19 Comments
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Thevoiceiswallowed's avatar

This is gorgeous.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thank you!

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JoAnn Alexander's avatar

This was so interesting. I have quite a large Nell Brinkley original newspaper collection. I sell pieces on occasion and have a FB for her memory as an important illustration artist. She was an extraordinary artist in my mind. I love your work and this time frame in illustration.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Oh wow that's incredible! Admittedly I've never heard of Nell before but love how spirited her illustrations are! Are you a collector/researcher? I've been using substack as a way to publish my research on Webb which has been a really great platform for it

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JoAnn Alexander's avatar

I would say as far as Nell Brinkley goes I'm a collector and a true fan of her work. The pieces I sell are the ones that just don't speak to me but I have hundreds of these. I'm not looking really to share any more than I do on my Facebook page I have too many Instagrams and too many facebooks as it is already. I have her pieces hung in my home and on occasion as mentioned I do sell. I do appreciate your input as far as that goes. 🤍

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Lauren's avatar

Thanks for this awesome breakdown!! It’s so easy to look at an incredible art work and have no idea how they made it.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thanks so much Lauren! So glad you found it helpful

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JessMcK's avatar

The 'webbing' is such a genius note - oh gosh, I can't believe I never thought of this. Beautiful analysis, thanks so much for sharing. I've worked with ink for twenty years yet this still taught me much.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thanks Jess!!

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Ben Loomis's avatar

Interesting post about process, thanks! I don't really know the printing process at this time and how illustrators typically worked -- so would she draw that and then an engraver would have to transfer it to a metal plate? So that's why she could be a bit "messy" with the scratching whites back into the paper?

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thanks Ben! So yes she would draw and then at the time they had 'print technicians' working in the photo mechanical process for print reproduction - this method removes a person physically engraving and instead uses photos etched into copper plates (you can scale this easily smaller or larger too). And you're right, it's why she can be a bit messy with scratching back the whites!

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Ben Loomis's avatar

Cool, thanks!

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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

What a gorgeous original ink illustration! Such a treasure! I really liked your examination of the techniques, and then how you applied them in your own work. I do some drawing myself and the freehand lines are terrifying at first! I’m a fan of the webbing technique…maybe just a titch more of it in your amazing piece? 💕 Just my personal preference, I assure you. I said, “WOW!” out loud when I saw it.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thanks Sheila! I agree I could've gone harder on the webbing technique, it's just when you start in an area you have to commit to the rest of the piece too! I'll have to keep practising on smaller pieces to get confident haha!

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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

I totally get that-I did it on some actual webbing that I illustrated on a leather coat a few years ago.🕸️

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Seema Tabassum's avatar

Beautiful ✨️

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Jessica Le's avatar

Thank you ❤️

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John Leicmon's avatar

Thank you for reviving interest in this fascinating subject. A book without an Ex Libris label in just a book.

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Jessica Le's avatar

Ex libris truly make a book feel like your own 💫

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