The Simples — Story behind
by Konrad
Hi Folks! I wanted to tell a quick genesis story… and how did we get here ;)
I’ve created Simples in 2013 when I was searching for a new style for myself. I already have had a couple of styles (more illustrative, organic, urban feel) that I was working in for big brands (lucky ;) ). I wanted to find something less dependent on my hand gesture, more synthetic, simpler… To be less connected to the object I decided to practice on characters I know and love. That’s how first set of SimpleFanarts became to life.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/9880771/simple
After first publication on Behance — Simple project gathered great response. Simples had many publications all over the world on web and in real-world.
Beautiful people started contacting me from all over the world — loving my Simples.
I was taking Simples to art festivals.
2014 - after the initial success of my fanarts and when I had my new style more or less locked — only natural way is to start creating my own characters. I was still creating fanarts (can’t stop by then it’s an addiction) but started making commissions with my own Simples. https://www.behance.net/gallery/18327177/simple-at-Gamepixcom
In late 2013 SimpleSanta was hosted in FootLocker shops all over EU. I was working with great FootLocker team and brought SimpleSanta to life as cardboard NIKE AIR MAX display in shops… we had to change his round hands for Nike shelves but I was sooo proud of my SimpleFootLockerNikeSanta anyway. SimpleSanta was used as original stickers in shops etc.
In 2015 I was asked to make a series of illustrations for Feminoscope exhibition in Leeds UK. I committed my SimpleLadies for that occasion.. it was very well received and my SimpleLadies got recognition award!!! YEY!!! As u can see Ladies are a little different than original Simples — I always like to search for something new within a style. ;)
2015. I was participating in a series of exhibitions with polish vector artists, in 2015 for our second exhibition „dark neighborhood” I have nade illustration based on my Simples.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/30541757/KRZYWE-2-Polish-Vector-Illustration
2015. Along with my growing gang of classic Simple fanarts I was experimenting with different ways of illustrating Simples.. here’s a small project with Simple Witcher fanarts. Collab with a friend.
2016. My Simple fanarts get traction in the world, with release of my 3rd set. https://www.behance.net/gallery/40498971/a-few-more-simples
Some fans are very focused to make sure they won’t infringe on my rights. Here’s perfect photo from a fan from USA… haha
2017 as for releasing Blizzard characters with my last set, I was contacted by Blizzard if they can use my Simples in animation for their HeroesOfTheStorm socials. We made a deal and my Simple Illidan and Simple Guldan were used with original actor voices in this short funny animation. Hell Yeah!
https://twitter.com/BlizzHeroes/status/939672295378784257?s=20
The story continues… it is 2017 — for some time now I work on Simple graphics for chess game — I love playing chess and wanted to make them more attractive for my kids — so what is the better way than violent gang fights!!! haha.. I was working with my team making mobile games and while developing big project we decided to make small game to teach us about whole process of publishing etc. By that time I had my Simple Chess graphics ready, so we bought small engine and developed Chess Gang — it had many faults and wasn’t the top class product I wanted to make but we learned a lot about process… Chess Gang had many flaws in engine etc. but received numerous awards for design — even Adobe tweeted that ‘nobody seen chess like that yet!” It was very encouraging but I’ve decided to take it down anyway and if make it, then make it the right way someday.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/53065469/Chess-Gang
Now, the story continues — 2022 Simples conquering the NFT world with new ideas, new releases of the games, toys and collaborations.
You can be part of it, join our Simples Fam!
