# Alternative Culture Artistry Kirk Quilaquil Illustrates Subjects Too Cool for Mainstream Audiences By Jason Soy | Published 2011-11-28 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kirk-quilaquil References: [riceatingpanda.tumblr](http://riceatingpanda.tumblr.com/post/13313386342/deac0n-hattie-by-ninjatic) & [ninjatic.deviantart](http://ninjatic.deviantart.com/) Kirk Quilaquil is a name that should be on the radars of [digital art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-digital-artwork) lovers everywhere. I've practically fallen in love with every one of his [paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/limitededition-print-series) as they feature alternative culture subjects sporting chic haircuts and faces that could make even the prettiest celebrities envious. He's just that good. I think the piece that truly caught my attention was Quilaquil's painting entitled 'Hattie,' depicting a beautiful tattoo-clad blonde sporting a blazer. Quilaquil plays with depth of field in this painting, a photography technique that I've rarely seen applied to illustrations. In doing so, he forces viewers to focus on the expression of his subject's face. To be able to envision a depth of field blur into a painting is something outside my, and most other artists', technical abilities so I have the utmost respect for the young illustrator. Kirk Quilaquil currently resides in England, where he works as a [freelance concept artist](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-vonholten), animator and musician. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Alternative Culture Artistry:** The popularity of alternative culture in art opens disruptive innovation opportunities for digital art and illustration software that cater to this particular niche - **Depth of Field in Illustrations:** Applying techniques like depth of field traditionally used in photography to digital illustrations is a new trend that presents disruptive innovation opportunities for software developers and digital artists - **Subculture Fashion Influence in Art:** The increasing influence of subculture fashion in the art scene creates opportunities for fashion and art collaborations to broaden their consumer markets by crossing over into each other's industries ### Where This Applies - **Digital Art Software:** The rising trend of alternative culture artistry presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for digital art software developers to create software that caters to the specific needs of alternative culture artists - **Fashion and Art Collaboration:** In light of subculture fashion's growing influence in the art scene, there is a disruptive innovation opportunity for fashion and art businesses to collaborate on projects that appeal to both fashion and art consumers - **Illustration and Animation Services:** The growing appetite for alternative culture art presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for traditionally trained artists to tap into this market and offer digital art and illustration services that cater to this particular niche ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Striking Urban Wildlife Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clare-allin.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Boundary-Pushing Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/briony-douglas-1.md) - [Artistic Rum Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artists-of-the-abyss.md) - [Art-Appreciating Hazy IPAs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artistic-hazy-ipas.md) - [Bi-Culture-Inspired Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bicultureinspired-art-exhibition.md) - [Art-Infused Workwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nepenthes-capsule.md) - [Evolved Vibrant Graffiti Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jan-kalb.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md)