Artists

Rene Gruau-

                             "Le Neglige Rose"

  I already have some research in my original essay I wrote at the beginning of my foundation course for unit 1 (Made in the Shade). On top of that original research into what his work has been used for in illustrative fashion and his style I will be continuing to look at Gruau works for inspiration into my 1950s styled posters. Mainly focusing on the 1950s style of a human body if used in my poster. I would like to continue exploring the style I began on this piece with the use of block shading. I think this style works really well for a poster as it creates strong colours that catch the eye through the collection of shapes. I could explore using different colours instead of the same colour in different shades. Making complimentary and opposing colours that make the poster more eye catching. I’ve recently been very drawn to a bright yellow and deep purple that could blend into a dark background.
   Gruaua was very influenced by the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Art in a Nouveau aesthetic. This influencing Gruaus use of expressive lines and strong blocks of colour. These two pieces caught my eye as I could create a poster using negative space and just lines. A figure emerging out of a dark background for the poster. I also adore the use of red on the painting “Brigitte Bardot L'elegante”. So simple and through just a few lines to create a figure. I would love to try this style and see if I can mix a few colours into the simple lines to create layers or rough paint  strokes.

"Woman In Winter"                                                                                                                                                                                                "My Own Work"

   

-          http://www.artnet.com/artists/ren%C3%A9-gruau/  Auction site with Gruaus work.

Madame Talbot-

  I recently discovered this artist when searching for vintage freakshow posters. Instead a lot of her work came up. Which I’m not mad about I find her website very intriguing and unlike other artists website. Talbot seems very shy and avoids contact with people but her website is like walking into an old witch shop with unknown spooky things filling the shelves. Then you go through a back curtain leading to even darker things that I would love to explore. Her website does double as a place to show off/sell her collection of unusual things such as a 19^th century blood transfusion kit or 1880 Ebony Handled Bone Amputation Saw. But I am mostly focusing on the work she creates herself. 


"Skull Alchemy Ribcage Poster"                                                                                                                                                                         "The Priestess Tarot Poster"

    Talbot creates One-of-a-Kind Hand-Made Bibelots, Arcane Monstrances, Framed Curios, Mourning Dolls, Dark Objet d'Art and Hand-Illustrated Pen-and-Ink Poster Prints. Despite all of her intriguing works, I will be looking at her posters to help inspire the way I set out my own posters with borders and words. I may skim through her website every once in a while, at her other spooky belongings for inspiration.

    Her posters are full of detail, especially in the borders. I really like the use of the banner in this fortune telling poster. Also, Talbot rarely uses colour in her work. Sticking to a monochrome colour scheme. Except the rare few where she uses very lack lustre colours to create a vintage authenticity to the poster. I wont look at Talbot for colour schemes or inspiration. Talbot uses a Ryan Gwinner Offset printing press, unfortunately with being at home I can’t really explore many printing options as I lack the materials and ink. I did also consider using a print for the invitation writing on the posters or arrows. I could try cutting out cardboard to create a print for the writing, but I still lack the ink and I know normal paints don’t usually work from printing as I have tried previously.

"Fortune Teller Floating Skull Mind Reading Poster"

  

-          http://www.madametalbot.com/sitemap.htm Madame Talbot’s site.  

      Natalee Miller- 

       I discovered my final artist when ordering a pack of tarot cards for my unit four project. Her illustrations on the cards were vibrant, modern and influenced by themes of mysticism, fashion, science fiction, the Art Nouveau, Art Deco movements, ancient civilisations, astrology, mid-century and 80’s nostalgia. Millers main bodies of work come from fashion illustration, poster designs and colourful murals. 

          I see similarities in her illustration style to the simplistic 1950s illustration style. Simple lines and blocks of colours. This makes her style weave into Gruaus influences in my work quite easily. Compared to the other two artists though, Miller uses very bubble gum pop colours. Creating vibrant, electric colours that I adore. Miller has also painted walls for house interiors and vases. I will use Miller for inspiration in my use of vibrant colours to stand out of the dark backgrounds and a more modern take on the way to paint 1950s block illustration style.  

        I enjoy how each of my artists are different but work together as I am taking pieces from each to combine and make one new thing.

       https://www.nataleemiller.com/  Millers website.