Illustration, Design, Editing, Art
Finding Grace ©2010 alecia goodman
Illustration Friday’s word this week is “Ahead”…. I thought about this and almost went with the literal interpretation, A – Head which would apply to all portraits. Then I thought about it a little differently, what does it mean to me right now in this very moment. To me it means progress, moving forward. Many times I feel like I get stuck, working so hard to move forward. The art work above shows my progress towards completion, my moving “Ahead”.
Grace Drawing 2 ©2010 alecia goodman
My on-going project… Grace
Shadows Of Wood ©2010 alecia goodman
I was wondering how many of us really look under the surface to what’s inside; Illustration Friday’s topic this week is “detective”… so I thought about it and thought the obvious things like Sherlock Holmes, magnifying glass etc., but then I thought about what a detective does and bingo I had it. This is something I have been dealing with quite a bit as an artist. People tend to judge books by their covers and this applies to people and even approaches to art or concepts. I know its not easy when someone walks into your life looking like they are poor, homeless, or maybe just common etc. In reality each of us reflect our inner gifts in different ways… Still I do think its funny, the stereotypes of an artist – some people don’t think I am an artist because well I am not weird enough, not covered with ink, have punk hair or anything else they believe I should have… but If you got to know me, by being a detective and looking under the surface, you would be surprised and realize most if not all of those things don’t matter. What matter’s is me, (my art) and yes, I am an artist.
When people think of Norman Rockwell, it is normally an idealized painting on the cover of a Saturday Evening Post. I am sure we all have our favorites… I of course have too many to count.
What you might not realize is that the Wichita Art Museum (WAM) is showing an exhibit of Rockwell’s work from March 7 – May 30, some very well known pieces and some different pieces, all of which span over 40 years. Yes, the Saturday Evening Posts, Boys Journal and other magazines all used his art, but Rockwell also did more abstract illustrations. For example, he depicted an illustration of Murders in Mississippi; reflecting on civil rights and the KluKlux Klan. Many of the notes from this project are on exhibit as well, helping to break down the artist’s process. Being a commercial artist Rockwell tended to be controversial and looked down upon by artists and illustrators. Even though his paintings are highly detailed and many have an underlying message, at times political. Still many of his works caught childhood innocence, a snap shot that tells a story like the “day in the life of a girl.”
I read many interesting facts regarding his models: Rockwell worked from photography late in his career. In the beginning his models would have to stand for hours held in place with ropes and pulleys or kept balanced by stacks of books. Many of his models were not professional and many were children (paid by time with a pile of coins.)
The exhibit is well worth your time even if you are not an artist. WAM is free on Saturdays!
Menagerie 3 minus 1 ©2010 alecia goodman
I was wondering what I could post for Illustration Friday’s topic Linked. So I let the word just bounce around in my head all day. And smack, every kind of link imaginable kept coming up ie. braid, quilts, and then it hit me; Family, How much more than that can people be linked? We don’t always like our family, but we will always love them, because we share a link. This is one of my most favorite captured moments of my sister, brother and I by my Dad; there are four of us, but the baby sister hasn’t made her debut just yet.
So my next thought would be to make sure I show her as well… “Pain In The Neck,” and the title is just the tip of the iceberg.
Pain In The Neck ©2010 alecia goodman
All of us are linked through family and I think sometimes everyone needs to remember that. I just think back to when we were all at home together and a lot of those memories do make me laugh. And if you really try to think about “Linked” I even started wondering about the missing link or a skeleton…. but I am glad I chose the drawing or drawings I did, because they mean alot to me and to my family.
Grace Drawing 1 ©2010 alecia goodman
I always like starting a portrait with the eyes… Grace’s capture you and pull in to her world. On this portrait I am working in the dark areas and building up the layers of pastel.
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