Visual Library

Attempting to build up my visual library... 
by drawing my own hands from life for practice.

Hands are one of the most expressive parts of the body, but are also one of the most difficult things to draw in my opinion. Observation is so important because it builds your understanding of how the real world functions, so you can then translate that into 2 dimensions however you want - realistically or stylistically.

Drawings are (c) Erin McManness 2011

Little Update

My apologies for the lack of posts this week, I've been working long hours, and have been incredibly exhausted. Some good stuff coming your way this weekend, though!

My sister did me up all lovely in a fishtail braid. 

It seemed incredibly easy - it's exactly like how you lace a shoe! Super easy. 

And have I mentioned how crazy obsessed I am with Beyonce's new

"Run the World"? 

This looks like a killer dance workout. Not to mention the video below is her live performance, and I have NEVER seen anything like this graphics and effects wise - it's sick! Plus, I just like all of B's hairography ;) Please enjoy, and bust a move ;)

Finally, I was going to have some drawings for you guys, but my computer was acting like a total dinosaur when I opened up Photoshop to make some minor edits (check it - it took me an hour to edit 2 - count em, 2 - photos. Yikes.)

Catch you guys over the weekend - and hello to all the new followers! Thanks for checking out my blog! Please be sure to leave a comment and introduce yourselves :)

Lovely Inspiration

What a piece of work is man; how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable.
Shakespeare.

And a treasury I made inspired by the photograph above.


Moving photo reblogged from Fuzzington Post.

Independence Day Sale

I needed an excuse to give you guys a lovely coupon code!

Please enter "LOVELY4TH" 

at check-out to receive 10% off your order 'til 

 Tuesday, July 5th  

(11:59pm EST)

{ click here to shop }

And by the way, 

my windows are open and it's thunderstorming.

It's my favourite weather,

it smells fresh like rain,

and I'm jammin out to La Roux.

And it's silly that I'm awake at this hour,

but I'm one of those

art-type-night-owls;

so all is right in the world. 

Photography, modeling, typography, necklace design (c) Erin McManness 2011; Texture courtesy of { Art of Decay }

What I Wore... in Las Vegas

{ 10 Dresses by Erin McManness 2009-2011 }

One of my favourite things to doodle out are fashion illustrations.

I worked for two large designers in the city of Los Angeles about a year ago, and these littered my sketchbook. Originally inspired by Viet My Bui, I now have developed my own style, and this is such a fun, "let loose" exercise for me (and also a way to practice my anatomy, fabric, and stylization skills!)

W H A T  I  W O R E ... in fabulous Las Vegas

I wore these two outfits out to Stratosphere (right outfit) 

and for a night playing Roulette in the casinos (left outfit)

LEFT: F21 Navy Blue Cocktail Dress; Mediterranean Lagoon Necklace from my own collection; Navy pumps with ruffles; Silver clutch.

RIGHT: Ximena Valero Twister Dress in Nautical Stripe (she's one of the designers I worked for in LA); Nautical Stripe wrap wedges; Silver drop earrings.

All images / illustrations in this post are (c) Erin McManness 2009 - 2011 

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!

This past weekend, my dad, stepmother, sister and I hopped a few time zones and found ourselves happily in fabulous Las Vegas!  

I had never been (except on my frequent lay-overs back and forth from when I lived in LA), and my gambling experience totaled a glorious $3 in a Star Wars slot machine in the Vegas airport (my mom peer-pressured me, and then I chickened out at $2, hahah.)

We stayed at Mandalay Bay, near the bottom of the Strip, in a golden hotel with a pool like heaven. This was one of the views from our window!

Our first night, we were lucky enough to snag a reservation at Stratosphere, the restaurant in the space needle that looks out over the lights of Vegas, 106 floors up. The restaurant floor spins inside, and it takes an hour to make a full rotation around the tower. Did I also mention that during dinner, we could see people jumping off the roof to the pavement below?

After one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, we went up to the roof of the building - it was windy!

We figured that we couldn't go to Vegas and not check out Caesar's Palace, so we toured the Strip and worked up an appetite. Caesar's by far was the most opulent casino (in my opinion), and it was so cool to go inside and realize how much artistry went into all of the designs and details of the place.

 We ate at Spago, out on the patio under the Palace ceiling that is painted and then lit to mimic the sky outside. It was gorgeous, and the food was delicious. All of the architecture inside the Forum Shops (where the restaurant was located) was built to look like a small Roman village, and it took me back to my time in Italy (with the exception of all the designer stores like Jimmy Choo, Dior, and Coach in all the storefronts).

 

 After dinner, we walked home among the lights of the Strip. We stopped to explore the bathrooms in the Bellagio, which had the most gorgeous umbrellas hanging like little canopies from the chandeliers. I'm hoping to design some jewelry using them as inspiration! It was good that we stopped, because just as we emerged from the casino, the infamous fountain light show erupted to the tune of "Viva Las Vegas!". It was spectacular and exhilarating - I'm so glad we caught it just in time!

The walk back was breathtaking with all the lights. 

Vegas did not disappoint - it was indeed fabulous. My two goals for my trip were to win money (and I did - $46 from the Wheel of Fortune Slot Machine!) and to get a tan (and I did - I have tan lines!!!)

Watch out tomorrow for my What I Wore Illustrations, Vegas-style.

Lovely Flowers for Lovely Ladies

This week has been a whirlwind - I feel like it's flown by! It's surprising how little of the day is left after work and driving home! Sometimes it's nice to come home and relax after dinner, and work on something creative. I've got a new painting in the works, inspired by the sea and my beach-faring desires. I also have been stocking up on my Spring Bloom Necklaces in every colour of the rainbow for the convention this summer!

This is by far one of my favourite pieces to make! Pictured here is my Marine Turquoise Bloom; I recently switched over from using exclusively Sculpey to using Premo, and wow - what a difference. The colour jumps right out of the clay, and has a subtle shimmer to it. Thought I ought to make a recommendation to all you fellow sculptors out there!

As for the design, I was actually originally inspired by the fabric flowers that are sprinkled (and heart'd by me) all over Etsy. I wanted to create something delicate and playful in clay (since fabric isn't my forte), and voila! Through fun experimentation and surprises, my line of Spring Bloom Necklaces was created! Don't you love those happy discoveries? When something totally unexpected and unplanned happens and you're like, "Wow, that looks fabulous!"? I've found that these look great with jeans and a tee, but also with a summer sun dress, and even as jewelry for bridesmaids (these have been featured in various colours in several different weddings!)

Also, did you know that I'm giving one of these away? Like, for free?

 Layout from Love by Serena; LifeLoveBlog.com; Photos by Erin McManness / Miri-love

Hop on over to { Love by Serena } to enter! 

Everyone loves free jewelry! 

And hurry - the giveaway ends on June 24th!

One last thing, little birdies... I am going to bright, glittering Las Vegas over the next four days (it will be my first time!), so I will not be able to blog much. However, I am taking my lovely camera, and will have some fabulous photographs to post next week, as well as some "What I Wore" illustrations of the glamourous outfits my sister and I have planned (we call these our "hot girl disguises"). Vivaaaaaa Las Vegas!