Dracula
by Joie on Feb.19, 2009, under Studio
This past Valentine’s weekend I was privileged to see the Atlanta Ballet’s special Valentine’s performance of Dracula. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a complete ballet nerd. I take ballet classes (have been for about three years now), and try to read about and see as much ballet as possible. It’s a fascinating art form, and I find that ballet-inspired things keep creeping back into my work often.
Lucy as Nosferatu – Graphite and watercolor in Moleskine
Seeing Dracula as a ballet was simply amazing. I had been wanting to see the AB’s Valentine Special for years now (first The Great Gatsby and then Romeo and Juliet) but circumstances frequently made it to where I couldn’t. I’m thankful I made it to this year’s show because it was in the AB’s new venue, the Cobb Energy Centre. It’s a beautiful theater with an expansive auditorium and wonderful sound and lighting. My technical director boyfriend was going ape over the high powered lighting in there, which was amusing and nerdy.
Lucy – Graphite and watercolor in Moleskine
They did a really good job of making this ballet creepy. The score and choreography were mesmerizing, and they really managed to capture that feeling of, well… death. Dracula himself, played by John Welker was fantastic– his movements were loaded with sexual tension and frightening power. Sensuous and fluid, he commanded the stage completely every time he came on.
Mina – Graphite and watercolor in Moleskine
My favorite ballerina, Anne Tyler Harshbarger, played as Lucy in this performance, and as usual I loved her. I saw her earlier this season in Swan Lake as one of the swans (and various other corps parts), as well as Ballerina Marya in The Nutcracker. As cliché as it may sound, I loved the part of Lucy after her death and rebirth as a Nosferatu. Maybe it’s just seeing a ballerina spattered in blood and looking mostly dead with disheveled hair that did it for me. I think that makes sense… a lot of my illustrations have been about the decay of femininity, and portraying pretty or innocent, child-like things with a touch of darkness and grotesque to them. Right up my alley.
Dracula and Lucy – Graphite and watercolor in Moleskine
Some of the other audience members really held my interest as well. A lot of gothic types came out to play, and I saw many a hoopskirt, petticoat, and strange Victorian-flavored attire. I also saw lots of purple and red hair, striped stockings, and lip piercings. My boyfriend and I made quite the game of spotting the most interesting characters wandering around during the intermissions.
Needless to say, the entire experience was amazing. I left with my head filled of images that I wanted to get out just as soon as I got home, and these sketches with watercolor overlaid were some of those. They were quick studies, maybe a handful of minutes each, and perhaps about an hour for the bigger Dracula and Lucy piece.
7 Comments for this entry
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This is the online portfolio, news, and art discussion blog for San Francisco-based illustrator Joie Brown. Since she was old enough to hold a pencil, Joie has been creating works of art-- and as soon as she had access to a computer she's been making her mark on the internet. She is currently available for freelance and contract work.
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February 19th, 2009 on 4:17 pm
LOVE the clue ballet blue Lucy! So much motion!
February 19th, 2009 on 4:26 pm
Yay thank you so much! That particular movement stood out in my head. Harshbarger kept flouncing her skirts and pointing to her ring like that… it was very eye-catching!
February 19th, 2009 on 10:29 pm
The image of Dracula with Lucy is amazing. I’m such a ballet nerd myself, I’m really jealous that you got to see this production – it sounds like it was wonderful!
February 20th, 2009 on 5:31 pm
Yeah it truly was a wonderful production! I can’t wait to see Firebird next month!
February 25th, 2009 on 6:15 pm
Wow,the other side of Joie. Ballet classes, wonderful.
Yes, I can see you as a Ballerina. You are amazing,
Wonderful work, loved it. Nana
February 25th, 2009 on 8:03 pm
Yay, wow that really made my day. I would love to do dancing for a living, but unfortunately I started a little late in life and that’s not really an attainable goal. I really appreciate you coming by and checking on my website!
April 10th, 2009 on 6:43 pm
Hey Joie! Your work is BEAUTIFUL and you are so absolutely talented! Are your paintings for sale? Could you please contact me through Atlanta Ballet? I am very interested
Thank you sooo much for the support and for your kind comments…