Les Grotesques

Living in San Francisco, especially in this day and age, has made me more prone to, without any hesitation, snap pictures of interesting people. Not stalker-type, but just when the person makes me think: "Wow- they seem like they must have really had an interesting life." It really reminds me of the mentality Leonardo da Vinci's The Grotesques series... not so much because the people I'm randomly snapping are literally grotesque-- but because they're some of the most interesting people to look at and to draw.

It's such a fine line to draw and a fine distinction because someone might find it insulting- which is not the case whatsoever. If anything, I think it's an amazing thing-- getting me to stare and double take, be inspired and interested in. I think it's boring if someone looks so plain and vanilla... I'm happy that such a great master could appreciate the people who are different because they're different; someone has to. Exploitive? Not in the least. If I were to draw or to paint images of anyone, I want them to be off the wall and unique, wouldn't you? It's more fun and it's more... real. 

Not everyone is "beautiful", not everyone is pristine and like beautiful porcelain. The ones with rugged edges- the ones with cracks- they're the ones who will make the most interesting art. 

Updates.

I wish I had some tastefully artful things to say right now, but my creativity has been a little bit on the fritz this past month due to stress. Things are getting better, though, and I've been really forcing myself to play around with color again. 

Fabrics were bought this past week which I'm super excited about... and there are plenty of deadlines to be met. I've gotten some questions about commissions and am excited to really dive head first into that. I've also been inspired a lot by some of Miss Pandora's recent modeling posts which have really gotten my drawing hand back to practicing- I've missed it all very much. 

Looking forward to a trip out of town, too! I can't wait to post about it-- it's going to be an amazing adventure. 

Under the Weather and Comforts

• Being back at school has actually been a great thing. I've missed the structure, missed having things to do that aren't necessarily related to my day-to-day tasks. I know a lot of people don't miss going to college classes, but sometimes they can be a salvation. Having a book to read, an essay to write, or being forced to think outside of the box-- it is helping me a lot right now, especially since this past month has been the most stressful of my entire life. Ergonomics class is actually really challenging...
• My iPad is great! It's lovely having something to be able to help me with my school work. I've uploaded my textbooks onto it so I can read while on public transport-- though I'm sure it makes me look like a crazy woman whenever the muni doors open- looking around all crazy. I will take only minor, acceptable risks, but I don't want to be mugged. Regardless, I bought a 5$, cheapie stylus to start playing with drawing apps... only to lose it the following day. Remind me to only use cheap styluses instead of investing in a nice Wacom one. I'm surprised my handwriting with the tip of my finger isn't completely illegible. 
• I haven't sewn in a long time-- it's actually really depressing. The last thing I made was my iPad case... and that was just because I needed to be able to take it around with me the day I bought it. BUT, I was able to use a BEAUTIFUL Liberty of London fabric: Spring 2012 Picardie, designed by Phil Kim-- and based on the inspiration of A Clockwork Orange. My first time working with Liberty-- and it was amazing. I was able to score a fat quarter amount from Etsy and it was a dream to work with... I can't wait to incorporate more of this iconic fabric into my life! But besides all that, I'm actually in dire straights: I need new clothes but haven't been sewing a damn thing. I'm hoping to start changing that next week. 

Ya, I'm Into High Class Stuff.

This past week a huge tent has been erected in the middle of Union Square down here in San Francisco  for an amazing event: Le Festival des Métiers, A Rendez-Vous with Hermès Craftsmen.

My mind was blown.

Now, I'm a fan of Hermès, but this event really threw them to the top of my list of inspiring métiers. I knew what they did, how they did it, and the general mentality of how they view their craft. But seeing it in person? Amazing. I was honestly taken aback by the artistry and the craftsmanship. And let's just be honest: I know that the brand is expensive and super famous and they're HIGH FASHION, but that isn't what attracts me to it. It's the fact that it's a small company and everything is made using the traditional techniques they've been using for over a hundred years. That tradition is so much more of an allure to me-- I can only hope to aspire to be a part of that sort of legacy!

Each button hole is made by hand by a sharpened tool. It takes 12 minutes to sew EACH button hole by hand. Most of the buttons pictured above are mother of pearl that has been hand dyed. Watching this seamstress work was super interesting. She said she'd been working with Hermès for over 25 years and had been sewing couture for years before she started with the company. The buttons she was sewing on had "H" designs on them... it takes 6 button holes to sew in that design.

Journey to the center of my insanity. LOL.

While working on homework, I realized that I could post something I was working on here just for the onlookers. With my handidandy scanner that I probably don't use enough, I went ahead and just scanned my progress so everyone can stop saying "omg that looks great!"-- because it's just a meticulous, step by step process. Easy. I promise! (haha!)

First things first, draw the image you're turning into a croquis. In this case, I'm working on trying to render plaid fabric so I used a Vivienne Westwood jacket for my reference piece. When everything looks situated, I tend to draw the flesh tone and hair before I get too far ahead. I figure it starts to give the drawing some personality. As for the hair, I could use marker but I just like colored pencil because it makes the strands separate nicely. The flesh tone is kind of difficult because you really just have to do it with some conviction and confidence! I know it looks strange at this point, but hang in there with me!

