Playing Paperdolls

My first step in designing images for my Redstone covers. This one is Daniel. As you can see, he's still very rough. I'm also working on Jake and Maria, mostly Maria.

And I'm working on a few sketches of the Rock as well.
Ann

Well, stone the crowes, he looks familiar.

Shelagh are you referring to the Rustle of Ann's talented art work?

Wow! You are fortunate that you can draw! I have to find my characters in stock photos.

dmondeo wrote:

Shelagh are you referring to the Rustle of Ann's talented art work?

She certainly russled up something.

I'm not denying my source of inspiration, but is it so obvious? If I had never mentioned a certain name here, would you still see it?

I'm attempting to put these characters into sketches because I have had a hard time finding what I am looking for in stock photos and graphics. I have these ideas in my head, but putting them on paper is very difficult, and I don't know if it is the best way to go.

I've been using books of period paper dolls to get a feel for how my characters dressed,
starting back with Ailcy's Legacy. It has been a big help, so I decided to take it a little further and see what I could come up with.

This series has been especially helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Goes-West-Journal-Fashion/dp/0896721094

It will depend, I guess, on whether or not I can get to a finished product that looks professional.

Thanks for the comments.

Ann

Looks good to me, Ann. So does your inspiration! LOL!

Well done, Ann! You have many talents.
Love,
Betty

Ann, you are an artist. Just another of the many talents you have?

Quote :

I'm not denying my source of inspiration, but is it so obvious?

Yep.

Consider that a compliment on your portraiture abilities!

I'm really not an artist. This stuff is very hard!

Ann

Maria is giving me fits!



Does she look anything like Marion Cotillard?

(As Fanny Chenal in A Good Year - I tried to find a short clip to show you why she works for Maria, but all I could find was the trailer, and it doesn't help that much)

The body is even harder than the face. I've been working on it all day and it still isn't quite right.
I guess I haven't spent as much time looking at her as I have him.

Ann

Quote :

Does she look anything like Marion Cotillard?

No, but it's still a good sketch.

Dear Ann,
I understand the difficult task of trying to draw what the mind's eye sees so clearly. I thought about the paper dolls of the periods, and I have to say that I never even thought such wonderful things existed. We are lucky to live in this day and age where whatever your mind can concieve there is something internet-wise that will be a tool.
I would never have connected Russell Crowe to your drawing. I do not think I have ever seen him except in the video you provided and the pictures you have posted. He is a nice rugged looking specimen, however, and a good model for your sketches.

You need to add collar bones to Maria. Her face is pretty. You have done a fine job.
Keep on going. When you add some background, the characters will be at home.
Love,
Betty

Collar bones! Yes, that's part of the problem. I have been working so hard on the eyes, I didn't really look below her chin. That may be why those proportions won't come together.

Thanks, LC. I guess it doesn't really matter if they don't look like their inspirations.

And Betty, I love all your covers.

Ann

Thanks, Ann.
I am out of my element with making covers. I have no idea what my element is, but making covers is calling upon every dredge of creativity I can muster. I imagine that is part of being an 'independent' publisher. I am almost blind from looking at this screen!
Love,
Betty

Betty, I know what you mean about the responsibilities of being an independent publisher. We must become Jacks(and Jills) of all trades.

I made it another step further with my images this morning:



And I finally found a brief clip on A Good Year with a couple of scenes with Cotillard's character, Fanny Chenal. She wasn't the inspiration for Maria's character, but when I decided I needed to draw an image of her, I thought of these scenes. There are a couple of bits with her in them, so keep watching; it's a very short clip.

http://thoroughlyrussellcrowe.com/video/AGY/E-AGYpromo.html

Ann

Dear Ann,
Putting the characters you have created out of your imagination into words so that the reader sees through your eye is a talent, and then letting your own hand put onto the paper what your mind has seen and written down is the ultimate achivement, to me.

When I was looking for a picture for the cover of The Music Of the Night, what came up so very many times was Van Gogh's Starry Night. I know you know the painting. I did not use that for obvious reasons, but it is an example of thought put onto paper through the eye of the artist.

My talent does not include that extension of my mind through my fingers and pen. I have found some wonderful pictures in my quest for the epitome of my thought and story. I hope people can see the beauty of an Indigo snake or a tadpole and have a feeling of their inclusion in the circle of life.

You are doing a very fine job. What I consider is the in effort of depicting your characters, you will know them from the outside in as well as inside out. Often, when we read a story, we see that the author has seen their character from the inside out and cannot really see them outside in.

Dickens wrote and knew his characters outside and inside. It is what you do and what makes your writings up there with people like Dickens. You almost have to be a historical clairivoyant because you must see clearly to tell a living story. It sets you on fire!

Keep on. Love the journey.
Love,
Betty

Oh, Olivia de Havilland.

Hey, you're right. She works, too.

Ann

Another step in the journey; still a long way to go.



Ann

Dear Ann,
You have it all there. I love the ranch house and the barn. I could use a barn like that. Is that Texas Sage in the foreground? I tried to grow it here, but it is too humid. It has pale blue flowers and silver grey small leaved foliage. Pretty plant.

I love the green.
Love,
Betty

That's a nice, sketch Ann.

FWIW, though, I'd be inclined to take an actual photo -I think you have a bunch of good ones- and turn it into a watercolor or some other artistic style with Photoshop. I'd do the same with the people; import some photos of real people in period dress into the Photoshop file and watercolor them along with the scenery. They won't be recognizable. The result might look more professional and take a whole lot less time.

Dear Ann,
LC has a good idea. I could not do it myself, but I know it is possible. Joe did a few really nice water colors for me. Perhaps he could advise.
Love,
Betty

Betty,

The plants are bluebonnets. They looked better before I reduced the intensity of the color. I didn't like the effect of the vivid colors in the rest of the scene. Thanks for the support.

Thank you for yours, too, LC.

There are a couple of problems, though. For one, attempting to deal with PhotoShop always puts me in a murderous rage and gives me a blinding headache along the urge to smoke.

My original plan was to use photos that I had taken, as you suggested, along with some stock photos, but I have had a hard time finding the images I want to use. I have a picture in my head that is very precise, but unfortunately, don't have the skills to get it on paper the way I see it in my head.

If I can't manage to get it to look the way I want it to look, I will have to settle for something I can put together with stock photos, but for now, I'm still giving it a try.

I wish I had your professional know-how at times like this.

Ann