Little White Lies
Orlaith Conlon
Visual Research
Carol Drawing Brief
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
The Brief
We want you to send us a black-and-white sketch of Cate Blanchett as Carol in any style and using any medium of your choosing – it could be a pencil drawing that resembles a vintage photograph or a felt-tip portrait inspired by an advertisement display in a 1950s department store.
The Prize
The winner will be announced on Monday 30 November. The prize is an official Carol poster signed by Todd Haynes, a framed print of the winning artwork, a copy of Patricia Highsmith’s book on which the film is based, a physical copy of the film’s soundtrack as scored by Carter Burwell, plus a year’s subscription to Little White Lies.
How to enter
Email your entry to us under the subject line ‘Carol creative brief’ at competitions@tcolondon.com before 12pm GMT on Friday 27 November. Please remember to include your full name so we know who to credit. You can also send us your entry via Twitter or Instagram by tagging @LWLies, but please be sure to email us your entry as well.
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies
Initial Drawing
Carol Drawing Brief
Beginning Play Sketches
- Line drawing’s in order to help learn Cate Blanchetts face. - Testing an initial idea of using half-tones as the brief restricts palette to B&W - Ultimetely decided against half-tones & screen printing as I felt it looked too clunky and un-refined for the tone of the character.
Little White Lies
Orlaith Conlon
Carol Drawing Brief
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Conceptual Development
Concept
As the film’s not yet released I’ve had to learn about the character with trailers and press articles, with not being able to see the film I need to make my best judgement in regards to a concept.
The above scamps are my initial thought’s, a repeat image slightly overlapped showing a subtle glance. I played with this idea in Photoshop using my earlier image but it looked confused.
Knowing that in the 1950’s homosexuality was not openly accepted or legal, I realise that the communication between these two woman would be mainly through subtle glances and looks, which set me onto thinking how I could portray this.
I went through an old issue of Little White Lies for inspiration and came across this image on the left from the ‘On The Road’ edition which inspired me to try layering on top of itself.
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Further Visual Investigation
Visual Investigation
Using line and carving out shape in this portrait. I’m working for this brief entirely using Photoshop despite the fact (and maybe because) I’ve never completed a brief only using digital means and using Photoshop in this brief is helpful with the amount of adjustments I need to make to make sure the drawing is recognisable as Cate Blanchett as Carol, because it will be very obvious if she if she is off any may spoil the concept. This drawing was scrapped as I felt it was too boring and ‘nice’ both in terms of the visual aesthetics used (clean lines/shapes) and the portrayal of the character, it lacked any depth.
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies
Visual Research
Carol Drawing Brief
Left hand side images
Right hand side images
The film noir ‘Laura’ is beautifully shot with inspirational tonal values. Also vampy ‘series’ lead actress has a mysterious allure similar to Carol. Photographs by Saul Leiter, whose images of New York in the 50’s was a major inspiration to Carol director Todd Haynes. The contrast of B&W is brilliant, it reminds me of what Victo Ngai discussed- bringing area’s of importance into the light to draw attention to them and make the image reach out.
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
“Carol is an objective creation,” Blanchett says, “and the challenge for me was to make…the quiet, private hell in which she’s living relatable and understandable for people.”
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
After scrapping the last image due to it being too clean and friendly, I let myself draw much looser and with a clunky xerox pen, I was fully expecting this to be a chunky mess but it actually had a quality I thought worked well for the character. It feels quicker, more urgent then the neater drawings. The pose is taken from a clip, it has the heavy sadness and feeling of being trapped I believe the character has. Eyes not meeting your gaze will show her outward front, layered by eyes meeting your gaze underneath as her true self.
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Rough sign writing inspired script
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research
Orlaith Conlon
OUIL603/ Extended Practice
Little White Lies Carol Drawing Brief
Visual Research