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Showing posts with label graphite drawings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphite drawings. Show all posts

Portraits Drawn On World and Celestial Maps by Ed Fairburn



above: Windermere, Pencil on a cropped map of the English Lakes – specifically Lake Windermere.

Cardiff-based illustrator Ed Fairburn sees things in maps most of us do not. His map-based portraits combine the art of cartography with the drawing of the human face. Making the curves and lines of the two dimensional terrain (or the heavens as is the case with his celestial drawings) blend with the curves and lines of human features brings a dimensionality to both the maps and the portraits. The combination of the two has a surprising appeal.

Bartholomew Series (Pencil on original Bartholomew maps of Pembroke (top) and Galloway (bottom):



Deutschland (Ink on a 1977 road map of Germany):


Cambridge (Ink on a vintage street map of Cambridge):

Both the Deutschland and Cambridge pieces shown above were produced as part of a wider submission to Cowbridge Music Festival.

Western Front (Ink on reproduced military maps of the Western Front (WWI):



30 Miles Around (ink on a map of Bournemouth):


From His Michelin Series:


Zambia Charity Project (Oil and pencil on an OS map of South Wales, trimmed and mounted on plywood):


Planisphère Céleste (Pencil on celestial star charts):


Der Gestirnte Himmel/The Starry Heavens (Pencil on celestial star charts):



The celestial charts are divided by many concentric circles starting from the centre – in keeping with this, the portraits have been formed by pencilling many concentric circles, placed and layered to suggest line and tone. On closer view, the smaller details blend with each labelled star shown on the maps.
Both works measure 30″ x 30″

About the artist:


Ed Fairburn is an Illustration graduate whose work is mostly figurative. He paints, draws and constructs using a flexible range of tangible media across a wide range of surfaces and contexts, allowing his practice to exist across various disciplines.

He says of his Map-based portraiture "Through my studies of the human form I examine the patterns and structures which exist across the body. I disassemble those structures and reconstruct them onto pre-patterned surfaces, including maps. The creative process involves synchronising both subject and surface. I search for similarities between the characteristics of the human figure and the topographical features of the map, resulting in a unique amalgamation."

Fairburn has exhibited internationally and has a collection of original works and prints available to purchase here. He is also able to work on a commission basis.

Ed Fairburn

Consider Your Mind Blown. The Phenomenally Realistic Graphite Drawings of Kelvin Okafor.



above: graphite drawing in progress by Kelvin Okafor

Kelvin Okafor describes himself as a "Passionate penciled artist. Highly interested in detail and precision." I'd say that's an understatement once you see the phenomenally realistic graphite drawings created by this UK Illustrator. As astounding as the finished pieces are (it's truly difficult to discern whether or not they are photographs until you look extremely closely), the evolution of the drawings shown on his blog, and as videos on his YouTube channel, will blow your mind.


above, clockwise from top left: Timeless, Undeviating and Mana drawings by Kelvin Okafor

I'm sharing my five favorite finished works of his along with some images of his work in progress for you to see what I'm talking about. He almost always begins with the eyes and finishes with the clothing. His ability to render hair is beyond compare. My mind is blown and after viewing these yours will be, too.

Mana
His second drawing of model Mana.
Medium: Graphite pencils/Charcoal/black coloured pencil/on sketching paper.
Pencil brand - Faber-Castell
Paper type - Acid Free Cartridge paper 17 x 24 inches


In progress:


Final drawing of Mana on board:


"Undeviating" (Emmanuel)
A drawing of model Emmanuel, entitled "Undeviating"
Medium: Graphite pencils/black charcoal/black coloured pencil/on sketching paper.
Pencil brand - Faber-Castell
Paper type - Acid Free Cartridge paper 18 x 22 inches


In progress:


Final drawing of Undeviating (Emmanuel) on board:


Aisha II
His second drawing of Aisha.
Medium: Graphite pencils/black charcoal/black coloured pencil/on sketching paper.
Pencil brand - Faber-Castell
Paper type - Acid Free Cartridge paper 17 x 24 inches


In progress:



Final drawing of Aisha II on board:


"Timeless" (Jamal)
A drawing of model Jamal, entitled "Timeless."
Medium: Graphite pencils/black charcoal/black coloured pencil/on sketching paper.
Pencil brand - Faber-Castell
Paper type - Acid Free Cartridge paper 17 x 24 inches

In progress:



Final drawing of Timeless (Jamal) on board:


Adam II
His second drawing of Adam.
Medium: Graphite pencils/black charcoal/black coloured pencil/on sketching paper.
Pencil brand - Faber-Castell
Paper type - Acid Free Cartridge paper 15 x 24 inches


In progress:



Final drawing of Adam II on board:


Kelvin is a graduate from Middlesex University with a B.A. (Hon)s in Fine Art. On his flickr profile he claims that "He aspires to create art as vivid as eyes could see."

I think he's done it.

See all of his work over here on his flickr account. 

A big thanks to Vicki Mayer for bringing Kelvin's work to my attention.

The 2012 ArtPrize Winner Adonna Khare And A Close Look At Her Mural.



above: detail from 'Elephants', the first place winner of the 2012 ArtPrize

ArtPrize has become the world’s largest art competition by combining $560,000 in total prizes with an open call for artists, venues, and critics. This year's first place winner, "Elephants" by Adonna Khare is an illustrated series of life sized Elephants, intertwined with a menagerie of animals. (Links to all the finalists are at the end of this post).


above: Adonna Khare and her winning piece, "Elephants"

The large mural was setup to function as a triptych and engage the viewers in the transformation of the work. The triptych is still a work in progress. Below are many images and details from the piece (courtesy of the both the artist and ArtPrize).

The Full Mural:


Left Panel:


Right Panel:


The Artist and the Center Panel:


Mural in progress from afar:


The Incredible Details

Detail (See No Evil):

Detail (Sleeping Chimp):

Detail (All chimps):

Detail (Chimp and Mini Giraffes)

Detail (Crane and balloon dogs):

Detail (tree):


As exhibited at ArtPrize in Michigan:



Close-ups:






Links to the other ArtPrize finalists and juried awards:

2012 Top Ten
Second Place: "Song of Lift" by Martijn van Wagtendok
Third Place: "Rebirth of Spring" by Frits Hoendervanger
Fourth Place: "Stick-to-it-ive-ness: Unwavering pertinacity; perseverance" by Richard Morse
Fifth Place: "Lights in the Night" by Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson
Sixth Place: "Life in Wood" by Dan Heffron
Seventh Place: "Origami" by Kumi Yamashita
Eighth Place: "The Chase" by Artistry of Wildlife
Ninth Place: "Return to Eden" by Sandra Bryant
Tenth Place: "City Band" by Chris LaPorte

2012 Juried Awards
Juried Grand Prize: "Displacement (13208 Klinger St)" by Design 99
Urban Space Award: "Flight" by Dale Rogers
2-D Award: "Habitat" by Alois Kronschlager
3-D Award: "More or Less" by ABCD 83
Venue Award: "SITE:LAB" at 54 Jefferson
Time/Performance Award: "Three Phases" by Complex Movements

About the artist:
Adonna Khare has been recognized by The Los Angeles Times, U-Press Telegram, and Edward Goldman on NPR

B.A. in Art from California State University Long Beach
M.F.A in Art from CSULB
2007 Award for Distinguished Acheivement in Creative Activity

Permanent collection of the Long Beach Museum of Art as well as numerous private collections throughout the world. Member of The Drawing Center New York.

Selected works can be obtained from the Lora Schlesinger Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica.

For a current pricelist please contact Adonna Khare.

Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.