Fathomless (Final)

Fathomless
Mixed Media

Remember the start of this piece? You probably don't, because I completed it awhile back, but I have not shared it with you all. Here is a refresher, a post about it in the middle stage of development is here: http://ambergoulet-art.blogspot.com/2010/03/catfish-piece-inbetween-stage.html. Early detail photo post: http://ambergoulet-art.blogspot.com/2010/02/large-catfish-3.html. This is the post that covers the initial idea development for this piece: http://ambergoulet-art.blogspot.com/2009/09/fun-begins-it-is-friday.html. Wow, I did a lot of posts about this piece. Here is the first post about this piece, way back to the event that inspired it: http://ambergoulet-art.blogspot.com/2009/09/preview-of-coming-attractions.html. So, now I've shared the last stage and you've seen the process start to finish. :)

"Merely a Herd of Sheep" (final)

Merely a Herd of Sheep
Mixed Media

Final Process
For this piece I wanted to add to the sense of foreboding by making the technique a bit more rough. I intentionally exposed the layering of papers and elements of the drawing in colored pencil sticks. I used angles within the composition and background elements in the image to increase the mood and add symbolism.

Here is the original post about the development of this idea: http://ambergoulet-art.blogspot.com/2010/07/hooded-sheep-disclaimer-this-post-is.html.  Now I am finally sharing the final illustration!

"Shielding Concern"

"Shielding Concern"
Mixed Media

I focused strongly on composition with the idea opposites/contrast in mind for this piece to create mood and meaning. As usual this is a mixed media piece with collage, colored pencil, acrylic, and ink.

Unexplored

"Unexplored"
Mixed Media

African American History – Final Drawing

Final Drawing for African American History Illustration
Graphite on Paper

Conception
I played with a few ideas for African American history in the thumbnail stage, but when I hit upon the this descending root shape with many faces the impact of the composition made it clear to me that this was the direction to take the image.

After choosing that composition I knew that for this piece it was key to include likenesses of important figures in African American History, and find a way to meld them together with design interest.

A few thumbnails/comps of the root idea for my
African American History Illustration.

The Final Drawing
The process of selecting the right figures from African American history was tricky, and I am sure many people would not agree with all of my choices. I had to leave out so many important figures. I asked around and got other people's opinions, and I enjoyed researching the history, until I finally landed upon these 15 faces.

I added a couple of ambiguous faces towards the lower half of the root (further back in time) to represent figures in the further past to represent those whom we do not have a recorded likeness. A few of which I choose for both their actions and recognizable faces.

Early Comp/Thumbnail

It is sometimes amazing to me that famous people can have so many photos taken of them, but never quite in the position I need for my composition. Why am I imagining such unusual positions? Silly me. It just makes the challenge of capturing a likeness a bit more spicy. On several of the faces I used a few key images of the person and combined them to create the right angle and expression.

Lastly, I got to play around with the root shapes. Of course, I got reference for roots as well, but the fun part of adding in amorphous elements like roots is that I can play around with line and design the shapes with pretty much free reign.

Upcoming
I will soon be sharing the final illustration here. I finished this piece up with my usual mixed media approach. Lots of textures were employed. So, check back over the next month to see this image fleshed out.

Life Drawing - Experimenting

Graphite and Colored Pencil
Cropped In a Bit (All you are missing is a few pillows. ;))

Circumstances
Yesterday I got a chance to do some life drawing again. I didn't realize how much I missed the frustration and peace of creating an image in a focused drawing session. Two weeks in a row I've gotten to do some life drawing; life can be good. So, I'm sharing my experimental drawing. :)

Technique
Well, this is the first time I've used colored pencil over a graphite drawing. The drawing ended up with rather high keyed values because I didn't want the colors to get too muddied by the graphite.

The model had a dramatic red violet wash of hair around her face, so I couldn't leave the drawing with some touches of color. I think the partially developed color gives the drawing a bit of drama. Not my best life drawing, but interesting. :)

P. S. There was a cow mooing randomly, out in a nearby field, as we were drawing. We had a sort of roll up door about 15 feet wide open to the beautiful day. Don't they moo when they are hungry? I'm still not sure. Though I've heard them moo as they were watching a truck deliver their food. Anyhow, we were all discussing this in spurts as it would moo in the most serious moments. Imagine furrowed brows, and a group of mostly older men (save me the only young woman beside the model) drawing a pretty women. But our discussion about it made the model– I can't remember her name– break her pose in a chuckle. :)

Inspiration

by Degas

I love the abstract design created by the hat placements, and that the figure is pushed and faces the edge of the frame.