I am about to embarrass myself...

[olde_fashioned]

Here goes. :-\ I don't know how many/if any of you guys know I like to draw...but I thought I should publically humiliate myself by posting some of my dreadful scribblings here for the world to see. I regard these to be "not as bad as some" but not fantastic. ;-)

Mostly I draw women, (fully clothed!!) since I'm really more interested in drawing their clothes. ;-) A lot of what you're about to see was copied from paintings and/or fashion plates, and I do try to be as accurate (historical and otherwise) as possible.


after Lady Anne Killigrew, Mrs. Kirke, c. 1638, by Van Dyck



Just for fun I thought I'd show some of the original inspirations as well, but most of them are from books, so I didn't put all the page numbers and whatnot, and sadly I cannot remember off the top of my head who the rest are after. If further credit is desired, (I don't have my book with me!) then just ask and I'll get it for you. ;-)


original
after Clara Novello, c. 1833


Here are links to the rest:

Burgundian Lady-in-Waiting, 15th C.

Tudor lady, c.1545
(after the Katherine Parr/Jane Grey Dudley portrait)

Another Tudor lady
(can you tell I like this portrait? lol)

Queen Elizabeth I, c.1595

Empress Josephine Bonaparte
(from the "Coronation of Napoleon" painting by David)
detail of original

Japanese woman in Kimono


Black & White sketches:

Holbein woman #1
original

Thomas More's DIL, Anne Cresacre c. 1526-7, by Holbein
original


B&W of "Hester Smith" c.1769 by N. Dance
detail of above
original


B&W of Nelly O'Brien c. 1763, by Reynolds
original Nelly

This last one is a Regency dress that I designed myself. It was just one of those thing that just pops into your head, and want to jot down. I'm sure it's blue because I have a few yards of a blue velvet/velour fabric that I've never used, since I can't seem to make up my mind as to what I want to do with it! Part of me would love to make a Regency dress or a Medieval gown, but how practical is that! Anyway, the dress in the drawing is supposed to have a velvet bodice and possibly a velvet or silk skirt, with a sheer silk organza overlay that has little gold "somethings" all over it, (whether they be sequins or embroidery) and a gold trim at the edge.

Edited to add links to originals of Anne Cresacre, and the Reynolds. ;-)

Comments

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

These are marvelous! :-) Not only their clothing, but their faces are very good. I draw clothes too, but I'm so horrible at drawing faces that I usually just leave the head off entirely, although sometimes I'll merely omit the features. Here are two you'll recognize:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/modernmorland/DSCN2318.jpg
(this was was unfinished when I uploaded it, so she's missing her right arm)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/modernmorland/DSCN2316.jpg

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Thank you!! I tried harder on these than some others, and those ones aren't as good. (sometimes while watching a JA I'll try to sketch out the dresses -- I did a couple of Northanger Abbey but the faces aren't realistic -- I was much more concerned with the clothes!)

Yes I do recognize yours, and I think they're excellent!! Your style is much clearer and more defined than mine. My sketches tend to get "messy" and never look as neat as yours does. I've left off heads before too, or I'll just draw a dress without anyone in it. haha...

[lupinskitten.livejournal.com]

You are actually very good! Particularly with shading, which I find very difficult, and with clothes. I can tell you love drawing the latter, since the detail is immaculate. =)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I read somewhere that amateurs are afraid of lots of dark colors, so ever since I've tried to use bolder shades to make my drawings look nicer. ;-)

[iane-grey.livejournal.com]

They're beautiful! I used to doodle a bit but I wish I'd had half your talent... you know the funniest thing? I saw these last night and thought I'd dreamt them.

Would you be annoyed if I iconized some of them? You know me, I just do it to amuse myself (I mean I wouldn't tout them unless you said you'd like me to).

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You flatter me, and that's neat about the dreams!

I wouldn't be annoyed -- I'd be honoured!! *squeals with delight* Being such the connoisseur of art that you are, the fact that my doodles have been deemed fit enough to render into icons makes me insanely happy. ;-) Crop, color, and icon away, only please show me when you're done! :-)

[x-blackknight-x.livejournal.com]

Wow...these are really good. I love how you did the clothes. I can't do proper-looking clothing to save my life. x_x Good job.

P.S. I can't get the Empress Josephine Bonaparte picture to work. Photobucket is saying the page cannot be found.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I've fixed the link now -- thanks for the heads-up!

[parelle.livejournal.com]

I do like them :) Nicely done!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

*bows* Thank you! ;-)

[littleflower518.livejournal.com]

BRAVO!! Lauren these are lovely!! You are very talented in so many ways!!
Lindy

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Lindy! Glad you like them, and now you've seen yet another creative outlet with which to waste my time. ;-) lol.

[ladykaty4.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are amazing! You are very good at that . . . . these 'scribbles' aren't going to cause you any embarassment at all! I especially liked the Burgundian Lady-In-Waiting.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'll admit that I'm rather pleased at how the Burgundian turned out. ;-) I copied it exactly from a fashion book, and I should probably scan it and post it here. ;-)

[hamlets-widow.livejournal.com]

Hello - sorry this does not relate to your post (very beautiful work though!)!

I put in a search for Northanger Abbey on LJ and noticed your icon...

... and was just wondering if you would be interested in posting any icons at a community I have just recently created felicity_jones?

Hope you don't me asking! Many thanks.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and I don't mind.

I'd love to share my icons with your new group, and I'm flattered that you've asked me! I need to get off my duff and make some more, since I have a hunch they'll be in demand, especially after we Americans get to see the new ITVs.

