As soon as I saw Hélène Poujade‘s work my immediate thoughts were ‘tattoo’, how awesome would the first image be as a full sleeve?! Her work explores the themes of death, dying, our mortality & eventual decay, but the images are far from dark & depressing thanks to the bold, graphic style & the light hearted details scattered throughout the pieces. I love the ‘cut here’ line across the neck & medicine mask in the first image & the eyeball clutched in her hand in the second.
The level of detail in her pieces works so well with this pen & ink style, it’s bold & eye catching but has a certain nostalgia to it too, coming from the traditional medium & use of techniques, like the painstaking stippling. I love the possibilities modern methods allow for creating, but I’ll always have a soft spot for actual pen, ink, paint on paper or canvas & these really appeal to that part of me. There is so much going on to absorb & take in, a real feast for the eyes, these pieces deserve to be gazed on for a few moments, to really appreciate all of those little details.
Josie says
YES, they’d be wicked tattoos! What a talented lady xxx
Hannah says
I love seeing things created by hand, it isn’t as readily available as more modern methods now but there’s something about the painstaking processes people go to to create something that can’t be simply edited with a few clicks of a button. I’m not saying there’s no work involved in digital arts, there are some amazing and very talented digital artists/illustrators out there, but I will always have a soft spot for traditional methods too :) I agree these would be wonderful as tattoos, exactly the kind of thing that springs to mind when someone says tattoo xx
FAIIINT says
Yes, I’ve seen some incredible digital work but like you say, the rawness & having to adapt (instead of one click remove) any mistakes you make is what makes me love this more traditional way. I think it’s a nostalgia thing too, because I myself have such fond memories of learning to draw that way .etc
heather says
O yea I totally agree…I can see this being a tattoo.
Chica! I’ve been covering NYFW shows and at couple of them I thought of you! I would be like O I bet Stephanie could rock that. I actually called you out on my post for ODD’s collection. Also have you heard of Skingraft? if not you should totally look them up, his collection is def. up your alley. I was just at his show last night, a post will be coming soon on that. :) Hopefully this didn’t come off super creepy LOL
<3
heather
fashionistanygirl.com
Hayfa says
Oh wow, these are pretty fricking incredible! But you’re absolutely right, the images are in fact far from depressing
Hayfa
http://londonloafers.blogspot.com
thehautecookie says
too cool! xO!
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steph says
really beautiful work! i’m with you on traditional techniques.. totally wondering if you have any tattoos steph? x
FAIIINT says
I have one really rubbish one on my hip that I got when I was 16, thankfully it’s easily concealed! Hah! I’m going to be getting a large piece on my arm though, once I have paid off my overdraft & other boring things like that!
Sonia says
Gahhh this is just EVERYTHING. That second one with the entwining skeletons I just need it framed somewhere near me. Thanks for this MAJOR FYI. I would kiss you right now if not for my laptop screen and obviously the ocean thing…
SDMxx
http://www.daringcoco.com
FAIIINT says
Haha! Sonia, you do make me laugh! :D I agree, I think they would all be soo striking as large wall pieces!
Maddie says
Those are really dark pieces, which makes them awesome! Not sure if I would get a tattoo like this, but I do appreciate art! :)
callmemaddie.blogspot.com
Tanja says
Huh, I don’t know why, but this somehow scares me! Haha, still, great artist :)
Francesca says
Agree with you about the tattoos comment! Amazing works of art.
xx http://www.opinionslave.com
Jantine says
Gorgeous! <3 No surprise that I always enjoy your art-posts, keep 'em coming! :)