Ricardo Fumanal - Illustration

Ricardo Fumanal from Madrid, Spain has some obvious skills with a pencil. Taking inspiration from fashion magazines, he manages to re-create flawless skin, fabric and hair textures with the most subtle and controlled shading. The magazine covers are from a while ago, but he has recently updated his blog with more resplendent works and here they are.

English National Ballet Design Competition

So there isn't long left on this (just under 2 weeks) but if you are into ballet and like to draw, design, paint, crosstitch, photograph etc. etc. etc. then it could be for you.

The globally renowned English National Ballet is inviting artists to get creative and design the visual identity for ‘My First Sleeping Beauty’, the first in a series of classic ballets for children. The selected artwork will be displayed at the world premiere of ‘My First Sleeping Beauty’ in April 2012 and on marketing and promotional materials in the United Kingdom.

Participants may submit one design in JPEG or PNG format but must retain their original artwork should they be chosen as the winner. Designs submitted must incorporate the following:

• Title ‘My First Sleeping Beauty’
• Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) with dark hair
• A strong reference to ballet

The selected artwork will be produced and featured on 500,000 marketing and promotional materials, press advertisements in the United Kingdom and theatre websites for the ‘My First’ tour.

The winner will receive $2000 and will earn global exposure by having their artwork featured on English National Ballet’s website, their social media platforms and on CultureCritic.co.uk. The winner will also have the opportunity to design the visual identity for future ballets in the ‘My First’ series.

The winner (and one guest) will be invited to the world premiere of ‘My First Sleeping Beauty’ at the London Peacock Theatre in April 2012 (travel and accommodation in London are the responsibility of the winner).

Three runners up (as selected by English National Ballet and Gerald Scarfe) in addition to the highest voted artist will receive:

• Global exposure by having their designs featured on English National Ballet’s website, their social media platforms and on CultureCritic.co.uk
• $300 each

• Two tickets each to the world premiere performance of ‘My First Sleeping Beauty’ in London in April 2012 (travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the runners up and the highest voted artist)

So yeah, draw the picture, you might win a prize.

More details here.

8 Bit Fashion - Illustration

For those of you that have always wanted a three pixel waist Fashionary have produced these 8-bit illustrations of their favourite fashions.

Can you guess each fashion house from the first image?

Derek Nobbs - Artist

Derek Nobbs draws 'dirty dead sailors' on heavyweight hot-press paper, giving it an aged look with all of the usual artist's vices; coffee, tea, whiskey, tobacco and tears.

I am really glad to have found his work because I think it is just amazing. Inspired by all that nature has to offer, his unique compositions create a wonderful spectacle around his sailors, who each seem to have their own individually intriguing personalities.

Elisa Mazzone - Illustration

Australian Illustrator Elisa Mazzone's mixed media illustrations explore the female form through careful choices in shape and color, flowing line and subtle embellishments to highlight the gorgeous bits.