When I think about the artists who’ve influenced me the most, three names come to mind: Andy Warhol, M.C. Escher, and Banksy. Each has shaped the way I approach my work, and their impact can be seen throughout my Hypno Bat series. Over the years, I’ve created more than 100 variations of the Hypno Bat, exploring its form and meaning in ways I never anticipated. There’s something fascinating about bats—creatures often associated with fear—being hidden in plain sight, like in this piece where the Hypno Bat emerges from a sea of Dumbo Octopus wallpaper.
Warhol has always inspired me with his ability to take something simple, like a soup can, and elevate it to iconic status through repetition and reinvention. His work taught me that repetition itself can tell a story, and that idea is central to the Hypno Bat. Each variant builds on the last, creating a sense of rhythm and evolution, much like Warhol’s serial pieces. But instead of Marilyn Monroe or Campbell’s soup, I’ve chosen the bat—a symbol that’s both intriguing and unsettling—to reimagine and redefine.
Escher’s influence is equally present, particularly in the way he used patterns and illusions to make viewers question what they were seeing. I’ve always loved the interplay of shapes and how his work demands a second, closer look. That’s exactly what I aim for with the Hypno Bat. It’s often hidden within the larger composition, like in this piece with the Dumbo Octopuses. At first glance, it’s just a vibrant wallpaper, but look closer and the Hypno Bat reveals itself. I want my work to play with perception, to be both a puzzle and a discovery.
Banksy has shown me that art can be playful, provocative, and subversive all at once. There’s a mischievous energy to his work that I can’t help but admire, and I think that spirit finds its way into the Hypno Bat. Bats carry this aura of fear and mystery, but by placing them in unexpected, often whimsical contexts, I hope to challenge those assumptions. Like Banksy’s stencils hiding on city walls, the Hypno Bat lurks in my patterns, waiting to be found. It’s a playful twist that keeps me excited about what I create and, hopefully, keeps the viewer engaged too.
This particular piece feels like a fusion of all those influences. The repeating Dumbo Octopus shapes carry Escher’s love for tessellation, Warhol’s repetition, and Banksy’s knack for hiding deeper meanings in plain sight. The Hypno Bat isn’t just a motif for me; it’s a way to explore the intersection of fear and beauty, of what we see and what we overlook. Bats might be misunderstood creatures, but they’re also fascinating. That’s what I want to capture—how something can be both unsettling and mesmerizing at the same time. Every Hypno Bat I create adds to that narrative, inviting the viewer to look closer and discover what’s hidden beneath the surface.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 