Inspiration: An Opera Singer

I'm not the biggest fan of opera, occasionally there's a song that I fall in love with. During one of my plunges into the depths of the internet this gem came into play.

This video had me completely entranced. Not just the power of Wagner or the purity of the soprano's voice, but the expressions on the soprano. I just kept watching it repeatedly looking at her face. 

Her eyes are the first thing I noticed. The eye on the right is open a lot wider than the other, and the eye on the left looks like it wants to sag off the face. 

I think it's interesting when the lips cover teeth. 

Her face is facing one direction but her mouth is facing another!

Her bottom teeth appeared to have been quite prominant through the piece. She has an interesting set of bottom teeth, very long and narrow.

I'm not sure if it's just the aspect ratio or her, but she takes squash and stretch to a whole new meaning.

The one above is probably my favorite. The song got quite dramatic, so did her face.  

I feel that the ends justify the means. She's not there to be pretty (even though she is), she's there to make powerful, moving music. Sometimes I think it's the opposite in todays standards.  

I am working on new drawings. Be patient. 

sketch DUMP: the Returun!

I'm back with a whole bunch of new drawings from my sketchbook. I remember I saw a post on Cartoon Cave where Pete drew from Charlie Rose interviews. It was such a good idea, it's perfect because the interviewee isn't moving around much and isn't changing appearances from shot to shot. Charlie Rose comes one a little later than most PBS programming that I watch, but the idea does work while food network too! Cartoons also work. 

"Tea for Two" is secretly about gettin' it on, at least that's how I hear it. below is one horrible attempt at drawing Jane Russell (it looks more like a man in drag) and the one that is painted is one that was more satisfying, this was while watching "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

Jane at work. Yum.

The rest. 

Adams Vs. Glass

Sorry that nothing has been posted in a while. I've been house sitting, so I had no scanner for a couple of weeks. As a result many of drawings have been built up which would have otherwise been posted. Let's fix that...

Lately, my musical tastes have been focusing on minimalist and post-minimalist. It's been growing since I've been listening to John Adams (below).

For a long time my appreciation for minimalist music has been ruined by one man: Philip Glass (below). For some reason Glass has been the poster-boy for minimalist music. It must be that his music best embodies what minimalism is. Where as Adams, typically referred to as a post-minimalist, is what a typical audience would like minimalism to be; I am that audience member. I like Adams work because it's far more inviting. He gives you a space and allows you to explore it. Glass on the other hand I find to be a bit harsher, it's also ugly sounding (his later work is better). 

Other composers that has been peaking my interest is Steven Reich and Arvo Part.

Also, I heard someone say that Fox News uses a blue background for someone they want you to like and red for the ones they want you to disagree with. Weird considering red = Republican and blue = Democrat. Anyway, the idea behind it was interesting so I used it; Papermate - fair & balanced. 

In the above image towards the left, notice how Glass' nostrils have been played with, the upside down ones are the most bizarre. 

more to come.