Emo Fairies

[Joie]

I'm on a roll this semester. The creative juices are flowing and the classes demanding. If only I scanned in every sketch that I ever did. Both my computer and the intarwebs would BLOW UP from the constant spam. And even then, I totally don't draw enough. >.>

So in recent light of discovering a totally crazy good new artist that I admire, (named Adam Hughes, whose website can be found here) I've decided to go on a portrait drawing spree (not entirely reflected in the artwork shown below). I really want to perfect my anatomy. Besides, you can ALWAYS get better, and that is my aim in life. To get as good as I can as fast as I can, which in essence will always be going on. NEVER ENDING MISSION OF DOOM! So yeah.

I suppose my art is interesting. It likes to hover between Illustration and Fine Art (continuing the idea I discussed last post about the "delineation" that is forced there), and I have a separate direction and goal for both. Neither side have a distinct style yet, as I'm still in the wandering time of trying to nail one down. I mean, my art in general has a style, but I can also emulate a lot of styles and have yet to 100% create one of my own. I'm on my way through. It's slowly starting to come together, and I imagine that within the next two years the "Official Beginning" of my style will start to peek through. I also imagine that this is how most artists go about things. You've got one thing, get influenced, add bits and pieces of this and that, changes things here and there, and then finally hit the chord that screams "your" style. Or something.

I digress; in regards to my "Fine Art" I generally tend to hover around subject matter that are cutesy, girlie, child-like, or innocent. You know, ponies, fairies, angles, bunnies, kittens, ballerinas, mermaids, etc. However, I find that I end up warping them somehow. I make them uncomfortable, messed up, containing a dark note, or whatever have you. For example, on my website (which is currently down since I decided to BREAK IT... blar), you see Fairy Tales with "realistic endings." Most of these include some sort of death or disgusting/terrible twist to them. I've also got ballerinas with names like "Desire," "Death," and "Destruction." Or the above cutesy fairy sitting on a poisonous mushroom with a butcher's knife in her hand. See the pattern here? I'm trying to end up where Goya and Romanticism meet Mucha and Art Nouveau. Odd, yes I know.

As for my illustration, I'm not quite sure where I'm going. I know my end goal is to be a Freelance Illustrator, but I'm still a little lost, direction-wise. Like, I LOVE James Jean (website here) and he is who influenced me to become a freelancer. But I also like the aforementioned Adam Hughes and various other artists. So I could end up doing comic book stuff... and the two styles are different in my eyes. Perhaps it's just up to me to find the middle point amongst them all and make my mark on the world from there. Or I'll waste time floundering in pondering and thought. Not sure yet.

[Victor Hernandez]

Very nice work, Joie! I went to KSU back in 1994-1996 for Graphic Design, though the lure of getting a so-called 'real job' in the 'real world' snatched me. I've often heard of the hardline purists (I'm using the terms v-e-r-y loosely) that push the distinction between fine art and illustration, which I believe also bugs you as well (it does me!). I've always considered myself and 'artist' and yet my style is purely 'illustration'. FWIW, I don't see the difference.

I've heard and read before that illustrators, talented as they may be, serve only a function with their talent - that to produce a specific end-product in mind. On the other end, are the 'artists', who pick up a brush and create spontaneously, and thus deserve more merit (???). I don't buy it ^_^ - there is plenty of talent, dedication, merit and beauty on both sides.

So, long-winded comment! Beautiful ART, Joie ;-).

[Johnathan Fuller]

Hehehe, I like the cat with the gun tail, it gives me an idea... I'll tak to you later about it!