Saturday, February 04, 2006

musical chairs

I had no brilliant ideas for Illustration Friday this week, but I did want to do something new, resulting in this pretty unremarkable drawing, so after scanning it, I couldn't resist playing with it in Photoshop. First I tried a few effects with the format intact. Then I tried a variety of crops. In the end, I think I like the simplicity of the vertically-cropped monochromatic version best. It's all a process.



Does anybody see a weird format here? i.e. the vertically cropped greyscale image overlapping the sidebar? If so, are you using Firefox and/or a Mac?

31 Comments:

Blogger Brian the Mennonite said...

I think these look great...and now, seeing as I've made a comment...I would say that they are remarkable. :)

5/2/06 7:36 a.m.  
Blogger carla said...

I like them all, although each one has a very different feeling. The vertical space suits the tall chairs well. I like that they seem to have a life of their own...as if they could just walk off theb "set."

5/2/06 7:43 a.m.  
Blogger Caroline said...

I like them all too. Its great seeing how one picture can lead to so many versions - something I like doing too!!!

I especially like the little chairs as well as the big grown up ones - very funny!

5/2/06 7:56 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Funny, you say unremarkable, I say fabulous!

5/2/06 8:17 a.m.  
Blogger Twisselman said...

You've pushed Photoshop in really great ways here. Wonderful to see all the variations and crops. Great illustration. Very cool.

5/2/06 8:30 a.m.  
Blogger isay said...

first of all, your drawings are already beautiful as it is but trying something else with p have made them become also interesting and special.

5/2/06 9:25 a.m.  
Blogger The Tart said...

hello andrea...out of respect of your cool IF chair post, I have woven a story including you in my current post. i invite you to stop by and read about yourself!

please leave a comment and let me know if there is more to my story...nifty chairs, i love the colors here...very soothing!

5/2/06 10:18 a.m.  
Blogger valerie walsh said...

i'm really loving these chairs andrea! I love the green ones and the very top in your signature colours the most but all are wonderful and I love that when I look at your work I know it is Andrea Pratt.

5/2/06 10:18 a.m.  
Blogger Joy Eliz said...

This is really great! Absolutely love all the colors. Modern art meets vintage art. Love it!

5/2/06 10:21 a.m.  
Blogger Natura said...

Very interesting and very beautiful design and color! :)

5/2/06 10:56 a.m.  
Blogger HARDWAX said...

I really like the texture-and guttsy feel of these chairs,great color as well-so sharp

5/2/06 12:05 p.m.  
Blogger ste-pha-nie said...

Photoshop can be so much fun sometimes!
Yes and Yes on the weird format.

5/2/06 12:21 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been waiting for you "Chair" pic, yeah. I like the black and white one the best. Nice work as usual andrea!
~andrea

5/2/06 1:24 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like what you did with this drawing - all of the different styles. Yes, your layout does look very weird, and I'm using Firefox on a Mac.

5/2/06 2:00 p.m.  
Blogger merlinprincesse said...

Chairs playing musical chair.... Fun! Like it!

5/2/06 2:15 p.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

Musical chairs! what a great idea. these are all wonderful. great design and composition.
I'm using safari and mac and yes your pic is into the side bar

5/2/06 2:28 p.m.  
Blogger Cream said...

I need new chairs for Casa! Keep on producing, Andrea!

5/2/06 3:24 p.m.  
Blogger carla said...

Andrea - I was going to mention that the layout is really weird on my computer. I'm viewing it in Safari on a Mac, and the greyscale illo is way over to the right and underneath your blogroll. Did you line them up in a vertical row, or try to postion them across?

5/2/06 5:48 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow they are all incredible. the textures on the last grayscale one are very nice.

5/2/06 6:25 p.m.  
Blogger Calvin said...

HAHAHA it amazes me when you say unremarkable drawing! I wish i could do that!

5/2/06 6:50 p.m.  
Blogger Anonymous said...

The subject calls for a vertical compostion and love the last one. The first I prefer mood wise. They are all great!

5/2/06 8:15 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I use a Mac and Safari and the alignment is out-of-whack...that's the negative, the positive is these are really great.

6/2/06 12:08 a.m.  
Blogger The Unknown said...

Love them all love.
love

6/2/06 12:19 a.m.  
Blogger Katili said...

I'm using Firefox and I see one image overlapping. But all the versions of your work look great. I kind of like most the uncropped PS version, because I love the yellow chair's daddy long legs and the BG colours. Adorable yet a little creepy little chairs running around. I also like your original. All are good !

6/2/06 1:42 a.m.  
Blogger kyknoord said...

I love all the little chairs line-dancing in the background.

6/2/06 2:27 a.m.  
Blogger andrea said...

Thanks for the fantastic feedback mes amis. I am trying to fix the one image so that it aligns properly for those viewing it with a less common browser but Blogger is !@!?*#!? acting up again. I'll try again later and then you can let me know if there's an improvement.

6/2/06 7:03 a.m.  
Blogger andrea said...

OK -- I made the change. Any better?

6/2/06 9:06 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

beautiful series!! Love how you can come up with so many great paintings on a simple everyday item!

6/2/06 12:26 p.m.  
Blogger atomicvelvetsigh said...

wow.. great concept! i didnt notice the baby chairs until i scrolled downwards.. nicely put patterns.. and even the b/w is gorgeous!

6/2/06 4:10 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmmm, chairs for inspiration? You artistes are just out there...I have a friend in San Francisco who specializes in painting giant fruit. He sells a lot of his work to restauranteurs. Has a big commercial business. Must be fun to make art out of every day objects. We've been accused of having too many chairs in our apartment. LOL!

6/2/06 5:48 p.m.  
Blogger Amy Zaleski said...

Very funky! I really like the textures here.

8/2/06 11:46 a.m.  

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