- Shock and Awe
- 17 May 05
- Drawing
- 4 Comments
Now that my Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have finally been revealed (unlike the "real" things) it's time to get off my big behind and start drawing.
I have to admit it's taken me a while to get back into the drawing groove. Yes, I've participated in Illustration Friday on an ad hoc basis, but I think the WMD took more out of me than I originally thought. I was a bit drained after it and perhaps needed the break to recharge the batteries.
Anyway, I've got the urge to challenge myself again. I'll extend the carnival subject matter and again give it a militaristic/political theme/title - "Shock and Awe". I'm fascinated by how an image might be interpreted through it's title. I played with this notion when I titled my last drawing WMD rather than the bleeding obvious: Indian Rope Trick.
I don't know whether I'll do running updates of this drawing though - I might just limit it to commenting on a certain effect I'm trying to perfect (yeah I'm a poet wouldn't you know it).
Essentially, I'll be trying to give the drawing a feeling of motion a la an old black and white flickering/scratchy movie reel. Obviously trying to capture an animated effect in a static 2D drawing is going to be a bit of a stretch.
Yes, one could probably do a drawing and apply the appropriate Photoshop effect - but where's the challenge in that? There'd be no learning of technique or process and that's the beauty of drawing the combination of insight and process.
I haven't seen the effect that I'm talking about hand drawn before (I'm sure it has been, but I haven't found an example in cyberland yet). I'm quite excited about it, because if I pull it off I'll be a bloody genius, and if I don't then ....I'm an idiot for letting you all in on it.
I also know that a number of people have left comments saying that my work is photo-realistic (thank you guys/gals), but I think I'm a long, long, long way from that and I'm also a long way from where I want my drawing to be at. So the only thing to do is keep drawing and enjoy the ride!
comments
No comments yet ... why don't you leave one?
Hi Robyn - I’m dying to know where I’m going with this myself! I’m still conceptualising, I have the foreground and background sorted, I’m contemplating the middle ground currently (I think I’ll have a decision this weekend - this will either make or break the drawing). Importantly, I think I have the technique under control - it will be fiddly and time-consuming, but given the “complexity” I need to fully mark-up the drawing and for once draw in a traditional sense, background first etc. I don’t want to lead you astray in thinking I’m doing something revolutionary here - just interesting and different (fingers crossed).
UPDATE: Whoa…how this has changed from what I had in my mind. The only thing that has stayed the same is the foreground, everything else has changed (for the better?). The mark-up will be complete this weekend, then the fiddly fun begins.
Posted by Detlef on 01.01.70 at 02.00am
OK ... you have my attention. I’m dying to see where you are going with this.
Posted by Robyn on 17.05.05 at 09.55pm
You know I think all your work is beautiful. I love the look of old b/w movies.
Hate to contradict you on one thing, though. Concerning Photoshop: yes, you could just use a filter to do the work for you, or you can do it freehand as I do most of my stuff. I’ve actually learned a lot about drawing and painting while working in Photoshop. It is a great tool for experimenting with different techniques. And, I’ve done the scratches and flickery effect on my own in Photoshop which gave me an idea on how to do it in “real” life. Just play around with it as a canvas with some brushes and paints and nothing more and you’d be amazed at what you can discover.
Ok, lecture is over. You may resume your normal activities now.
Posted by Miss Daze on 25.05.05 at 12.01am
I’ve been enjoying the ride since I first discovered your work. As for Photoshop, I’ve seen some great work it. And it’s pretty obvious that computer art is amazing but it’s not the same as a pen in your hand.
Posted by janey on 28.05.05 at 12.51pm