Mode2; Hold Her Tight, (2008.)

Mode2’s 2008 piece, entitled “Hold Her Tight,” is an illustration that I feel would inspire my future work I create for a number of reasons.

The concept behind a number of Mode2’s pieces of work is simple but effective illustrations that portray human figures in different and uncommon positions.

The style of this piece in particular, is rather simplistic, but has an awesome effect on the image. The image is made up of simple lines that don’t appear to have any sketchiness to them, and seem rather continuous, however they do have different thicknesses, giving delicacy and solidarity to the outline of the image.

I feel as though this style is very much something I would like to, and would find easy to replicate. The illustrative style and minimalist colour would be something I could try out on a number on my future works.

The techniques used in this piece are very simple and obvious, the background and lines are made with simple acrylic paints, used to blend and create a colour “scheme,” very successfully, so successfully in fact that it almost looks like it has been done digitally.

I love the way that Mode2 highlights the muscles and tones of the body with pastels and chalk, as it makes them seem more realistic and detailed. And considering highlighting and shading is something I would always like to improve on, it is definitely something I’m now inspired to try out.

I also find that making background objects, like the kettle and the table, into one by not separating them with lines, as it makes them seem less important, and not stick out as much. This works well in an image were everything is very simple and not a lot of detail is needed.