I've had the idea floating about my head for some time to alphabetically create a series of illustrations of musical acts. Hopefully, utilise styles/techniques that are sympathetic to the subject matter in each case, but maybe more importantly, utilise differing working methods for the sheer sake of shaking things up for myself.
Lately I've got into a bit of a rut of doing comic-booky working method of creating clean inks, scan them in, clean them up, then flat colouring in Photoshop so it seemed that now was a perfect time to give this a go. There's no defined schedule on this or anything else imposed, so hopefully I put this to positive, fruitful use going forward.
With this series I want to be able to break a few eggs along the way, not be too precious and use whatever gets the job done, pencil, ink, watercolour, paint, vector, texture scans, maybe try out new techniques and materials. Basically rip it up and have fun. Regarding creating fresh work lately, have been a bit zapped with usual life and 9 to 5, so hopefully this project on the side gives me a bit of fire and incentive to attack the drawing board with a bit more relish.
Have been listening to a bit of old soul this weather, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, so there was little doubt in my mind to kick things off with the Queen of Soul. In a weird way, due to the recognition she's received and lack of obscurity think it's easy to be a bit dismissive of Aretha. Stuck on 'I Never Loved A Man' album while working on this, it's the definition of class with a side order of 'oomph'. Hopefully there's a little drop of that oomph that she delivers in this...
