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Being unfamiliar with industrial
scenarios, my first reaction to this picture was that the machinery
looked like a huge sculpture with people buzzing all over it, examining
it, with even more people queuing to look at it too.
I decided to enlarge the main figure to make the image more dramatic, then to 'frame' the amazing object -- in keeping with the idea that it's a work of art. I could have used just a bit of the picture, but I liked the whole thing too much to leave any of it out.
I decided to enlarge the main figure to make the image more dramatic, then to 'frame' the amazing object -- in keeping with the idea that it's a work of art. I could have used just a bit of the picture, but I liked the whole thing too much to leave any of it out.
I scribbled down my original idea to see if it would look OK, and had some first thoughts about positioning speech bubbles.
Then I tidied up the drawing, as well as adding more detail.
The next stage was inking it in. I like to use various art pens with different thicknesses of pigment.
Lastly comes the colouring. Even at this stage
I will sometimes change things. In this case I inked in some more
and white painted out a bit. I was tempted to do a lot more than that.
I really fancied painting the 'sculpture' in loads of bright colours,
but decided it best to keep nearer to the times it was photographed
in, when clothing was quite dull and industrial areas grimy from the
smoke of many chimneys. I used some really good felt pens to colour
this cartoon, which go on very smoothly giving nice flat colour. Usually
they are nice and bright too... but not this time!
My name's Doreen Lang and I studied
at Glasgow School of Art. I live and work in the Norfolk countryside
where my studio is.
I've been a Graphic Designer for years, specialising in illustration. I do lots of different styles, from real-ish to decorative, and cartoons. I enjoy cartooning - I've done some huge outdoor ones for a children's play area as well as ones for books and comics.
My claim to fame is that I used to illustrate 'The Wombles' and 'Paddington Bear' for children's diaries when they were popular TV characters.
I've been a Graphic Designer for years, specialising in illustration. I do lots of different styles, from real-ish to decorative, and cartoons. I enjoy cartooning - I've done some huge outdoor ones for a children's play area as well as ones for books and comics.
My claim to fame is that I used to illustrate 'The Wombles' and 'Paddington Bear' for children's diaries when they were popular TV characters.
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About the historic photograph
Foremen and workers at the Thames Ironworks, Blackwall, with part of a steamship engine.
Towards the end of the 19th century, when British commercial shipbuilding was at its height, the Thames Ironworks was the most important shipbuilding business on the Thames and one of the biggest private shipbuilders in the country.
(Repro ID D1754. Copyright holder unknown.)
(Repro ID D1754. Copyright holder unknown.)
All Tintin images © Hergé / Moulinsart 2004