Golden Age of Illustration 1890-1910

Golden Age of Illustration 1890-1910

What was called the “Golden Age Illustration” was a period of when the technologies in the 18^th century were starting to develop and advance in its time and public demand for graphic arts. Artists would then use the skills and ideas to draw concepts for buildings, architecture and interiors for more unique buildings. This would’ve been a big step for illustrators to begin illustrating with their imaginations and also for novels such as children books, mainly on fairy tales and folklores.

European illustrators were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites and unique design-oriented movements, it would give them more ideas of making unique designs for houses then being all similar to each other and later in the 20^th century many houses and architecture designs would evolve over the decades and stand out more.

There have been recent numbers of talented artists who have taken their skills further to making children books, like Beatrix Potter’s books about Peter Rabbit, 

jack and the Bean Stalk, a fairy tale book published by the folklorist writer Joseph Jacobs 

Among the Gnomes and Trolls by John Bauer 


Brothers Grimm that have made big impact and influence among other artists in the later period of time and made their own unique styles of illustrations, mostly 2-D and brighter colours for younger readers.

When Japan ended it’s isolation from the world, artists were greatly inspired by their artwork of illustrating stories, myths and history. Fashion illustration was also an influence on the western cultures such as Christopher Dresser after his trip to Japan and admired the coursel-granulated character of the fabric used to make the outfits.Their influence in Europe can be found in France with many portraits with Japanosim, including France for their portraits.

Sources:

www.wired.co.uk

Master of Trade: Jessica Peffer

For research on the Master of Trade I decided to write about Jessica "NeonDragon" Peffer because I know a lot about her and bought her How To Draw books, also a fan of dragons which is one of the main reasons. So here is my blog presentation.

Background

Freelance Illustrator, comic book and fantasy artist

• She was born in Feb 1983 OhioShe's a freelance illustrator who publishes comics and illustrate fantasy creatures, mainly dragons from looking at her Dragonart books.
• Jessica's hobbies are playing games like World of WarcraftShe's a freelance artist but has made indie comics and books to sell. 
• She has made three How to Draw books. Even has an online store to sell prints and products featuring her artwork.
• Had her work printed since 2002 

Career

• She's a freelance artist but has made indie comics and books to sell. She has made three How to Draw books. Even has an online store to sell prints and products featuring her artwork.

Why is she a master of trade?

• Because she focus the target audience that want to learn how to draw fantasy creatures and big fans of dragons. So she publishes books, comics and online tutorials for artists to learn
• She uses a variety of media and does a lot of research on animals to build a mythical creature in her style of illustration.
• Jessica had made her latest new website for a new project called Flight Rising
• Obviously gets in touch with people she knows or fans when doing a streamline to show her working on her illustrations.
• Her work is favored largely towards fans of fantasy and illustration. 
• On her website she has a discussion forum to chat with people of certain things than just her art. Other social websites she can be contacted are Facebook, Twitter and Livejournal 

What I can tell is she knows her market and takes time to chat with her fans and followers of what they like to see of new projects and has a lot of contacts to help her projects being made .

                    

Looking at her work I have been a fan of her artwork, made an influence of wanting to get into illustration of fantasy and sci fi. She works well with the media and equipment, giving tips to the fans of learning new ways of drawing. Knows what her target likes and wants to attract their attention.

Marvel and DC

Marvel

One of the most popular comic books ever published, well known for numerous characters with super-powers in a fictional reality (or multiple universes) called the Marvel universe, take place in Earth in almost exactly like ours but with more advance technology, fictional countries and races such as Mutants, Atlanteans and Inhumans living on Earth. Magic and supernatural exist alongside with science fiction and varied of genres in the series.

There are known superhero teams and organisations in the comic multiverse: Avengers, X-Men, X-Factor, S.H.I.E.L.D., Fantastic Four, Ultimates, Brotherhood of Mutants, Friends of Humanity, AIM, etc. 

Some famous story arcs in the series were the Days of the Future Past, Civil War, Zombies and the House of M

DC comics

DC is more of the opposite of Marvel as they also have superheroes, villains, advance technology, numerous aliens, monsters and magic that exist in the DC universe. The common appearance for heroes and villains are their costumes, wearing capes and most characters have their titles end with their gender more than Marvel would for character naming.

Superheroes like Superman, the Batman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Supergirl, Beast Boy and Kid Flash. What makes them different from the characters in Marvel is how they are easily by people because of their heroic deeds. Forming teams such as the Justice League that monitors metahuman, alien and supernatural related crimes and natural disasters.

The producers decide to make a reboot after the multiverse crisis, introducing the New 52 for a complete remake of the DC characters.

Differences between Marvel and DC

Most obviously differences are some characters are more god-like powerful such as the character Superman with almost no weakness apart from Kryptonite, Darkseid being a god-like being who wants to turn the universe in his image and common origins of gaining powers were chemicals and magical items that give them powers.

Some of these aren’t entirely explained how they received these from most recurring characters. These characters were born with powers and considered demi-gods with limited knowledge, being considered role models and almost perfect back in the early years of DC. Usually these characters are either born with powers or given through technology, genetic engineering or magic.

• Marvel being the opposite have their characters start out as regular people but some do have their powers through mutations as them being named Mutants and are treated by racial hatred as such is common in real life where people treat each other racial origins as Mutants are seen as freaks and usually fight for a place they could have a better life.

•  Many of the Mutants and characters related to them are usually victims of hatred by people, normally by the organization called Friends of Humanity who plot to wipe out all of mutants.

•   So far Marvel is grounded more close to our level of reality while DC is considered more of a science fiction and fantasy, more parallel to Marvel. Most of DC’s characters are more based on mythology and legends while Marvel’s are more based on historic figures to make some connections between fiction and real life.

• But the two have in common are powerful god-like characters in bother verses with Marvel having the Celestials, Thanos, Galactus, Apocalypse, the Asgard and the Elders of the Universe. DC's powerful characters are the New Gods, Guardians of the Universe, Superman, Brainiac, Mister Mxyzptlk. Pretty much many gods and mythical characters from various cultures were introduced in DC comics like the Amazons and Greek gods.

Book of Sea Monsters

This book contains stories and knowledge about sea monsters from across the world; Lock ness. ancient prehistoric leviathans, giant squids and the Hippocampus. I borrowed this from the library to find out more about sea monsters for my project and loved the illustrations in the book and the cover. The book was illustrated by Bob Eggleton, an artist who did a lot of horror, fantasy and sci fi illustrations. 

Hippocampus

A lot of sea serpants such as the large sea horse of Greek Mythology, Hippocampus (above).

Writes lots of stories about these creatures and how some were originally fossils and corpses found by sailors like the remains of the large shark  in the image above.