The Retro Artist Series: Customer Works & How They Did It

Ever wondered how some artists create jaw-dropping retro art using digital tools? We’re letting you in on the secrets.

Welcome to The Retro Artist Series—in this series we'll be showing you real examples of customer work along with the products they're using in their work to get their results.

From 1980s fantasy RPG vibes to the nostalgia of mid-century modern illustrations, we’re showcasing five stunning customer works, the RetroSupply tools they used, and exactly how they achieved those authentic throwback looks.

By the end of this read, you’ll know what tools to grab (and how to use them) to kickstart your next retro-inspired piece.

1980s-Inspired Role-Playing Monster Art

This first piece by Miles Koldewyn gives all the love to retro fantasy comic book style. Featuring an ogre that looks like it stepped straight out of an old Dungeons & Dragons manual, the illustration nails the gritty, low-fi charm of 1970s and 1980s RPG art.

Miles combined our DupliTone Halftone Brushes for authentic vintage halftone effects with the Standard Pens for those bold, analog-style inking lines.

The halftone brushes perfectly replicate printing techniques of the era complete with imperfect dots and slight variations in ink bleed. While the Standard Pens add organic, expressive lines reminiscent of pulp fantasy comics and RPG sourcebooks—this is especially prominent in the slightly gritty edges to blocks of color.

Pro tip? Stick to a limited two-color palette for that bold, graphic punch. This simplifies the composition while amplifying its visual impact, just like classic roleplaying art.

View a full video time lapse of the illustration here.

Garage Rock Album Cover

This vibrant album art, created by Robin Banks, perfectly captures the rebellious, carefree spirit of Garage Punk music.

Drawing inspiration from psychedelic rock posters, vintage comic books, and underground art, the design is a nostalgic yet modern tribute to the raw energy of the 1960s counterculture scene.

Brought to life using the ColorLab Comic Color Kit, the artwork delivers bold, four-color process effects that seamlessly blend retro influences with a modern punk attitude, making it a true standout in the world of album design.

We've been lucky enough to have Robin create tons of great content for us. So if you'd like to see more about their process be sure to dig through our Instagram Reels or check out our tutorials.

Start by checking out this 1 hour and 40 minute long Wolf Wax live draw to see Robin's entire process.

Mid-Century Children's Book Illustration

Who doesn’t love a nostalgic nod to mid-century modern illustration? This delightful piece by Carmen O'Donnell of a child playing with a yo-yo captures the simplicity and optimism of 1950s picture book art.

The line quality is critical in this kind of art which is why Carmen leaned on our mid-century brush collections for bold lines and textured blocks. Finally, a classic aged look was added with our Paper Boy Paper Textures.

These tools add just the right amount of grain and texture that scream mid-century modern. Combined with soft, retro-inspired colors, the final work feels timeless yet contemporary.

If you’re aiming for that mid-century vibe, keep your lines clean and your shapes geometric—it’s the secret to achieving that vintage children’s book aesthetic.

A 1950s-60s Gag Panel-Inspired Comic

This fun and spooky seance scene by Ed Vill is a perfect nod to mid-century gag panels. This illustration is equal parts spooky and hilarious.

This piece combines DupliTone Halftone Brushes, Standard Pens, and Phantom Paper Textures to recreate the look and feel of vintage comic strips.

The halftone brushes emulate traditional comic book shading, while the Phantom Paper textures mimic aged, slightly imperfect comic paper. The Standard Pens? Ideal for those crisp, precise outlines that bring each character to life.

Watch Ed create this piece from start to finish in this Instagram Live he did during our Fright-Fall Drawing Challenge.

Risograph Dreams with a Japanese Vending Machine

This final piece by Qi Ren is downright stunning. It’s a bright, super-textured scene featuring a nostalgic Japanese vending machine—and it's pure retro printing gold.

The artist used our Risograph Brushes and Textures, ideal for capturing risograph printing’s bold colors and tactile imperfections.

The vibrant colors and layered textures deliver a handmade, risograph-inspired charm that feels fresh yet nostalgic. The textures in particular are perfect for creating that slightly uneven, ink-on-paper effect unique to risograph prints.

Quick tip for risograph-inspired work: Experiment with layering translucent colors to mimic the overlapping inks seen in traditional risograph prints. It’s all about that imperfect, one-of-a-kind look.

Take Your Retro Art to the Next Level

Feeling inspired? These incredible works from RetroSupply Co. customers show how simple it can be to create stunning vintage-inspired illustrations with the right tools and techniques. Whether you’re channeling 1980s RPG vibes or mid-century modern flair, RetroSupply has your back.

All you need is a vision and the right tools. Trust us—your next retro masterpiece is just a brush stroke away.

Want to give it a go? Check out our selection of brushes, textures, fonts and more today!