Creating Neo Deco - 03-07-25

Website link: https://corneakkers.com/neo-deco-07-03-25/
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Assia Again

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Neo Deco – 03-07-25’ fully is in honor of beautiful Ukrainian model Assia Granatouroff. Doing my latest pastel I discovered her again. In fact, in the past I was inspired by her and she has been photographed by many in the 1930s. Delving deeper into her charms I found is incredible picture by Ergy Landau. It seems Assia had a busy agenda in the 30s! The composition of the folded-like nude simply is astonishing. The only problem is how not to only sheer copy such a wandering beauty and add value to it.

All the Time in the World

This morning I had all the time in the world. Sitting in the shop of Brugman Art I was waiting to pick up my brand new bike. That is, my old bike was worn out and the bike shop is adjacent to where I teach in Voorburg. They promised me to get the new bike that morning so I had some hours to work in peace. No particular plans for this one and I so happend to have Hahnemühle’s Bamboo paper in my backpack. See what that might do. The last time was for my drawing ‘Beek – 14-04-25’ and I quite liked it.

Easy Peasy

She actually arrived very quickly on paper, not even by measuring out proportions properly. The posture was complex though so it must have been my zealous inspiration that came to my aid. After defining her bodyscape I set out to create some powerlines, after which I started with the tonal part. Laying all these beautiful tones on bamboo paper proved nothing short of a true feast for the eye. My graphite Pitt Graphite Matt and bamboo simply fell in love with eachother. Gradients were easily rubbed out by a stumper or a finger tip.

Focus on the Hair

Slowly progressing I more or less focused on the hair which he possessed in abudance. Thick curly blonde hair cascading down from her head. Balancing out forms I decided to keep many of the power lines and even enforce them a bit. The horizontal contour delineation of the back I totally skipped. I didn’t find it necessary. Thus the focus also lies on the curfature of the body forms and the applied cubism. Toes and fingers I only slightly indicate, leaving something for the viewers to chew on. A lovely little project to complete within an hour or two.

Graphite pencil (Faber Castell, Pitt Graphite Matt, 14B) drawing on Hahnemühle Bamboo Sketch paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers