I’ve become rather fond of this little bird. I first sketched him a year ago (click on the photo to visit the original blog post). As you can see, I’ve played around with the colours a bit. I’ll be offering it for sale after I’ve finished the sides and given it a couple of coats of varnish…
Today’s Shoot it, Sketch it is from a sketchbook I started three years ago. It was meant to be a gift for someone but I misjudged how long it would take to fill the 36-page Moleskine. I got about halfway through the journal before realising that I wasn’t going to finish it in time. And that was that. Momentum lost. Project abandoned.
Maybe it’s time I picked it up again…
I’ve only recently discovered Evaline Ness (although the illustrations in Sam, Bangs and Moonshine do seem curiously familiar). Her work is delightful and quirky across a wide range of styles and mediums. I particularly like the bold lines and restricted use of colour in the illustrations below. The reference photo is yet another one taken using my nothing-special cellphone ― which explains the appalling quality ― but it’s still good enough for sketching purposes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and I’m quoting photographer Chase Jarvis here), the best camera is the one you have with you. I’m starting to think it may be time to invest in a better phone… or a smaller camera.
American artist Evaline Ness (1911–1986) has several claims to fame. As well as being an extremely versatile illustrator and author of children’s books, she was also a fashion model, a fashion illustrator and was, at one time, married to FBI investigator Elliot Ness. It sounds like a movie just waiting to happen.
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.
Anna Cull ~ Art & Music 