Stanley “Artgerm” Lau is a Hong Kong artist who specializes in creating women superheroes for comic book companies like DC Comics, Capcom and Square Enix. He has formal training in graphic design and advertising, evidenced by the neat aesthetic structure of his designs. Lau is one of the co-founders of Imaginary Friends Studios and is now the creative director for the company. Besides his formal role of creative director, Lau can be found creating concept art for the studio’s various projects.
Lau is a digital artist who uses Painter and Photoshop with a Wacom tablet. A Wacom tablet can be described as a large mousepad that allows a digital artist to sketch, draw and color with a pen specially designed for use with the tablet. Using this device gives Lau’s designs a hand-drawn essence (that is often lost in Photoshop illustrations), while keeping the lines clean and solid. Because of Lau’s upbringing in Asian culture, he has been influenced by a number of Japanese and oriental art styles. The fluidity of his work is a testament of the effect that traditional Asian art has had on his style, while the influence of anime and manga art can be seen in the large, expressive eyes of his characters, framed by delicate, feminine faces.
Many character designers will create a character on a solid white background, to show of the silhouette of the character. Lau’s character designs often include a background, which puts the character into perspective. He also poses his superheroes in a moment of action or high attitude, truly showing off the action hero appeal of these go-get-’em girls.
For more digital illustrations of female superheroes by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, visit his online art gallery.
