Throwback Thursday: (Old) Scenes from the Life Drawing Room

Whilst sorting through folders of old work this week I came across some of my life drawings from my second year at uni. I always like to see some good figure drawings now and then, so I thought I would share some of my favourites with you all, just in case you enjoy them too.

At this time I got really into Da Vinci and all of the classic renaissance artists and movement. My drawing technique has really changed since.

I didn't keep many that I considered "good" as I've always felt uncomfortable rendering realistic human forms. I think I need to pick up where I left off and start conquering my figure-drawing fears.

Personal // Ellie Goulding Drawing (A work in progress...!)

Something different for me: portraits. An Ellie sketch developed into this finished drawing during a bout of lots of portrait/people practice in 2012. 

This is my favourite of the bunch and still remains uncoloured! We all know "WIP"s always end up being long forgotten relics in our desk drawers, but hopefully that wont be the case with this one...

(C) Amy Holliday 2012, please do not take or use without permission

Sketchbook: Horses and Horse Racing Sketches

These work-in-progress sketches are from earlier in the year and are still waiting around begging to be finished. The inspiration was spurred on (pun intended) after seeing the beautiful sculptures of Paris (Visiting the art capital of the world this summer was incredibly inspiring...) 

I love how something still can capture so much movement, power and emotion.

Horses used to be my favourite thing to doodle when I was little, but I have rarely attempt them lately as they cause my perfection-ism to kick into overdrive. 

Collaboration // Swanky Egg Design: Sleeping Beauty Illustration to Fairytale Sculpture

The lovely Molly Miller aka Swanky Egg Design of Etsy, has finished her wonderful fairy-tale sculpture inspired by my 2011 Sleeping Beauty illustration...

Molly completed her whimsical sculpture a few weeks ago now, and I was so excited to see the finished piece. Molly really captured the essence of my illustration and then some. She added in extra details of castle spires and the spinning wheel, and even created a star-lit night sky by entwining tiny fairy-lights into the rose briars. The piece sold within 15 minutes of listing in her online Etsy shop!

Molly Miller is "Swanky Egg Design". She lives in Salt Lake City, US and creates beautiful fairy-tale inspired decorative pieces that she sells online in her Etsy shop. To marvel at more 

of her creations visit her online Etsy store here...

More of my fairy-tale illustrations from 2011 can be seen at my website here.

"Muse Within the Flames" // Packaging for Passione Pizza: Concept to Final Illustration

In April, I had the pleasure to illustrate for LA-based pizza dough brand, "Passsione Pizza". Passione'
is a young company, producing organic pizza dough mix with authentic, traditional Italian recipes.

"Created by Maestro Pizzaiolo Fabrizio Cercatore, “Passione Pizza” is a brand that specializes in true, high quality pizza ingredients that come straight from the culinary traditions of Italy."

For more info you can visit the site at: www.passionepizza.com.

I have to say the brief was quite a surprise - it was a very unusual one for me! "A muse within the flames". The flames, of course being a hot wood-fired pizza oven. The muse, being a sultry yet confident feminine presence, concealed within the flames and as somewhat of an optical illusion.

 Some time was taken to perfect the concept of the design. Below are just a selected few
of my designs and workings...

Of course the muse began in my usual illustration style, with details of a lady's face or silhouette...

 

 

 I took note that we needed to keep her from looking like a "tortured soul" !! This kept me giggling quite a bit as I worked on simplifying her features.

...to keep the optical illusion concept strong, he design was simplified down to a minimal lines, with the end designs being much more simple, looking very different from my starting point.

I also experimented with different ways of drawing flames, they can be curvy, curly and serene but then can also be jagged, sharp and angry...

And so, many ideas, sketches and lots of experimenting later, here is the final illustration,
ready to be used...

All images are (C) Amy Holliday 2013. Please do not use without permission.

Experimental: "Hair-style Personality" Portraits

Now for something completely different: Through December and early January I attempted some portraits.... These particular ones were inspired by three close friends of mine and their distinct personalities. I now know that I love drawing hair, so I made this my focus. Presenting "occasion" hair, 

"winter" hair and "nature" hair (still a work in progress)..

They are a little different to my usual approach because I experimented in a number of ways, including my drawing style, paper type and painting technique.

In my opinion they have a very girly, soft, almost story-book style to them. I prefer my more loose and relaxed style over this more clean, smooth 'cute' style. I may not be overly happy with them, but their 'portraitees' love them. 

As with the cat breed portraits, I look forward to taking a more relaxed, looser approach to my drawings next time. Perhaps some more life-drawing is in order..