The latest piece in the Rebelle Master Series with Daniel Ibanez centers on the influence of Ashley Wood (1971), an artist whose work bridges comic book aesthetics and fine art with a distinctive voice rooted in stylized energy and expressive media. Let´s explore his approach not through direct imitation, but as inspiration for a painting that embraces looseness, spontaneity, and bold gesture.
Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/w9mD5nVd474
Why Study Ashley Wood?
His work is often characterized by raw energy, layered textures, and a disregard for polish in favor of emotion. The pieces blend street-art gestures with oil painting subtleties, allowing flat silhouettes to interact with gritty, bristly detail. This mixture brings an immediacy and presence to the canvas that resonates deeply with artists across genres. His subject matter, often dystopian, sci-fi, and pulpy, feels nostalgic, yet powerfully current.
Letting the Paint Do the Work
In this study, let´s prioritize water-based media to allow for organic movement and drips. Rebelle harnesses that wet-on-wet unpredictability, enabling textures and edges that develop naturally as the paint settles. Tilting the canvas and layering translucent pigment helps to create complex tonal shifts without overworking the surface.
Directly inspired by Wood’s layered, spontaneous techniques, allow the medium to behave as it naturally would, instead of controlling every detail.
Stylization as a Superpower
Daniel Ibanez renders the figure of this study with intentional distortion and stylization. Proportions are exaggerated, limbs extended, and props like a sword or sci-fi blaster are introduced with a narrative flair. These choices serve not only visual impact but also emotional tone.
Stylization can be used as a tool to heighten gesture and movement. Use Rebelle´s Warp tool to adjust poses fluidly, without needing to restart the drawing. Prioritize gestures over anatomical accuracy and allow the composition to speak in dynamic terms rather than realistic ones.
A Loose Process, On Purpose
Try not to use any reference or pre-drawing. The piece should be approached as a live composition, where design decisions are resolved on the canvas itself. This process allows for greater freedom and discovery. This looser method supports the goals of this study: to stay playful, embrace the unexpected, and echo the spirit of Ashley´s paintings.
What Ashley Wood Teaches Us
His work illustrates that control is not always the path to energy. By keeping elements raw, expressive, and under-rendered, a sense of immediacy and individuality can emerge. Rather than focusing on polished realism, attention is given to how brushwork, layering, and gesture could be used to create presence and voice.
In a digital sketchbook setting, where layers and changes can be made freely, a piece like this becomes an act of exploration. Painting becomes less about perfection and more about momentum.
Ultimately, Wood’s influence demonstrates that energy, stylization, and intent can carry more weight than meticulous detail. In this painting, and throughout this Master Series, the focus remains on what feels alive, not what feels finished.
Happy Painting,
Escape Motions Team
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Daniel Ibanez is a fine artist and illustrator who works out of beautiful Colorado. He grew up plein air painting mountain landscapes and western imagery. He has a love of painting the human figure, portraits, and landscapes. Daniel has worked on films, comics, video games, and tabletop games. While his range of subjects is diverse, all of his work is rooted in his traditional art background. He has been an oil painter since he was 13 years old. His work covers a wide spectrum of subjects, from sci-fi illustrations to alla prima landscapes. He has a digital portrait painting class with Domestika and a growing YouTube channel for tutorials and demonstrations. Find him on Instagram and say hello!
