Sorry for the long absence.  We moved from Florida to Oklahoma at the beginning of November, and I just did not find the time to blog.  I have some catching up to do.  Check out my Flickr photos to see what has been going on.

Today I just want to show you a couple of images by Gerard Michel.  I stumbled onto his Flickr page a few months ago.  His architectural drawings are so pleasing.  He uses nothing but his eyes and paint and pen– no instruments or tools to get the drawing right.  Wow.  That is all I know about him.  Check out his work here.

They loved painting their pumpkins!

Henry has his pumpkin pattern sketched out.  They love this season so much.  It is as good as a birthday to Miles.

18×24 oil painting.  This was a collaborative effort between me, my husband Jonathan and Lea Hanna.  We came up with the idea after looking at a book about the illustrator’s from the 1940’s and 50’s.  Lea Hanna is an avid photographer and will be studying photojournalism for the next few years.  Jonathan did some research on WW2 posters, and he came up with a list of taglines.  Here are a few he wrote:

“There’s more than one way we can shoot!”

“Grab your Cannon, gals, and shoot for the Navy!”

“I WANT YOUR CAMERA for the U.S. Navy”

“Women, get out of the kitchen and take pictures!”

“It takes more than ONE MAN to do this job. IT TAKES A WOMAN!”

“Focus on a career in the NAVY”

“I flashed the boys in the NAVY”

“Needed: brave female photographers for the U.S. NAVY.”

“I can lick ‘em with my camera!”

This portrait is quite unique, and I cannot wait to do another poster-style painting.

Daniel Sprick is a master of edges.  Unbelievable.  I also think his color theory and compositions are superb.  I hope my work goes in this direction as I age.

8×10 Freedom Red by Graydon Parrish (he is one of my top 5 living artists).

Illustration Friday posted an interview with Tim O’ Brien worth readying.  Here is an excerpt:

It has been a long time since people started talking about “photography replacing illustration” but you seem to be busier than ever! We are all fascinated by your work that they are more real than what photos can capture; George W. Bush tearing up in regret, Beethoven as a contemporary young man, Obama as Superman, and numerous TIME covers you have created… How do you define yourself in the contemporary editorial market? Do you sometimes feel that your competitors are photographers rather than other illustrators?

Realism was certainly the only game in town for most of the age of print so far.  Thankfully that changed over the past 30 years and now you can see all kinds of amazing and thoughtful illustration everywhere.  I am a rarity among editorial illustrators, a realist.  There are a few reasons why an art director might choose me to do an illustration or a cover.  First, realism has the power to connect to the masses in a way that a more unique style might not.  If I do a cover for a magazine it fits into the flow that the viewer is used to.  Many photos are used, this is true, so my work is not a jarring surprise.  Another reason an AD might choose me is I can take imperfect reference and create a perfect portrait.  I understand textures, color, anatomy and color enough to improve upon a bad photo.  Still another reason I’m used might be that the paintings have a power and a beauty or can convey a concept which might not be available in photography. Finally, I’m pretty fast.

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I love how he briefly explains the way that realism communicates in a natural way to the viewer.  They don’t get enchanted or mystified by the technique, and so the illustrator can do more poetic work with the subject matter to communicate the message.  Anyway, the whole article is good, and O’Brien’s blog showcases his technique.  I am going to try a couple of things based on what I read.  Good stuff!

8×10 acrylic on pastel board.  It is a mastercopy with many changes.