Town. But alas, chicken and vegetables are the majority of roti fillings here. Some say that chickens dream of being giants and their greatest desire is to roast and eat us. #inktober #inktober2018 #chicken  #rooster #food #inkdrawing #ink #digitalink #linework #mauritius #roti #characterdesign #eating #food https://www.instagram.com/p/BooO1zvBX_W/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ajrpk1ilrywj

[stephenkulp]

DAY 4 - SPELL - A monster from the deep casts a spell on an oblivious little fella. Yes I know this may seem cruel, but take heart, this little spellbound guy has a trick up his sleeve as well. #inktober #inktober2018 #spell #anglerfish #pufferfish #fish #inkdrawing #ink #digitalink #linework #snorkelling #mauritius #digitalart https://www.instagram.com/p/BohV-k4BF15/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n67arc4dfg3j

[stephenkulp]

DAY 3 - ROASTED - Come, join me and use your imagination for a quick minute, let's go back in time, a long time ago. What if, on the island of Mauritius, a larger than usual, Compsoganthus was hungry, could breathe fire and loved eating Dodos? Roast chicken is great, roast Turkey very nice, roast duck even better, but can you imagine!? ROASTED dodo!? SWIPE FOR CLOSEUPS #ROASTED #inktober #inktober2018 #inkdrawing #compy #dinosaur #dodo #Mauritius #conceptart #compsognathus #digitalpainting #digitalartist #digitalart #digitalink #dino #dinoart #dinosaurart https://www.instagram.com/p/Boe-h9HBA2n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=udfowb01tix8

[stephenkulp]

DAY 2 - TRANQUIL - We had a glimpse of what I believe was a young Hawkbill Turtle two weekends ago while my good friend @lyntonlevengood and I were snorkeling in the North of Mauritius. It disappeared into the depths as we tried approaching it. Amazing. The island only has two kinds of turtles, this one and the "Green Turtle" both of which are critically endangered species. This drawing reminds me of moments I've experienced with my beloved baby girl who is now a year old. I can't imagine life without her now. #inktober #inktober2018 #tranquil #seaturtle #hawkbillturtle #love #fish #inkdrawing #ink #digitalink #digitalpainting #linework #snorkeling #mauritius https://www.instagram.com/p/BocR5J0BjpP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12rgjjqtbqrop

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A small recording of the first #inktober drawing I did yesterday. The final can be found in my Instagram gallery (Facebook viewers). #inktober2018 #Mauritius #lionfish #digitalpainting #digitalart #digitalink #digitalartist #seacreatures #inkdrawing #snorkelling #poisonous https://www.instagram.com/p/BoaydRlBAh2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7wgtykrs2f3b

[stephenkulp]

Squeeeeaaakkk! Poor little fella. This was done for #inktober Day 26 - #Squeak .#inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #artist #visdev #visualdevelopment #digitalart #animals #hamster #gecko #russianhamster #reptile #babyhamster #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #cintiq #wacom #artjojoofficial @artjojoofficial @jakeparker @inktober

[stephenkulp]

Look Fluffy! A shooting star! This was done for #inktober Day 25 - #Ship .#inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #artist #visdev #visualdevelopment #digitalart #animals #hamster #moth #russianhamster #inktobership #pirate #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #cintiq #wacom #imaginationarts @imaginationarts @jakeparker @inktober

[stephenkulp]

Date night! And he's never met her before! I sincerely hope it all goes well, and that she is as lovely as you are Mr Perspective. This was done for #inktober Day 24 - Blind.#inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #artist #visdev #visualdevelopment #digitalart #animals #hamster #caterpillar #russianhamster #blind #date #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #cintiq #wacom #imaginationarts @imaginationarts @clipstudiopaint @jakeparker @inktober

[stephenkulp]

Now that's one #juicy hamster! This was done for #inktober Day 23 - Juicy #inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #artist #visdev #visualdevelopment #digitalart #animal #podgy #hamster #russianhamster #grumpy #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #cintiq #wacom #artcollective #clipstudiopaint @art_collective @clipstudiopaint

[stephenkulp]

Mr. Grumpy over here is hot on a #trail. Apologies for disturbing sir, as you were. Day 22 - Trail #inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #instaart #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #artist #visdev #visualdevelopment #digitalart #animal #trail #detective #mystery #grumpy #old #furryfriend #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #cintiq #wacom #artcollective #clipstudiopaint @art_collective @clipstudiopaint

[stephenkulp]

Better late than never. I just caught my friend over here, on his way to explore the #deep. This was done for #inktober - Day 20 Deep. #inktober2017 #characterdesign #ink #instagramart #instagramartist #characterconcept #charactersketch #animation #illustration #art #visdev #visualdevelopment #animal #deepsea #dive #divingsuit #artist #artwork #blackandwhite #creative #drawing #drawings #sketch #art2ig #shockingart #artshareo #artcollective @art2ig @shockingart @artshareo @art_collective

[stephenkulp]

Completed the weeks work yesterday. Finally got some time to focus on a new personal project! Man it's an awesome feeling to see ideas born and live on a piece of paper, and what a lovely feeling when I share the ideas with my best friend, my wife who helps to guide and motivate me. Stay tuned for more on this project. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, please Share my facebook posts, as well as retweet my tweets and sharing my Instagram handle to any friends or colleagues who might be interested in what I do. That would really help me with exposure. Thank you. Have an awesome weekend. Now for some nice coffee...and back to the drawing board! #drawing #characterdesign #excited #pencildrawing #capetown #art #artist

[stephenkulp]

"Match In The Wind" - Finally finished painting in #clipstudiopaint . Excuse the delay, Grandpa passed away last week, so couldn't finish as planned. Sketched in #autodesksketchbook . Inspired by #capetown , motivated by @jakeparker. #characterdesign #digitalart #digitalpainting #bergie #homeless #vagabond #southafrica #carguard #santa #smoking

[stephenkulp]

Desk all set up. It's been great so far.

[stephenkulp]

Feeling, testing and adjusting my new addition to the studio. It was great fun setting it up, and I'm very excited to start habitually drawing on it.