Author: Anna Cull

The antici-pear-tion…

| Anna Cull
William Shakespear and Pablo Pearcasso © Drew McKevitt, 2013
William Shakespear and Pablo Pearcasso © Drew McKevitt, 2013

…is over. Look what arrived in the mail this week! Thank you, Drew, creator of Angry Pear, for holding a competition to win a copy of one of your delightful comics. My prize, Pears of History, Myth and Legend, has travelled all the way from the U.S.A. to little old New Zealand and it now has pride of place on our coffee table.

Angry Pear © Drew McKevitt, 2013
Angry Pear © Drew McKevitt, 2013

Jamming

| Anna Cull
Jamming at The Irishman, Christchurch – ink sketch, 2014
Jamming at The Irishman, Christchurch – ink sketch, 2014

This is a sketch of my husband (a.k.a. my darling Diva) playing at one of our local open mic nights. The guitar is a borrowed vintage Commodore. Looking at this, I’m tempted to acquire one of those old standard lamps to add a little mood lighting to our gigs… which, by the way, are starting to happen in earnest this year. We’ve finally decided on a name for our duo, we’ve created a website/blog (on WordPress, naturally)… and good things are starting to happen ― but that’s a post for another day : )

For those of you who can’t wait until next week for the official post about me, my man and our music (ooh, that’s a good title)… here is a link to our new site, Pavlova Paradise. 

In the style of… Aubrey Hammond

| Anna Cull
The Press – ink, watercolour pencil and digital, 190 x 140 mm, 2014
The Press – ink, watercolour pencil and digital, 190 x 140 mm, 2014
The Press, Christchurch, 2010
The Press, Christchurch, 2010

Getting inspired by the 1920s…

Aubrey Hammond

Book cover (1927) and London Underground poster (1923) Images from www.sf-foundation.org and www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk
Aubrey Hammond – book cover (1927) and London Underground poster (1923)
Images from www.sf-foundation.org and www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk

British artist Aubrey Hammond (1894–1940) is responsible some of my favourite1920s London Underground posters. He also illustrated several books and taught commercial and theatrical design. I think his cover for Metropolis, Thea von Harbou’s novel designed to complement the movie (co-written with husband Fritz Lang), is simply stunning.

In the style of… appears occasionally instead of my regular Shoot it, Sketch it posts. Using my own photographs as a starting point, I’m drawing inspiration from some of the world’s greatest illustrators. It’s not about slavishly copying someone else’s art; it’s an experiment in seeing things differently.