Louise Brooks
I drew this picture of silent film siren and icon of the flapper movement Louise Brooks inspired both by her look and what she represented. I had the pleasure of watching Pandora’s Box recently, and I was struck not just by her beauty, but also by how complete her character was. Here was a movie willing to tell an honest story about the moral gray areas an independent woman can get herself into in society. I’ve felt this before with other pre-Hays Code movies. Despite the relative immaturity of the film medium, some film makers then were willing to tell sophisticated stories. The moral panic that followed set filmed storytelling back by decades.
This drawing came together quite quickly. I did a rough in my sketchbook last week and then this more polished version in Artstudio Pro over the course of a single evening. I think it looks quite sharp, with some bold contrast and simple design.
Of course, all that good stuff is a product of the reference I used. The photo is easy to find online searching for her, but I wasn’t able to pin down exactly who made it. I suspect it’s by Edward Thayer Monroe, who seemed to have shot several other photos of her. In any case, it’s a striking picture of a fascinating woman. Well worth your time to learn about.
Medium: Digital
App: Artstudio Pro
Tools: Pencil, textured brush