Saturday, July 02, 2005

Illustration Friday - Sport

Sport is not my 'thing' at all.
I don't follow sports on tv, or root for teams and i initially thought about using the word sport in another sense - as in proudly wearing something but nothing came to mind apart from a double use thing of a boxer sporting a black eye.

Anyway, i gave up on that idea and decided i'd maybe do the discobolos the famous discus thrower statue since i remembered having to draw this a long time ago at school, in Latin class.

However, in the end i went off on a tangent to Minoan Crete and decided to paint something based on the bull leaper frescoes.
I decided on a more graphic look to try and evoke the frescoes better and i'm quite pleased with how it turned out.
The bull leaping on Crete that is shown in the frescoes is suggested by modern day Portugese bull fighting; where the bulls are not killed and the 'fighters' attempt to jump on the bulls head, remove ribbons and subdue it by covering its eyes.
I've heard that some portugese bull fighting has started in the US, and of course, aspects of rodeo seem to be similar. At least, requiring similar skills, if not intended as religious as well as sporting activities.




leaping the bull after a Minoan frescoe.

note added - tuesday 9th july I've done another Minoan inspired piece today - under the post heading Dolphin Family

12 comments:

Mick said...

What wonderful take on the theme. I love the drawing too, especially that it's based on an old frscoe.

isay said...

really beautiful!

Dummiest popcorn girl in the world said...

lovely, great illo! =)

atomicvelvetsigh said...

ohmmm.. this is classic!!! 8D and evry informtive as well.

sport is not my thing either... only game i play is chess.. LOL

bee'nme said...

Love it Allison - your art always tells a story. And your comments always educate me. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This is great, I love the ancient look!



~(^_^)~ Dagmar

http://www.dagmarligtdwars.nl

knottydon said...

i like the fighter on the back of the bull ;o) so agile and graceful....

Alison Ashwell said...

I'd live to be able to do flips like that -i never even managed a cartwheel on the ground

Tony LaRocca said...

I love the simplicity of the drawing & the expressions on the faces- it could be a cell from a WB cartoon. Wonderfully done

Emily said...

Beautifully illustrated, Alison!

Anonymous said...

I've got a print of this very fresco hanging on my wall...

Melicrious said...

great concept for sport!!

Thanks again for the painter tips. i will try re running the script next time :)