Honoring Steve Jobs

Artists Mourn Steve Jobs

To artists, Steve Jobs was more than an icon; he was an enabler. Here we check out nine of our favorite tributes from artists around the world

By Sara Yin PCMag.com

Steve Jobs may have been an icon, mentor, and inspiration to those in the tech industry, but for living artists and designers, he was a god.

Say what you will about Jobs, but it's hard to argue that he not only inspired fellow designers but enabled them. From Apple's bitmap-based MacPaint in 1984 to Final Cut Pro 10.0.1 in 2011, Jobs changed their lives, kickstarted budding careers, and forever changed how artists work and perceive their work today.

"First Apple memory: Macpaint on a mac classic at a computer store w/ my dad. drew an oval w/ a brick pattern fill. i'm still doing that. =)," tweeted Boston Globe designer Martin Gee.

"Every creative person on this planet has used Steve Jobs #Apple products to inspire or create. True Visionary. Artist. #RealityWeaver," tweeted director Randall Thorne.

It's no surprise, then, that shortly after news of his death broke late Wednesday, we saw an outpouring of artistic tributes to the inventor who left us far too early.

Pictured above is perhaps the most recognized piece of Steve Jobs tribute art, which spread like wildfire late Wednesday. The logo was designed by 19-year-old Jonathan Mack from Hong Kong, a design student who tweeted later that the design had even landed him a job offer.

Click on the slideshow to see nine more of our favorites. For more on Jobs, see PCMag's reflection on his life and career and our tribute page, where you can leave your thoughts about the iconic Apple leader.