- Aquatic
- 23 May 05
- Illustration Friday
- 10 Comments
This is the art-deco style front entrance of a public pool here in Canberra. The somewhat "chunky" bather is in fact based on a statue by Guy Boyd that sits outside the Australian Institute of Sport Swimming Complex (also in Canberra). The statue doesn't have bathing attire, I added that.....I added the dog because, ah Norman Rockwell once said: "If it doesn't work, put a dog in it. If it still doesn't work, put a Band-Aid on the dog." Hand me the band-aid please.
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comments
Forget the bandaid and ditch the dog, Detlef. It works.
Posted by Robyn on 23.05.05 at 11.48pm
Nice composition. I like lighting and the typography.
Seems to be something wrong with the girl’s arms. They’re a bit too short IMO.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers, Jeroen
Posted by Jeroen on 24.05.05 at 04.06am
Thanks Robyn and Jeroen: also point taken Jeroen, it’s what happens when one uses a statue as a life model….perhaps I need to line up some real swimsuit models.
Posted by Detlef on 24.05.05 at 08.58am
fantastic! actually i like the dog in this particular illo, looks like she was trying to get up the nerve to go for a dip, and then the damn dog came along and irritated her further.
Posted by Kerry on 24.05.05 at 06.37pm
I like it with or without the dog. Beautiful rendering. What is with the “chunky”, though? And I thought only here in America were women thicker than a matchstick considered “chunky.”
Posted by Miss Daze on 24.05.05 at 11.49pm
Detlef, I love the sort of tension between this heavy, monumental black and white architectural drawing and the little yipping (no doubt) dog. The swimmers’ deadpan face is also perfect.
Good work!
Laura
Posted by Laura on 27.05.05 at 12.10am
Well, who am I to resist a picture with a DOG in it?!!! Fabulously rendered as always, Detlef… and once again with that mysterious mood that is, I think, your trademark. The type feels so very real, but I love the chunky bather in particular. She looks like she’s shielding herself from little Toto too.
Posted by wee on 27.05.05 at 05.24am
You live in Canberra? My sister lives in Canberra. Small world! Especially since we’re from Arizona. Anyway, I like this drawing a lot, with dog, without dog, even without bather (although I do love how sculptural she is). What I really like are the words and the architectural details and the broken window.
Posted by leontine on 27.05.05 at 11.40am
Detlef I love this piece. I particularly like how the woman is rather stylised and not so realistic it gives her more mystery. The dog too as mentioned by others really compliments the composition and provides narrative. The balance of dark and light in this is also excellent. You have a great eye!
Posted by Katherine on 28.05.05 at 04.12pm
Wonderful drawing! Love the Australian gathering of references. Doesn’t need a band-aide; wondering if broken window was accidental result from dog’s flying ball. Perhaps the swimmer was hit on shoulder when inside, or stained shoulder muscle when throwing it. Could write a whole book. Very inspirational!
Posted by Anonymous on 28.05.05 at 05.08pm