Tuesday 21 May 2013

FROM MY SKETCHBOOK: Beneath the Opera House...


click to enlarge.

I saw The Phantom of the Opera stage show for the first time a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I saw the film when it came out in 2004 and loved that, but to see the show performed in a real, old theatre was treat. I must say though that I actually spent the entire show marvelling at the amazing set which was just ingenious in the way it shifted and changed and became numerous different locations. Brilliant!

When my parents took me to the theatre as a child, I remember enjoying sitting in the darkness transfixed, not by the story being played out on the stage (although I did enjoy that), but by the design of the costumes and set. I would take in every little detail and draw everything I'd seen when I got home. Nothing has changed now that I'm grown up. I'm still fascinated by the details and dress in tv, film and theatre. It actually makes sitting down to watch something quite difficult as my fingers are constantly twitching for the pencil and sketchbook I keep in my pocket.

So, of course some snippet from the the Phantom of the Opera had to make its way into my sketchbook. I've just been putting the finishing touches to my next picture book which is full of colour and pattern, so it was nice to change track here and do something dark and moody and grown up.
Bit spooky too...

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For more sketchbook images and information about my sketchbook process and what media I use to draw with, do visit this guest post I did for my agent's website.

2 comments:

  1. Love it, especially all those arches fading into the distance. Very spooky! Christine's expression is fabulous, too. =)
    I know what you mean about wanting to sketch while watching tv; I usually either sketch or needle felt, but I'm a bit hampered by an extremely new puppy on my lap at the moment. =P

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  2. You have the best sketchbook pages!

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