So, have you figured out that I like tutus yet?

Hello all, sorry for the lack of updates. In my weeks off from class I had my summer's life condensed into a few very packed days of constant interaction. Class has started again so I should have a more structured schedule again soon and hopefully I'll get out of my funk that I've been in over the past couple of weeks. I feel like my work's getting really repetitive and drawing from too few concepts and styles. I need to nest myself in the GT500-1500 section of the library again soon (costume history section). I'm getting very anxious since grad-school applications are soon and I need my portfolio to be excellent. If anyone has any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate them, I like criticism.

On a happier note, I've begun work on a costume for Halloween (which is very serious business). I started draughting pattern pieces the other day and hope to get a mock up and possibly the beginnings of one piece of it done this weekend. *fingers crossed*

Anyways, as promised in the title, tutus:

Odile - Swan Lake

Inspirations - Black Swan, feathers, gold

Aug-Sept 2011

Please excuse the horrible background and complete lack of a single light source - I got carried away and I feel like I lost the design behind the rendering. Not much to say. I like this one but would like to draw it again in watercolour so it works better with the VonRothbart illustration done a few weeks ago.

V. 1 updated

I changed the base top-plate colour to work with the rest of the tutu better. I had V. 2 as my background on Haydee (laptop) for the longest time. V. 2 was far more balanced, but I felt like V. 1 had a far stronger top, so I balanced the top-plate better to suit it. I think this works a bit better (I hope you agree).

Swan Lake

One of two illustrations I'm working on right now from Swan Lake. The recent essay on Black Swan that I've been writing all summer can totally be blamed for this (and all the tutus I've been drawing).

Rothbart - Swan Lake

Inspirations - masks, birds

August 13th

Watercolour; finished illustration from the sketch previously posted. I don't have anything to say about this I guess. If it wasn't obvious by now, I really like masks and birds. Also puffy sleeves and pants. I really need expand my designs in different directions.

Sketch backlog

EDIT: Removed some images as they were getting a lot of hits off Goggle. I feel that they were probably being misattributed and am not comfortable with them being up here anymore.

A few sketches from my current sketchbook (chronologically). For no apparent reason two sketches, the colour swatch sketch of Rothbart and a personal favourite sketch, refuse to load. Ah well, another post.

Rothbart -  Swan Lake

Inspiration: Black Swan, masks

February 2011

Sketch done on a plane ride home from Houston after watching Black Swan. Swan Lake was the first ballet I ever saw, so it has a special place in my heart. I greatly enjoyed Black Swan - I'm actually working on a paper this summer on the costumes in it. I find Rothbart's character is the one with the most room for interpretation. Odette and Odile always have the same rough tutu design, but different facets of Rothbart's character are explored in each rendition of Swan Lake. My design follows a more Byronic style with a hint of horror - better seen in the colour swatch drawing. Full illustration will be done eventually.

Inspiration: "The Powers That Be" from Angel, Yinyang

May or June 2011

I began watching Angel a few months back. The costumes are sooo dated. Never been a big fan of 90's clothing. The designs for The Powers That Be in an early episode of season 1 are... cliche to say the least. After seeing it I thought about the concept of "Powers That Be" or "fate" or "seers" and came up with this.

Inspirations: sci-fi and steampunk

June 2011

Came into my head one night. I see her as some sort of action girl sans the stupid black leather cat suit and high heels. Her hair ties around her head in a loose loop.

Inspirations: A book on tatting on my nightstand, Chinese hair styles 

July 2011

Not much to say. Another one that just popped into my head. The left doodle is a sketch of the tatted lace that would be at the hems of her skirt and sleeves.