photography

In the style of… André François

| Anna Cull
Gold – acrylic on paper, 255 x 305 mm, 2013.
Gold – acrylic on paper, 255 x 305 mm, 2013
Goldfish pond, original photo, 2012.
Goldfish pond, original photo, 2012

The influence of André François’ art (see below) on the way I painted this goldfish pond is subtle but it’s definitely there. I can see it in the brush strokes, the way the colours are applied and the black lines around the leaves and fish. I don’t think the online image has quite the same impact as the painting… because from a distance — despite the texture, bright colours and obvious outlines — the painted fish pond looks real. Really really real! Most peculiar.

André François

André François – illustrations for Citroën and Kodak Citroën ad image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapopdesign Kodak ad image from http://shelleysdavies.com
André François – illustrations for Citroën and Kodak
Citroën ad image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapopdesign
Kodak ad image from http://shelleysdavies.com

Hungarian-born French artist André François (1915–2005) is perhaps best remembered for his cartoons in Punch, Vogue and The New Yorker but I’m more interested in his graphic design work, such as these vintage advertising posters for Citroën and Kodak ― the brushwork, colours and humour are delightful.

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.

In the style of… A. B. Frost

| Anna Cull

Welcome to my first ever In the style of… which will be appearing occasionally instead of the regular Shoot it, Sketch it posts on Mondays. I plan to draw inspiration from some of the world’s greatest illustrators. It’s really Shoot it, Sketch it with a twist ― I’ll still be using my photographs as a starting point but I’ll be drawing/painting them with a particular style in mind. It’s not about slavishly copying someone else’s art; it’s an experiment in seeing things differently. My hope is that it will take my own art in different directions.

At the beach – ink on paper, 140 x 240 mm, 2013.
At the beach – ink on paper, 140 x 240 mm, 2013.

At the beach – Nelson, 2011.
At the beach – Nelson, 2011.

Drawing this week’s photograph was a bit of a challenge. The rocks and stones were straightforward enough (believe it or not) but it took several attempts before I was happy with the driftwood. And if you’re wondering who A. B. Frost is…

A. B. Frost

A. B. Frost – illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s A Tangled Tale, 1886 Images from http://www.gutenberg.org
A. B. Frost – illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s A Tangled Tale, 1886
Images from http://www.gutenberg.org

American artist Arthur Burdett Frost (1851–1928) is famous for illustrating  Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn characters as well as Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit stories but it’s these two illustrations from A Tangled Tale that inspired this week’s sketch. Frost’s compositions and linework are simply brilliant.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Between the lines

| Anna Cull

Between the lines – acrylic on canvas, 305 x 405 mm, 2013.
Between the lines – acrylic on canvas, 305 x 405 mm, 2013.

Telephone lines – Tauranga, 2013.
Telephone lines – Tauranga, 2013.

I have a thing for telephone poles ― I know I’m not the only one.

Painting this was a bit of a mission and took, on and off, nearly two weeks! I’ll post my work-in-progress photos later in the week to give you some idea of the to-ing and fro-ing this painting had to endure.