I have to admit it...I am tired. Tired when I go to bed, tired when I wake up. I may just take a bit of a break tonight, drink some water and go to bed early. Truly, I feel like I have been dragged through a keyhole backwards. But, prior to my date with my pillow, I figure I will give you a short one, two, three of today.
Once again, Vin Di Fate was fascinating. We reviewed the Romance genre this morning and Action/Adventure this afternoon. Vin moves pretty quickly, weaving ideas, approaches, context and style into a fluid hour that whizzes by. The classic guys just make me constantly check on whether I am breathing. That Coby, John and Al are such amazing guys. I love the flat color, the simple compositions using architectural elements or aspects of the picture to help do the work. Parker really knows how to use the page--employing the fade away as well (or better than Cole Philips). Seeing Mark English again was a blast from the past...and it reminded me of how much I like his work. And the tone-y, chic Joe Bowler work that really is like opening the windows into yesterday--so beautiful and sensitive that it is illustration poetry. The Queen of the bodice rippers, Elaine Duillo is an amazing illustrators--the pure center for the work we see today on the peggyback racks embossed and gilded.
NC Wyeth and his interpretation of Action/adventure topics (Treasure Island etc) and Howard Pyle....WowWow Wow. I was taken with the illustrations Frank Schoonover did (Tales of Arabian Nights) and their good design--perhaps more feminine than the others--but beautiful. I love seeing the model Steve Holland pop up in the James Bama and other illustrator's work. And lets not forget Remington (I have a hard time loving Russell)--Mr. Color, Mr. Dust, Mr. Muscle. Fort Worth was the dose I needed to adore this guy. Such clean work.
We had the Lewins today--It felt like we didn't have much time to work in class as we had presentations etc. So, I was a bit short trying to lean into my work and not be a hand model or helper. I am feeling selfish, but thats where the sleep deprivation is coming in...thus the early night tonight. Betsy and Ted shared their work with us...each with a story one either laughs out loud about or tears up about. The Lewins are great illustrators and story tellers. I could listen to them all day. This formula of teaching guarantees that by the end of day Tuesday, our heads have gone to strained peas...with no electrical charges...I am going to dive on this tomorrow.
Our Lunch and Learn talk was the gumdrop of the week: Murray Tinkelman on Decorative Illustration. Murray qualified the world of illustrators from those that see their work in the round and those that see things flat. I am a flat person who has been wishing to be a round person despite I cannot go there. Murray said as an aside, when he does realistic work, it still is a flat piece--and you know, that's true with me. Sign, sealed, delivered...I am a flat.
Murray addressed the aspects of decorative illustration as he sees it:
> Contained complexity
> 2D
> "Too much is not enough." Chico Marx, Duck Soup
> Own aesthetic
> pattern against simple shapes
> no deep space (remember Bunny's request to consider layers as rigid stage sets--right on)
>"'Our species has an inate love of decoration...the Bauhaus ...sacrificed a huge chunk of humanity."
As Lori Ann Levy- Holm, brilliant in a hot pink shirt, scribbled on my sketch pad " Can you say "Validation"?".
I think she pretty well summed it up for me.
I need to boil on this a bit.
>>as an aside, Murray had a Syracuse alumni from the Newhouse School come and present his work, his comics and the newest of his projects>> www.itsjerrytime.com. It says it all. Love it.