After throwing in some water color into the hair, I went into working on the trousers. This was tricky because I really wanted to show how the shape turns without it looking flat with the crease in the middle. I went in and painted the left side of each leg first with a couple layers of watercolor before even touching the right sides of the legs. While that was drying, I started working on the plaid  which let me tell you, so tricky! If you look closely on the croquis on the right, you can see where I got lost in the design. I think next time I work on plaid I'm going to use marker... Regardless, I start also throwing in some defining lines around the figure in general along with a few highlights in the hair.

Then bam! It's done! In all honesty, it's really in the details as my teacher keeps stressing. The white lines in the jacket were painted with gauche as well as the buttons. I wish I would have spent more time on the necklace but by the time I was doing that, I was all ready 2.5 hours in and was over it. Easy process, just time consuming for sure!

For materials, I used Bristol Vellum, watercolors, Prismacolor markers and colored pencils, as well as white gauche.

Reference drawings, croquis, and happy with the live model.

So school this semester has been definitely interesting, but I'm happy to say I'm not struggling. The main class that has been more "challenging" of the two has been my croquis class which is very time consuming and cash consuming as well!

Here are some of the things I've worked on for the semester.

Most of the drawings were done from reference but we still get live models from time to time. I really like the model that helps out on a regular basis-- she has fashion figure proportions and is always coming out with very comfortable poses for our purposes. Also helps that she cracks jokes while we draw.

Otherwise, I'm (generally?) happy with my assignments, but I think I should definitely spend more time practicing... but it gets tiring, you know? It's probably a good thing I didn't go with animation as a career-path as I originally intended back when I was in high school! Looking back on it, it seems like a really weird goal for me. I don't think I would be happy in that career right now.

Toast with extra butter and marmalade doesn't make me a fatty.

I'm not going to lie, it's nice being ("decently") connected to the internet again. I love my iPhone to pieces but holy cow. There really is nothing like being able to see my favorite websites again at full screen. Granted, my hopes for 2011 of finally getting a new computer are still in the wings, at least my janky laptop still connects and the keys still can click away at a blogger's speed. Ah, it's nice to be back.

I have tons of pictures to post but in the meantime, New Year Resolutions! I will start by saying that my resolutions from last year turned out positively! I quit Starbucks once and for all and am now a happy specialist at an Apple retail store which is exciting and amazing. I didn't quite stretch for France, but there's always this year. Anyway- resolutions for 2012:

 

To further explain each one...

#1: I've upped my shoe heel pain tolerance for 2011 but in all honesty, my heel collection is limited to... 3 pairs. I've gotta step it up a notch and not only buy more of these beautiful stilts, but really practice my swagger. I don't look like an awkward giraffe in the pairs I own (unlike the very unclassy ladies I saw being trashy on NYE!), but eventually I'd like to comfortably rock a 4" heel. Besides, look how amazing! Yey for Miu Miu!

 

#2: I quit my gym membership which is kind of funny for it happening at the beginning of the year. Everyone is rushing to go join and I up and quit! I realized that the only reason I wanted the membership was to go to yoga classes... which I can comfortably download podcasts for on my phone. Now that I've recently moved to my own apartment, finding space for my yoga mat isn't a problem... and doing corpse pose on my bedroom floor with sunlight warming me up feels amaaaazing. Now I just have to do it more than once every few months. Any improvement- even if once a week- would make me proud and call this resolution a win.

#3: I didn't quite realize how much my drawing skills have deteriorated since I last drew my New Year drawings so I figured this is very appropriate! On an aside, I'll be attending a Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School next week so if anything, that should wrangle me back on track. I've heard of this group randomly here and there, but I think it'd be fun to start doing something like this. Get a drink in hand and do some amazing drawings. I just have to warm myself up before hand otherwise the two hours of awesome poses will be lost!

Either way, please look forward to my next few posts which will include drawings, inspirational images, and well, shoes. I have a lot of high hopes for 2012!

Acidic flowers and other assortments of THINGS hurt my eyes.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm really terrible at mailing things out to family. Making stuff is one thing, actually mailing stuff is another (unless its a sale, at which I get militant!).

I drew these flowers for Mother's Day cards, only one of which has been received by the corresponding mother. I really should mail them out...!!!

 

May 2011, colored pencil and marker.

Not making crap excuses (image dump).

I decided to scan some random things I've worked on in the last couple months... I really need to get myself a more portable drawing book so I can do more! And pens. Fountain pens, specifically. Love them!

A pepperoni slice a day keeps the doctor away.

Classes haven't been as much of a priority lately as they should be-- but I'm still trotting along. In my History of Fashion class, we're required to draw the fashions from each time period studied. Overall, my garments look semi-decent. As for the fashion illustration aspect of these images, I feel like I'm losing my skills! I can only blame myself. I haven't attended any drawing workshop or done any independant drawing... not because I don't want to, but because there's no time. I'm well aware that I'm doing myself a terrible disservice. Working evenings- when I'm the most awake, aware, and inspired- definitely has its disadvantages.

Here are some of the pictures I've done for the class, however. Definitely not the best I've ever drawn, but there's something I like about each. Yey for my printer/scanner. The images look lovely digitalized.



Low/High Midevil



Renaissance



1600s



Late 1700s

 

I would have figured that drawing the 1700s would have been great fun and everything. You'd be surprised how little resources on the French Revolution and the French court the San Francisco library holds. Also, blah faces and hands. I think I need to start doing some drawing on my down time-- these attempts have very little life to them.