Contemporary religious art

From conducting a quick google search on this subject, I have found that a lot of this style of art is still very similar to the old masters paintings. Although I have noticed that contemporary religious art  is getting a slight push from various artists who are using the classical imagery in a new way. 

St. Garf (The Annunciation)Ian Byrne, 2014

Obviously this piece is similar to mine in that it is using a famous figure in place of a religious character. I do actually really like this style, the smudged paint strokes are really nice. 

Nino Muerto #2 : Alex Garcia

This stylised piece is really cool, Using religious imagery to create a fantastical being. I may strive to create more in depth pieces with more imagery in them. 

More Copyrighting

I have been looking more into copyrighting laws as what i'm doing seems to be kind of a grey area. Apparently, if the work I am creating is my own intellectual property and I am just using a face to create a character i should be fine. Especially as I am not copying directly from photographs and am creating a new persona for these people. 

"If you've created, invented, or named something that you're selling, you already have intellectual property." 

I feel much happier proceeding with the project now I am more aware that i'm basically are to do this style of product. 

Patents, registered designs, trade marks and copyright for dummies: John Grant, Charlie Ashworth and Henri Charmasson: John Wiley &Sons, Ltd. 

Medieval triptychs and further religious imagery

I have been looking at more religious imagery and triptychs, to further my knowledge on this style of religious portraiture. 

They vary in, some are extremely decadent whilst others remain fairly simple. I want to find a good medium between the two, and figure out the placement for my own figures. 

I ave also been looking up other religious imagery that can be incorporated into these illustrations from a really good site: 

http://symboldictionary.net

Art of the Middle Ages, Thames and Hudson

Treasures of the Vatican, Thames and Hudson

Progress?

As these portraits go on I am beginning to find it easier to draw these women. I am also getting more and more ideas for my triptychs I wish to produce, from now on I will be focussing on this. I am slightly behind with starting to print my bags but I am confident that I will be able to complete everything within time. 

I feel as though my style has changed again for this brief and I do actually really like the works I am producing at the minute, all except the bottom right portrait. It's just too juvenile, I do however like the inks on the Halo. I am think more about incorporating inks into these initial drawings as I may use them for prints. 

Survey results

As I stated before, I made a survey to better grasp how people feel about lo-fi illustration. Although there wasn't many responses, i feel as though the responses will still help me with this project and predicting trends and styles. 

Artist Inspiration: Maria Herreros

One of the main illustrators I have been interested in recently is Maria Herreros and her ability to create beautiful portraits that, on the surface seem naive, but really they have captured the personality of the subjects so perfectly. I adore her quirky, lo-fi style of line and her use of colour in the pieces. As I have stated previously though, it is not the use of colour I am really interested in when looking at artists for this project, it is their line work and the overall formation of the subject that interests me. 

David Lynch, 2012

Company She Keeps, 2013

Audrey Hepburn at a Flower Market, 2013

I feel as though looking at really contemporary artists of this module is vital, they are working and living in the current climate and are creating works for audiences now. Especially Herreros. 

Her lines are lilted and unconventional but the way she can capture a face is magical. As stated in the previous post, I have emailed her enquiring if she has ever encountered any copyright issues surround her famous people portraits, as this is very important to really understand what I could expect of my products, even though they are technically my intellectual property. 

The answer was pretty straight forward, it does sort of make me feel a bit more comfortable with proceeding with the project. 

Illustration now! 5, Julius Weidemann, Taschen. 

getting on

I have not produced as much work as i would have liked to thus far in the project... so from now on 'm going to have to churn out illustrations like nobody's business.  feel as though once the first few portraits of one person are done you soon start to find it easier to draw this person. 

In reality I would like to have completed the Bunny Yeager Saints by the end of tomorrow and to have started and hopefully finished the comedy acts by the end of the weekend. 

In terms of Market research and primary research, I created an survey for people to complete on lo-fi illustration, only 13 people got back to me but its better that nothing and the results do show that this is a trend that people are beginning to notice more. I have also contacted Maria Herreros about copyrighting issues, if any, she may have encountered from drawing famous people's faces. I find her work extremely inspiring and have asked her because she is very contemporary and will hopefully be knowledgeable on these issues an illustrator may have to deal with.