November 19, 2004
[some assembly required] 12:42 PM
Early 1900's illustrator J.C. Lyendecker used to spend hours perfecting his style of drawing with sketchbooks upon sketchbooks filled with bodyparts. There was a sketchbook full of hands, perfectly drawn in every imaginable position, and a sketchbook of arms, and so forth.
When the time came for an illustration (for say, The Saturday Evening Post) Lyendecker would sketch out rough forms, then consult his books and redraw the limbs of choice on the frame. A primitive version of clipart, not unlike the assembly of a mannequin. The proper hand hand, the apt arm, torso, and clothing would form a figure. It's by this process that he was able to produce so much work so quickly.
The sooner a comfortable style is established with your work, the easier it is to assemble things faster, to deliver what you do, and to deliver it swiftly. The trick is to not get bored, or repetitive, and try new things while perfecting other ones.
There's a large fear of being a one trick pony, but there's also something to be said of doing something until you feel it's right.
Some subscribe to the "Do one thing and do it well" philosophy. Others adopt a free-form/anything goes kinda thing. Others, still, go so far as to claim another's style as there own. I just like to make pretty pictures anyway I can.
Posted by: Joseph at November 19, 2004 2:02 PMP.S. I hope ta God I didn't spell something right.
Posted by: Joseph at November 19, 2004 2:03 PM
