Les Mis On Tour!

I had the amazing opportunity to go see the Les Miserables US tour last weekend! I'm a huge fan of the cast, espcially their Javert, Andrew Varela. We've talked a bit over twitter and I've shown him my stupid Les Mis doodles (which he found hilarious.)

I wanted to be able to give him something when I met him at the stage door, so I threw together a quick vignette of Valjean and Javert!

The show was FANTASTIC and the entire cast was just SpECTACULAR. I was able to meet Andrew at the stagedoor after the show and give him this piece (also have him sign my own copy and snap a photo haha.)

I'll post my (quick) process for this piece tomorrow! I actually experimented with livestreaming while I worked. It was fun but I need to work on being more entertaining haha. I might try again soon so keep a look out! 

Illustration!

Here are some the illustrations I've been working on all semester!

I'm pretty happy with both! My instructor really liked the second one, which is a supposed to depict Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, who introduced the "Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ" to the church. He recommended I re-do the first one. For the assignment, I had to make 2 illustrations with one being done in any style and the other realistically rendered. He thinks the first would be more successful if I just did it in my own style, and I completely agree. Another project to do over spring break! 

I'll try to post the individual process for both illustrations next week! For both I had to go through a thumbnail, sketch, sketch, line drawing, value paintings, then final colors done digitally. 

Design: Essence

My first design project of the new semester! THe assignment was to capture the essence of something, and I chose to capture the essence of "misery."

I was inspired by a few quotes from my favorite book, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. He writes:

"So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine, with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless."

From there, I decided to try to capture the essence of misery in a single person. I went back a forth between child labour and prostitution, and came to the terrifiying conclusion that child prostitution exists. I did research, and re-watched one of my favorite documentaries "Born Into Brothels" for inspiration.

I did a quite a few value studies in watercolor, then used photoshop to make color studies. My professor ended up really loving the color studies as a group, and encouraged me to use them for the final project. I ultimately decided to use a finished illustration for my final, but I still think the color studies are powerful on their own.

 
 

Final Version

I based most of my research and visual inspiration off of the sex trade in India. Here are some statistics:

• There are estimated 900,000 sex workers in India
• 30% are underage

source