Opinion(s)

pen and ink, color pencil
Illustration Friday topic
The illustration shows two opposites interacting: boldly outlined, thick, rigid, arrogant and stubborn opposite the long, almost see-through, narrow, unbelievably thin, way-too-flexible, ever changing "where wind blows", deformed, swaying before him.

Memories

acrylic, pencil
Illustration Friday topic
The Inspiration - a century old photograph showing two soldiers, dressed in the uniform of the Russian Imperial Army.
Description: Some faces and names had vanished without trace as if they never existed, while other will live long in the memories after they have gone.
The concept - The "nonpersons" cut from a series of photomontage images done by Gustav Klutsis: Politburo of the USSR, 1935, Vintage gelatin silver print
When faced with the task of creating a collective portrait, Klutsis chose to apply a photomontage technique to mediate the power relationships between the Politburo members, to show the strict internal hierarchy governed by quasi-military discipline. The schematic representation fiddles with the scale of the characters, awkwardly crops facial features, and puts all emphasis on Stalin's face, accented by the darker values of background.

'The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled. Although every image embodies a way of seeing, our perception or appreciation of an image depends upon our way of seeing. The past is never there waiting to be discovered, to be recognized for what it is.' - John Berger.

Portraits

Portrait of Ira

Portrait of George Pratt

the academy, last one

Final for 'The cruelest cut'

thumbs for editorial assign.

Anita' assignment was to illustrate an article about self-mutilating teens, for whom self-injuring is a way of managing emotional pain. As the prototypical self-cutter is a teenage girl, a female icon emerging from a double-sided razor blade might be a visual solution for a quick and easy read.



Finishes for conceptual portrait assignment of musicians:
Duet of Nick Cave and P.J.Harvey - Henry Lee song from his album "Murder Ballads"
pen and ink, mixed media

As a reference, I took snapshots from a black and white video featuring two artists, where both musicians were identically dressed and wearing a similar hairstyle. They were not the same, but they were constructed as one. The visual interpretation of the collaboration resulted in a design resembling the layout of playing card.
Later another layer of drawing was done on the piece of mylar. This unified the composition, as some parts were rendered in different graphic styles. Then a decorative frame was added, for variation, although it may detract from reading the image as a playing card.

The Academy, the second-to-last week

Interior illustration for Jack and the Beanstalk, watercolor, color pencil


Scott Anderson/Robin Eley Assignments:
The first assignment was to make an illustration for Jack and the Beanstalk. The illustration shows Jack climbing the stairs at the giant’s house before the theft. There are a lot of things happening in this illustration, with the possibility of getting lost in the details. I was seeking to decorate with organic shapes and line work when it seemed required, which turned out to be pretty much every part of the picture frame. For fantasy dealing with the beanstalk, the giant and Jack sneaking into his castle it was necessary to break the surface into facets.
Sketches for conceptual portrait

The academy, Visualizing Conversation

finals

Art gallery, watercolor, pencil

Routine, pen and ink, pastel

C.F. Payne: Visualizing conversation

The initial sketch is an art gallery opening with two art-lovers having a conversation in front of a painting of a cowboy, who seems to be interested in their insights and observations.
In the final illustration one of the characters gives an inspirational speech, while the other appears to listen with a mixture of disconnection and skepticism.

Routine: This illustration was done from live observation of my friends Justin and Orlando, dressed for a photo shooting session.

figure drawings