One of the interesting side effects of the way in which I create art these days – always short on time, often in multiple stages, often while multi-tasking – is that it has become clear what my automatic go-to art supplies are. The fact that I almost always reach for ink and watercolour tells me that that is my creative “home”. I, therefore, think that I should focus my skills development on those media. However, I still intend to dabble in other media because I don’t like being hemmed in or stuck in a creative rut. However, it is probably good to know that ink and watercolour are my comfort zone.
I grabbed some time this weekend to play in my art journal. I used last week’s Art Journal Adventure prompt which was the letter V. I never really need much prodding to illustrate mythology and monsters so as soon as I saw V I thought Vampire. I resisted my automatic impulse, which was to draw Nosferatu (my favourite vampire) yet again and to instead try something different so I decided to draw a glamorous, fin de siecle lady vampire. I not only kept things simple with just ink and watercolour but I also simplified things by using just black and red. I like that combination and notice it crops up a lot in my ink work.
What a lovely lady (vampire). I love her red eyes. I also like how you painted a gray wash in the background to pop out the illustration.
Thanks, Sharon. The background was going to be too stark if left white but too dark if I went black so I am glad the grey wash compromise worked out.
This vampire lady is so elegant and so evil. I love the contrast between her fancy dress and her snarling mouth.
Thank you. I’m not sure the dress is historically accurate in any way but I enjoyed “designing” it. I don’t usually draw much detail in clothes.
I’d like to see more, I think you have an eye for it. Love to see what you’d come up as a wardrobe for one of your other characters.
I actually regularly tell myself that I need to work on drawing clothing and poses.
I recommend King of Prussia malls before they open, for the window displays.
That’s a good idea.