Illustration commissioned for a postcard for a freelance client.

I was asked to draw a woman ready to conquer the world and willing get her hands dirty. Also she had to be beautiful and reminiscent of the 60s retro ads. A challenge to say the least. The first sketch reminded me of a Tolstoy heroine, a little too wide-ed and not up to the job.

The second attempt was more successful, and spot on to the description. A bit of Sophia Lauren, a bit retro and a bit more pensive. The pose reminded me of Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother – which has stuck with me from middle school as the quintessential image of the hardworking woman. I hate to even mention that since I certainly don’t see this as being in the same category with the photograph, however when I think of a woman against the world that’s what comes to mind. Perhaps for that reason it would seem that a take charge woman always has to look into the distant horizon, specifically to the left.