Not at all! ;-) Would you like me to gather and re-post all my Northanger icons over at your comm?

BTW -- I simply cannot resist asking...is your name Ophelia or something? ;-) Mine is Lauren.

[prima-donna87.livejournal.com]

What beautiful drawings!I really liked the one the Japanese Lady,it is so pretty! I also loved the one of the Regency dress,all of them are amazing though.
Have you taken any art classes? You draw so well! I wish I could draw but I stink.I do appreciate art though.
Do you like going to art museums? I adore Art Museums!
Who are your favorite artist?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do love kiminos; in fact I wrote a report on Japanese clothing once, I like them so much. ;-)

I've never taken any classes -- I'm entirely self-taught, unless you count books. Thank you for your kind compliments, and I'm sure you've heard this before, but practice does help!

I appreciate art as well -- but only true art, that isn't a bunch of globby splashes, and I don't care for nudes, either.

I've never been to an art museum!

My favourite artists? Um....hard question!! ;-) I love Gainsborough, Reynolds, Tissot, Winterhalter, Sargent, Waterhouse, the two Leightons, Vigee Le Brun, and even the occaisional Bouguereau or David, so long as they're fully clothed. How's that for a list! ;-)

What about you?

[skye-lark.livejournal.com]

Lauren, I am properly floored!! You have more talent in your little finger for drawing than I have in my whole body (to use a somewhat trite but very accurate expression).

I was especially impressed with your black and white of the Reynolds, the girl holding a book; the Japanese woman; and your Burgundian Lady-In-Waiting. Oh! Also the Empress Josephine Bonaparte -- anyway they were all really very good! Do you plan to go somewhere with your artistry?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Aw, now you don't have to exaggerate! *blushes profusely* Thank you very much. You're sweet.

I almost think B&W is easier, but I love color too much to do B&Ws for long. ;-)

Go somewhere? You mean like an art school? No. I am what you call an amatuer enthusiast. I love art, but I don't plan on a career in it. I'm too scatterbrained for that!

[seventh-stage.livejournal.com]

That a very fine joke calling this an embarrassment, it’s very much on the axis of one. These are wonderful to look at, and don’t give it away or you’ll lose it, you’re getting better each time you continue.
Thank you for showing me!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Alright, alright! You're definitely making me blush!! Thank you, and you're welcome for the "showing"! It's kind of embarressing to post one's work online like this, but after the comments I've gotten I think it's rather more of an ego boost! hee hee! ;-)

Have you gotten the screen capping problems fixed yet?

[misshoneybee.livejournal.com]

Good job. :) I like to draw ladies' clothes, too.
The last link isn't working...it goes to the Nelly O'Brien drawing instead.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Grrr!!! I've been trying to fix them, but to no avail. Is the last link fixed now? Thanks for the heads up, and the comment.

[retro-dame.livejournal.com]

That's the exact same thing that holds me back from posting my artwork on LJ! Ha! I like my drawings but I have this thought that no one does. I do post them on my DeviantART account and will post them on my upcoming website though.
I'm happy you like to draw too, drawing is my favourite thing to do, and I strongly relate to the fact that I always like drawing women specially in historical costumes.
Speaking of copying; I do that a lot as well, but I'm always afraid that someone would accuse me of stealing. In my opinion, that is called inspiring.

I adore your drawings! You are so talented. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Ah, don't hold back!! Be brave and post it!! It's fun, and what's the worst that could happen? ;-)

I love drawing, but I have to keep myself from spending all my time doing it! HA!

Women are much easier to draw than men. ;-)

I don't think it's stealing so long as you credit who/what you copied. If you say, "this dress is from a painting by yada-yada", I don't know anyone who would accuse you of stealing.

Thank you for the ego boost! LOL. :-)

[sabrinafair2.livejournal.com]

I love your drawings! Maybe you should open up a deviantart account. When I sketch (I'm not much of an artist) I usually don't pay that much attention to the costume/dress, so I love all of your detail.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'd prefer to keep my drawings here for the time being. ;-)

[nyghtcatt.livejournal.com]

I know this is late...but your drawings are wonderful!

The Japanese woman in Kimono is soooo pretty. I think my mom would love it as well. She draws as well.

Yours have a wonderful detail to them. The gowns in the Tudors drawing are amazing in detail. Lady Jane Grey is one of my favorite research subjects.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I don't mind -- any comments are more than welcome to me!

You flatter me! Thanks. ;-)

I copied the Japanese Kimono from an old 1955 edition of World Book Encyclopedia that we have -- I suppose I should have scanned it, but I'm too lazy. ;-P

You research Tudor history? My, I bet watching Tudor and Elizabethan movies is physically painful, then. ;-)

[penguinsrpals.livejournal.com]

Beautiful drawings! I wish I could draw half as well! Lol! I know you like to draw but do you like to color? Tom Tierney has some wonderful period coloring books that I love to color in! And they would give you some ideas for your drawings! :) May I friend you?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! And I'm sure you could draw too -- I've practiced a lot, you know. ;-)

Yes I love coloring! That's one of the reasons I like to draw, because then I get to color the dresses! Haha. It's funny that you should mention Tom Tierney, because I adore Dover's books and I have a bunch of his paperdolls, and a coloring book as well.

Yes you may friend me! ;-P

[boundandchained.livejournal.com]

Love them! I really do love that dress design, though. And not everything has to be practical. :P

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Heheh, thank you!