Rush

In 1937, British Vogue was advocating the hunting season in their September issue, with this illustration ‘Country Clothes and Hunting’ by Eric (Carl Erickson). Now, I don’t know that many of us these days will be doing much hunting (unless you’re an Eskimo or something) … except you might perhaps be hunting for party frocks to wear this party season, or those perfect last-minute gifts for your most-favourite loved ones.

It’s the end of an era (my last Vogue calendar page!), and we’ve a month to wrap up the year’s triumphs and regrets, missed and frantic forgotten holiday things and tie a bow on those loose ends.

Twenty-five days to go, and your time starts … Now!

Visions of Grandeur

RetreatTonight, taking a break from illustrating, I got back to editing the photos of my trip to Europe this past June. I’m still only sorting through the first few days of Barcelona and Lisbon.

The photos from Barcelona include those taken on a daytrip out to Montserrat in the Catalonian mountains. I’d read years ago about the Benedictine Abbey cocooned in the crags of the mountain, although I’d never imagined I would actually go there. The monastery is the home of the Black Virgin, the world’s oldest publishing house (the first book was published in 1499), and the Montserrat Boy’s Choir, one of the oldest in Europe.

I rode the Funicular de Saint Joan (a vertical railway) to the top of the mountain and was met by the most spectacular views all around. Montserrat literally means ‘jagged mountain’ in Catalan, and the landscape inspired me with visions of Edward Weston-inspired black and white images. Scroll down for a few more.

MontserratBackboneTeethThe Rocky Path

Vintage Tat

The Elephant, The Pony and The Rabbit :: Hornbecker // Cano Cafenol // No flashI went vintage shopping a few weeks ago with Kitty who was after an 80s dress in the taffeta, ruched, puffy bridesmaid style typical of the era. Our trawl through all the vintage boutiques and secondhand shops on Chapel St in Windsor brought us eventually to Round Helen’s. (Formerly ‘Fat Helen’s’, the ‘Fat’ has been crossed out and replaced with the more friendly adjective.)

While Kitty was inside the rusty tin space rocket (the changing room) trying on a number of frocks, I was busily photographing all the bric-a-brac and tat on the glass shelves all around me. The somewhat addled young shop assistant nervously tittered about Princess Diana, and what an influential icon she had been (in a tone that suggested that though she was far removed from such reverence, she was quite adept at making cultural observations).

Shy Di :: Hornbecker // Cano Cafenol // No flashAs her eyes darted about from one thing to another, I edged surreptitiously away from her until Kitty emerged somewhat dishevelled from the cramped quarters of the space vessel. There were some promising candidates, but we made good our escape. And fortunately Kitty was to find her destiny in one of the other junk shops further down the street. 

China Ladies :: Hornbecker // Cano Cafenol // No flashCinderella’s Coach :: Hornbecker // Cano Cafenol // No flash

The Real Deal

I while back I posted a story about my Dr Ph. Martin liquid ‘radiant concentrated’ liquid dyes that were masquerading as watercolours. Despite their fancy-sounding name, many online reviewers had come to the conclusion that these impostors were not lightfast, and were probably only suitable for commercial work, rather than fine art. What they do have going for them is the super-bright saturation of the hues, and they can easily be reactivated in the palette after they dry out.

I had already found that they did not behave in the same way as watercolour paint as far as creating textural effects by dropping salt onto wet wash. Nor do they seem to have the same lovely luminescent quality of true watercolour if they are watered down or mixed too much – the colours start to look flat.

Discovering how expensive watercolour paint was in art stores (many cost more than $20 for a 5mL tube), I managed to find a small, inexpensive box of Holbeins on eBay, and have since augmented this basic set with a few extra colours by Winsor & Newton (I haven’t yet discovered any difference in quality). As much as I used to love my Dr Ph’s, my watercolour paintings seem to have more depth and vibrancy.

And happily, these watercolour paints do behave as the tutorials online promised. I have experimented so far with fairly fine-grained iodised cooking salt and enormous chunks of rock salt, which was all I had in my pantry. I’d like to try some flaked sea salt too, and see if there’s any difference in the formation of the texture.

It will be perfect to create the crusty old skin of the monsters I am illustrating for a children’s book series.

Green Fashion

Canadian Vogue, 1948Green used to be my favourite colour. I still really like it, although I don’t wear it so much. This Canadian Vogue cover from 1948 certainly caught my eye though, in a random Google search. The light filtering through the tree overhead is just beautiful, immediately evoking lazy summer days. It reminds me of Javier Vallhonrat’s photography. 

The cover prompted me to search out a few more distinctive and equally green vintage Vogues. And what do they all have in common (besides the obvious)? That’s right: virtually NO COVERLINES! Those vintage editors let the beautiful imagery do the talking.

Sigh. They just don’t design ’em like they used to, do they?

An irresistible illustration by Cecil Beaton, apparently executed on wrapping paper, Vogue 1395The tail end of the Belle Époque, Vogue 1913Divine Art Deco minimalism between the Wars, Vogue 1932Newly minted green, Vogue 1961