Russell Cuffe

Genie #genie #genies #arabianfolklore #folklore #folkloreillustration #genieillustration #magic #magicillustration #bristolillustrator #bristolillustration #bristolartwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpOg4tMQcb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here is my latest piece, a full page illustration to accompany the lead album ID.Entity review of the band Riverside in PROG Magazine. The artwork reflects the album's themes of identity, existentialism, uniformity, dystopia and artifical intelligence. The bottom half of the image is a nod to the influence of 80's synthpop within the album. #riverside #riversideband #prog #progmagazine #progrock #progrockmusic #progmetal #progmetalmusic #future #id.entity #identity #existentialism #uniformity #dystopia #artificialintelligence https://www.instagram.com/p/CnXa2hUsyJo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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=

Next up in my World Cup series: Sofyan Amrabat Morocco have made history by becoming the first African side to reach the semi finals of a World Cup. They are also the first Arabic nation to do so and have been adopted as a 'home' team by the hosts. They seemingly have the whole of Africa and the Arabic world behind them. Morocco are yet to concede a goal from opposition in this tournament due to their watertight defence. Amrabat has been everywhere for Morocco and is staking a real claim to be named Player of the Tournament. Chaïbia Talal artwork inspired this piece. Her exuberant style is a great match for the joy the national team has brought it's country. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar #worldcup #qatarworldcup2022 #2022worldcup #2022qatar #2022qatarworldcup #africanfootball #morocco #morocco🇲🇦 #moroccanfootball #arabicfootball #arabfootball #africanfootballers #africanfootball #moroccofootballteam https://www.instagram.com/p/CmKIXKhMRSr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next up in my World Cup series: Luka Modrić Croatia are one game away from reaching their second consecutive World Cup final. People often sleep on Croatia but they've only been playing competitive matches since the early 90's. In their first World Cup in 1998 they finished 3rd and produced the top scorer. 20 years later they were runners up and this man, Modrić, was player of the tournament. He orchestrates and dictates play from the middle of the field. Captain and most capped for the national team, this will likely be his swansong. They are such a small nation which continues to produce quality players Edo Murtić was the inspiration for this piece. I thought his mosiac style is a good match for the checkerboard kit the team play in. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar #worldcup #2022worldcup #2022qatar #2022qatarworldcup #semi #semis #semifinal #semifinals #croatiavsargentina #worldcupsemifinals https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHiQP4sokg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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=

Next up in my World Cup series: Ansu Fati. Spain were seen as perennial underachievers until 2008 when, having had enough of that derogatory tag they won two European Championships and a World Cup in an era of dominance with Tiki-taka football for the next 6 years. That all came crashing down in the summer of 2014 when they became a victim of the dreaded 'Winner's curse' exiting at the group stage. Since then they have been somewhere in between. They scraped by 7-0 against Costa Rica but still only finished 2nd. Going out tonight on penalties to Morocco. I can't say I know a great deal about Fati. I just liked his name. Picasso is my artist of choice here. He is one of the few artists who is a household name over the world . His use of geometric shapes and distorted perspective is immediately recognisable. #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #qatar #worldcup #2022worldcup #spain #spainfootball #spanishfootball #spanishfootballteam #football #footballartwork #knockoutstage #foodillustration #knockouts #roundof16 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1h5xCMc1A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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=

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=

Next up in my World Cup series: Granit Xhaka. Switzerland know a draw today against Serbia will be enough to qualify, unless Cameron beat Brazil. Xhaka got into trouble for this celebration at the last World Cup between these two sides. Xhaka's parents are from Kosovo, an ethnically Albanian province that fought a war of independence against Serb-dominated Yugoslav forces in the late 1990s. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as an independent state. The gesture is a nationalist symbol representing the double headed eagle on Albania's national flag. And as if this tournament isn't political enough the two teams have been drawn in the same group again. I've used Dadaism and H. R. Giger as inspiration for this piece. I love Dadaism for its irreverent view on the established norms and chaotic nonsense. The political overtones of the movement matches the highly charged match. I've also always loved H. R. Giger's nightmarish depictions. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #qatarworldcup2022 #football #footballillustration #footballartwork #worldcupartwork #switzerland #switzerland🇨🇭 #switzerlandfootball #swiss #swissfootball #granitxhaka https://www.instagram.com/p/Clqw-bNspHA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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=

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=

Rihanna's favourite player is up next in my World Cup series: André Onana. 'The Indomitable Lions' have qualified for the World Cup eight times, more than any other African team. However, they've only managed to get out of the group stage once but when they did they reached the quarter final, as far as any African nation has gone. Unfortunately, Onana has been dropped for today's game. As steady as he is between the sticks his concentration can sometimes evade him, none worse so than when he mistakenly took his wife's pregnancy medication instead of a antihistamine leading to a 9 month ban. I hope he hasn't failed another drugs test. Enfant Précoce is my artist of inspiration here. I love his use of bright colours and fluid line art. It matches Cameroon's lively fans in the stadium. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #worldcup2022illustration #cameroon #cameroonfootball #football #footballillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgCKhish0m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next up in my World Cup series: Alphonso Davies. Canada can't afford to lose in today's game but coach John Herdman was fairly confident of a win claiming they 'would F Croatia. Davies is undoubtedly the key man for the team. Naturally a left back he is played higher up the pitch for his country to make the difference in attack. Ted Harrison was the inspiration for this piece. His use of colours and simple shapes are very easy on the eye. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup2022 #worldcup2022illustration #canada #canadafootball #footballillustration #football https://www.instagram.com/p/CleHg90M0FZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next up in my World Cup series: Bruno Guimarães Brazil is the most successful national team in the World Cup being crowned winner five times. It is the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence nor need for playoffs, and the only team to have won the World Cup on four different continents: once in Europe, once in South America, twice in North America, and once in Asia. Bruno Guimarães has become a talismanic figure in a golden age for for Newcastle United, spearheading their ambitious top 4 challenge in the Premier League. He will be looking to translate this form to the international stage by adding to Brazil's already rich world cup history. Romero Britto inspired this piece. I thought his joyful, vibrant, colourful style matches the player's character. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #qatarworldcup2022 #football #footballillustration #footballartwork #brazil #brazilfootball #brazilworldcup https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWlixZseNd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next up in my World Cup series: Kevin de Bruyne. Possibly the best player on the planet right now. De Bruyne has established himself as a true leader on the pitch: the man who dictates everything Time is running out for Belgium's golden generation to get their hands on a trophy. Belgium is the only national team in the world to top the FIFA ranking without having won a World Cup or a continental trophy. René Magritte is the inspiration for this piece. He is one of my favourite artists. His work is surreal, unnerving but also warm and charming. I think he had a really interesting mind. #worldcup #worldcup2022 #qatar2022 #qatarworldcup #qatarworldcup2022 #football #footballillustration #footballartwork #belgium #belgiumvscanada #worldcupgroupf https://www.instagram.com/p/ClUJg65sYZu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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=