Artist of the Month: Stumpt Workshop

One of the easiest ways to disguise a small mistake in a drawing is to add more information. Extra texture, additional details, more patterns or a busier composition can all help pull attention away from small imperfections. Sometimes that is exactly the right thing to do. A busy drawing can feel energetic, expressive and forgiving.

The challenge comes when those options are removed.

^{Ray Tollison aka Stumpt Workshop}

Our Artist of the Month for May was Stumpt Workshop, the creative home of illustrator, printmaker and character artist Ray Tollison. His work is filled with playfully weird characters, bold shapes and graphic compositions that often look deceptively simple. At first glance, many of the drawings appear straightforward. A monster, a robot or a strange character might only be made up of a handful of shapes and a limited colour palette.

The more time you spend looking at the work, however, the more you begin to realise how carefully those decisions have been made.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

I first discovered Ray's work on Instagram a few years ago. At the time, much of what attracted me to his artwork came from his printmaking influences. His use of colour, texture and layering gave the work a distinctive look that stood apart from many of the illustrators I was following.

As much as I admired the work, I never seriously considered teaching it inside the Korp Academy.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

Many of the pieces relied on transparent layers, halftone patterns and risograph printing techniques that would have been difficult to recreate using the materials we typically use in our sessions. The work felt rooted in printmaking, and I struggled to see how it would translate into Posca pens, fineliners and marker-based drawing.

Over time, however, something started to change.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

While the printmaking influences remained, Ray's work began to lean more heavily into bold graphic shapes and simplified character design. His feed became filled with strange black creatures, playful monsters and compositions that seemed perfectly suited to the materials we use throughout the Academy.

The turning point came when I saw a piece called Zilly Destroys.

^{Zilly Destroys by Stumpt Workshop}

The drawing featured a giant black Godzilla-inspired character against a bold coloured background. Although the original piece appeared digitally drawn, it immediately felt like something that would work beautifully as a Posca drawing. More importantly, it felt like an opportunity to explore a different way of thinking about drawing.

After reaching out to Ray and receiving his blessing to feature his work, we spent May exploring several pieces inspired by his style.

^{The Korp Academy version of Zilly Destroys from a live drawing lesson}

What became interesting very quickly was not the subject matter itself, but the way the drawings were constructed.

Throughout the year, many of the projects we tackle in the Korp Academy encourage experimentation with texture, pattern and detail. These elements can be incredibly useful. They add personality, create visual interest and often make a drawing feel more forgiving. If a line is slightly wonky or a shape isn't quite right, there is usually enough happening elsewhere in the artwork that the overall piece still works.

Studying Stumpt Workshop's work pushed us in the opposite direction.

^{The Korp Academy version of Stumpt Workshops style using alcohol markers}

With fewer lines and fewer shapes available, every decision carried more weight. A silhouette needed to work. A colour choice needed to work. A proportion needed to work. There was far less room to hide behind additional detail.

This is where the simplicity of the work revealed itself to be something of an illusion.

^{The Korp Academy version of a Stumpt Workshop character}

Simple drawings are often assumed to be easier because there appears to be less going on. In reality, removing information creates a different challenge. Every remaining shape becomes more important. Every mark becomes more visible. The drawing relies less on detail and more on design.

What looks effortless often turns out to be carefully considered.

^{The Korp Academy version of Mechazlly}

For many members, May became an opportunity to step outside the safety of a busy drawing and experiment with simpler concepts. Instead of relying on layers of detail, the focus shifted towards shape, composition and visual impact. It encouraged us to think more carefully about what was truly necessary and what could be left behind.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the month came from Ray himself.

^{Stumpt Workshops zines and prints}

Whenever we feature an artist, there is always the hope that they will be interested in seeing what members create. Ray went far beyond that. Throughout the month he regularly shared members' artwork on his own social media channels and seemed genuinely excited to see how his work was inspiring other artists.

That generosity made a real difference.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

It is always encouraging when established artists take an interest in emerging artists and hobbyists. Seeing members' work shared by the very artist who inspired the project created a sense of connection that extended beyond the workshops themselves.

Studying an artist like Stumpt Workshop reinforces an important idea.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

Complexity is not always what makes a drawing successful. Sometimes the challenge lies in reducing a drawing to its essential elements and making those few decisions count. The fewer shapes you have available, the more important each one becomes.

What appears simple on the surface is often the result of careful choices underneath.

^{Digital illustration by Stumpt Workshop}

A huge thank you to Ray Tollison for allowing us to spend May exploring his work, for supporting the project and for sharing the work produced by members of the Korp Academy.

Below you'll find a selection of artwork created throughout the month, along with some fantastic work produced by members of the community.

- Korp