Illustration Friday - Dance
I finished up at school on Friday afternoon, walking through the doors with the idea that I would immediately begin all the wonderful projects I had put on hold for so long. But by the time I got home, exhaustion had begun to set in, and by Saturday morning I felt completely drained. Nonetheless, I tried to create the image I had in my mind for this week's IF topic. I sketched and erased and sketched and erased over and over until I finally admitted that it wasn't going to happen this time. So once again, I offer you some blasts from the past...
The image above is from one of my high school journals. It was done in traditional pen and ink. My younger brother Matthew, who was a very little boy at the time, named it "Of People, Nature, and Pictures." The image below is a doodle from one of my college journals, and if you can't read the words, they say "Do you wanna dance?" I used some kind of fine line pen and markers.
So, if do wanna dance, I hope it's with joy!
posted by carla at 12:07 PM
47 Comments:
I love the drama of the first piece--(and the drama of the title as well!). You were such an expressive teen! I love the fashion sense of the second, from your college days. The scarf around her head is classic. I'm loving your blasts from the past, Carla.
the black and white illustration is visually interesting, love it!
I really like your new header too!
Hi Carla,
I like your "dance" submissions. Both are beutiful in their own way. Of the two, I think I favor the pen and ink because of it's bold graphic style.
Robert
Hello
Love the black and white piece.Have to agree with Roz - it's very dramatic and the title is so apt!
Cheers
carla… thank you for sharing your past… those high school journals can really yeild up some treasures… the first one is quite interesting and i can see much of your current style in the second with a sort of peter max vibe happening…
Both are great, but I like the top one most expecially. It is very compelling! Great submission!
At first I was more drawn to the 2nd one - for the colours, but as I look longer, I find the first one more expressive. Anyway, they are both very good illustrations.
Hey Carla, well at least you have something you can pull from the past that fits perfectly. I'm still stuck on wedding stuff and trying to get a piece done for a show coming up.
I love the first one! It has movement and growth. Very earthy also. The second one does reflect your current style but I still like the first one better.
i love them both! so fun and so very cool that you have them still. i have one tiny collectionof work to my knowledge from that time... very cool...
I love your brother's title for the first one; it's perfect! They're both wonderful. Now relax and enjoy the summer break. :0)
Oh, I love the blast from the past and I think your brothers title is very fitting (and catchy).
The top illo is very 'zen' and I like that it's black and white...almost like a wood cutting.
Beautiful!
That top one almost does look like a wood cutting! Cool! and the bottom one is graceful and sinuous, nice colors. Mary :-)
I love looking at earlier work and seeing the same stylistic leanings that the artist has in his/her current work. I just love "Do you wanna dance?"
Congratulations on surviving another school year. I hope you have a relaxing and fruitful summer!
BRING ON THE DOODLES! I love her dress, the stars on the sleeves ... so cool!
Would love to see more of your stuff from the past. Take care & drink some green tea to recharge!
Big smooch,
The Tart
; )
one of my friends is an art teacher, your words could be coming from her mouth.
Both pieces are great, so strong the image and mood of the pen and ink, your brother was pretty accurate with his name for it. I love her face and that red is gorgeous and is in contrast to her mood of being almost bored or rung out from the festivities. Fascinating pieces and wonderful work!
fantastic work, don't worry, everyone gets in a rut now and then. you work is really great!
I agree bring on the doodles!! You were always so detailed and expressive! Amazing - take some time to yourself! Besides we all love seeing some of your past art!!
like the neg and postive shapes in the 1st. and it def has the feel of something from nature growing and dancing into fruitation.
like the pose of the second cause it barely looks as if she can stand yet she still wants to dance. one and the colors and pattern on her dress.
Love them both! The top one I couldn't stop staring at to see if I could find something else hidden within. The bottom one is fantastic! I love that 60's vibe youve got going on!!
If you're anything like me, you probably have the same expectations for your first days off every year. My wife gives a full bellied laugh every year when I end up pacing the house and staring blankly out the windows the first four or five days after years' end. I'm glad that she finds so much joy in my predictability. Have a great summer Carla.
