VMs: hairstyles [was: Re: further ramblings ]

["Barbara Barrett" <barbarabarrett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> >John Jotted;
> >Hairstyles may be one area where he had no difficulty drawing - <snip>

> Nick Notted;
> On the subject of the hairstyles, don't forget Julie Porter's opinion
(from
> 14 Aug 1998):-
> >Based on the hairstyles of the nyphs. I did a stint at the ren-fair here
> >for about 10 years. There is nothing that gives a decade away more than
the
> >hair. <snip>

Barbara babbles;
Hoo boy. Ok, my first training was at art college (50 and always feckless,
so I've been about a lot <g>) and let me tell you how line drawing works. It
does not accuratly portray anything, it *can not* because it lacks detail.
Rather it works by *suggestion*; ie a few lines here and there suggesting
light, shade, texture, or form, and *the mind of the viewer fills in the
details*. In other words you see what you expect to see in a given context.

look at this;
   _____
       / \

Three lines, but can you see it as a picture of a road vanishing into the
distance?
you see....suggestion given context. My suggestion I admit, and I'm certain
there are others who will see something different - but that's my point!

Literally you see what you expect to see. Julie was familier with Renaisance
hairstyles so those are the details her mind filled in. Likewise if you look
for them you'll see hairstyles from other eras  too; *if you look for
them*!. Also, as the illustrator was trying to make every nymph an
individual, random chance alone would mean he'd appoximate lines which would
suggest certain hairstyles known and familier to a viewer (personally I see
quite a few 60's hippy styles in there <g>).

To suggest an *actual* style with mere line would require an artist of great
skill and ability, and the only word I can find that compares the vms
illustrator with such an artist is "not".

Julie may disagree, but line drawing is smoke and mirrors, so the apparent
presence of renaisance hairstlyes to her is not evidence and means nothing
because it is her subjective impression only.

Line drawing of this nature is as old as western manuscripts, but there are
other aspects of art history which could actually close the time frame if
they're found in the vms: indeed there's a few that would blow the time
frame I'm assuming right out of the water if I find them - so far I havn't,
but I'm looking for them ;-)

barbara


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