Artistic Inspirations

I think from an early age, many things captured me in a magical way. Probably some of my earliest inspirations were from watching the old Disney cartoons. The colors in them were so vibrant, especially the ones in the Silly Symphonies or the Jiminy Cricket Specials. They had such an enduring quality, that I think from that point on, they became my gold standard of how art should look. Here are a few examples of what I am speaking of:

As you can see, Disney had some amazing artists. The background artistry is just eye popping and very much outdoes the actual animation. I think Walt Disney had such high standards and also, it just goes to show that this kind of animation is a sign of the times. It's style is not longer in favor today, even though it can still be appreciated. Pixar comes pretty close, but still not as close and as lush as this.

I think the thing with digital art is that it's trying too hard to look too real. It doesn't want us to believe that they're actually fake. It's still eye popping and tediously done work, but it just beats to a different drum.

As I got older, different styles grabbed my attention. Books I read that were illustrated often demonstrated that same rich color effect that I still find attractive until this very day. One book I've held close to my heart which may not be familiar at all to anyone out there, but it was called, "Martha's House," where Martha, a little girl, took you through her house and showed you each room, sometimes some goofy things were happening, but all in all, it looked like an ideal place for a little girl to grow up. I may have just wanted to jump in there and be a part of it. I still have it somewhere and just grin, ear to ear, when I sit myself down and read it. I feel like I've stepped back in time.

Other books that had beautiful illustrations that captured me were the Original Mother Goose Book, full of illustrations from the 1910's. All the kids looked like little cherubs, but they were beautiful images, each and every one.

A few other books were the Disney books that had their movies in full illustration mode. The colors were just as vibrant as they were in the movie. The Lady and the Tramp one I especially liked and would look it over and over.

As I got into my teens, I began a fascination with old movie stars. This time, all color was diminished, and this time I think what I was attracted to more was the mood and style, rather than anything else. Even the contour of things is what stood out. I would draw countless old movie stars and began a large appreciation for many, including:

Vivien Leigh - Ever since watching Gone with the Wind when I was about 7 years old, Vivien Leigh's beauty has been, to me, a trademark. I didn't see her in another movie until years later, in which I believe was A Streetcar Named Desire. She had aged, but her acting was mesmerizing. I had to see her in more films, and I did. I ultimately became a collector of her memorabilia and actually have quite a collection - including an autographed photo of her.

John Barrymore - Always the one with the great side view, John Barrymore has a look that can often be hard to capture but can also be attainable if you practice it several times over.

Errol Flynn - He's got the looks of your all around good looking movie star. Yet, he has an impeccable side view.

Ava Gardner - After reading about her over the years and even visiting a museum devoted to her in rural North Carolina, Ava Gardner's wit, no holds barred attitude, and beauty have had me under a spell. I read a biography about her about a year ago, and it was almost impossible to put down. Things she did were really stranger than fiction, but fascinating and jaw dropping! Drawing her is almost impossible, but I have had a few semi-successful attempts.

Audrey Hepburn - Audrey is like the creme De la creme of ultimate beauty in Classic Hollywood. It's almost impossible to capture her at times because her looks are so refined, yet so unique. You want to capture her large eyes, full lips, high cheek bones - but somehow you can miss the mark - and badly! I think this is why she enchants me because she isn't cookie cutter beautiful and each time I see her, in books or on screen, I just want to try so hard to capture that unique look in a drawing. I am sure she's tortured other artists as well!