Glad school is over for you. I know how much free time can turn into pressure-try to enjoy some free time.
I like both of these-they are both perfect for dance.
I really like the black and white!
Enjoy your summer!!!
yes, joyous dancing is key!!! I love these Carla and I'm alway's impressed that you do all that you do and submit original works on IF too! You need a holiday that includes dancing!!!
unique vareities of dance interpretation!! LOVELY!!
The black and white illustriation is pretty amazing actually, as far as intensity goes. lol, when i was in high school i couldn't even draw stick people!
The second illo is fantastic, very gracefull.
I really love the way you use different patterns within patterns in your beautiful drawings! They are so beautiful and then you are drawn in more by the infinite amount of detail that keeps going on.It is also neat to see the progression from highschool to college to now. Your style in unique to you alone and keeps getting more wonderful as time goes on!
I really love the way you use different patterns within patterns in your beautiful drawings! They are so beautiful and then you are drawn in more by the infinite amount of detail that keeps going on.It is also neat to see the progression from highschool to college to now. Your style in unique to you alone and keeps getting more wonderful as time goes on!
Love those doodles! I really like your brother's take on the first-- that's adorable! You really achieved a smooth finish with the markers-- I'm impressed! Ican never get markers to cooperate...
The first picture makes me think of "The Dance of the Corn People" While the second seems more of an invitation :) Great work, as allways.
It's great that you have these older drawings saved for just such occasions! The first one has such a powerful graphic quality, but the second one is my favorite! Of course I like that you included type in your illustration, but she's just such a cool looking lady. Her posture, her outfit, her hair....I can imagine she's a great dancer, too! :-)
Both of these reflect the creative spirit that you've nurtured your whole life, it seems. The high school piece, aptly named by Matthew, is very involved and thought-provoking. The woman who's asking for a dance shows your trademark attention to detail, especially in her hair and dress.
Wow,you were so talented in high school! Love the energy bursting forth!
Love the pen and ink one -- very lovely movement...
Enjoy your term break Carla. The illustrations are wonderful.
Carla, I get days like this all the time. You probably have notice that since I have been absent from IF quite a lot lately and not posting much drawings on my blog.
It's nice to see your past work every now and again. Wish I still have my school work with me. :)
firstly....thank you very much for your lovely comments in my blog.......secondly...by the gods i love your work!..... thirdly..the more i look at your work..the more i really reckon you'd get a kick out of this lass: www.valimyers.com .....and fourthly.. i particuly like this first 'dance' illustration!..really great blog Carla.
Hi Carla! Funny about the ladybugs in your house - the same thing happens to my Grandma in Michigan! She hates them! Everytime I see something "ladybug" I think of her. Thanks for your comments - you are so uplifting!
I love the pose of the black and white one. Very elegant.
Anette
www.wynlen.no
these are great carla...I am amazed that you have your sketchbooks from college and high school....enjoy school being out!
Both illos are very nice Carla! That's cool you kept your sketches and drawings from school. Thanks for the nice comments on my blog!
such interesting, different versions of the same theme. I like the graphic feel of the first one, and the swooping lines of the second one- the hand is so delicate, with the bracelet- Great!
Carla, Your signature style speaks for itself! Great images. It's wonderful to see past work and the fact you always had a wonderful flair for detail. Enjoy the time off!!!!
It is interesting to look at your older work, it really feels that you developed an own drawing language early on. The black and white one is especially cool and could be easily used as a logo. Happy school holidays!
love the black and white dance. really cool! From my perspective a good name would also be - Dance is in our nature.
I like the style of the second one too!
Your pieces are always original and are always you, even when you were a teen you had a distinct style!! These are no exception. I love the black and white piece...and, the title does fit it perfectly. The second piece leaves a lot to the imagination...especially wondering what kind of dance she is talking about?
Wow, I didnt realize how many comments you get until I checked out your blog using dial-up! Your work is fantastic - I hope you do get into painting like you mentioned. Just do what makes you happy! Brandi
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