Thunder from Down Under!

Jezzah

Hey all.

First off let me say I read over the sticky pages and tried to ensure I wouldn't break any rules with this thread. So, sorry if I have

Always been a fan of PA and ever since watching the PATV vids I've meant to come over and check out the art boards. Wow there is a lot of skill and experience here! Anyway I thought I'd put some work up that I've been doing the past couple of months.

Basically I work for a fashion mag as a graphic designer and every issue I create a piece for the contents page. Every piece is a portrait and has to in some way include either the Australian Hair Industry or is a shot (generally portrait) which showcases a style that a hairdresser or team has done.

The first mag I worked on I only spent 20 mins on the image. Ever since then I can't help but spend more and more time. I find I'm trying to one up myself with every subsequent image. I want to eventually feel comfortable with drawing/painting more abstract and gestural pieces but I always fall into attempting realism.

I only have minimal sketching training with some time doing life drawing and a really basic sketching class during univeristy. Apart from that I've done a small amount of reading and doodle from time to time.

I've put the images below in chronological order so you can see how I keep putting more and more detail into my images. Do any of you find yourselves fighting internally with the art you make and the art you want to make? Admittedly experimenting with my style probably shouldn't be done at work and maybe my conflict comes down to making time outside of the daily grind to work on it.

Anyway enough text and more pics!

Issue 147


Issue 149


Issue 150


Issue 151


The first two are obviously pencil sketches, the second two were created using Artrage. Something about the muddling of paint has captured me recently.

Verom

The amount of time progressively spend on each portrait is obvious, and they all look great. Though it'd be interesting to know what kind of article they are going with.

I think experimenting with your stuff even at work is fine, as long as the piece looks fine even if it doesn't, you are learning and testing yourself even though what your doing is important you push the envelope on what you can do and seeing how it will turn out keeps you from getting bored and having to make "just another portrait for work"

Jezzah

Hmm I will upload a page later so you guys can get some context.

There's no article attached to these. There's just page numbers and feature names below them. It'll be easier to understand with the upload though.

Yeah you're right Verom about needing to keep the work fresh. I think that's partly why I crossed over to digital. Well that and the fact that it would be hard to go more detailed and not start getting smudgy with the pencil.

worstcase

i think these are all great, but my favorite is still your first one.

I love sketchy, expressive stuff
If you want to experiment, why don't you do some more abstract or looser portraits with paint or watercolor or something
Or ink! Yeah!
Ink would be amazing

post more please! I love these

Mustang

These are great, I like the third one best. I suppose it's the least fashiony of the bunch, but by far the most interesting. Fashion images usually bore me as they're about the clothes/hair first and the imagery a distant second.