April? April, is that you?
Once upon a time ago, the only thing a bride had to worry about whether or not her (zhe/his) wedding would have to be canceled because of rain. How times have changed! I love weddings; spring usually ushers in weddings/graduation season. Unfortunately, this year has proven to be a bit different for spring 2020.
Graduations, spring weddings, prom, etc. have been put on hold, postponed or canceled given the COV-19 outbreak (Please visit the CDC for the latest news and coverage about COV-19). Regardless, I love weddings. Since middle school I’ve been a wedding junkie. I would watch all the shows (Say Yes to the Dress, Whose Wedding is it Anyways, Four Wedding, My Fair Wedding and occasionally Bridezilla). I was enamored by the glamour, the magic, and the love.
I’ve always dreamed about our (mine and my fiancé’s) big day. I’ve modified colors, themes, and dress styles multiple times in my head. I’m sure many couples have planned their dream days only to have it snatched away due to “unprecedented circumstances.” And that sucks. Folks are allowed to grieve the loss of this opportunity and the future memories they were planning. Things like prom, graduation, and weddings are cultural rights of passage. I hope and pray that the new season will bring more opportunities for new memories and that the FOMO will pass. ❤️
This month’s illustration was delightful. After an interesting day at work, I sat down and drafted this on a Friday night in. On the surface, the skill level seems comparable to my last two illustrations (the first one was… very “beginner ish”). However, I’m included more detail, layering, and technique to create my illustrations. I played with gradients, I created an ear, added cleavage for the first time, and you can see the pleats on the dress. I did a dang good job!
A few challenged I face dealt with proportions and angles. In the inspiration photo, the bride is tilted to the side. I’m not advanced enough with my shading to duplicate that angle. With the exact angle, the bride ended up looking boxy, so I dropped her shoulder. I also swapped out the earrings and made her mouth a bit smaller. My technique for the face is slightly lacking. I played with the shades of hair for the brows and updo. While you might not see it, I layered a few different blacks and stroke styles for a more sophisticated look. I’m still debating whether I like the loose curl in front of her face.
Finally, for this month’s inspiration. Drum roll please…. Sabrina Dhowre Elba. Sabrina is a model/actress, and last April, she married Idris Elba. Sabrina’s bridal makeup was breathing **chef’s kiss**. Charlotte Tilbury did her makeup (Watch them recreate the look here). She looked naturally radiant. Sabrina wanted her makeup to look like “a no-makeup-makeup look” that was “her natural beauty elevated.” I think she nailed the look, and I appreciated the natural glam makeup look. I think Sabrina is absolutely divine, and I wish her and Idris a Happy Anniversary!
Let’s bring it, May!
