Compose two styles
Rather than blending two styles into a middle, this assigns them roles: one carries the structure, the other appears as an accent. Where the two fight, it says so before you start.
How to divide the work
- Composition
- Follow Kumadori: Crop tight to the face and let brow and eye lines set the axis
- Type
- Set in Kumadori's manner (Brushed letters that match the stroke energy of the makeup lines), and let Ukiyo-e's lettering (Brush letters or a disciplined mincho fitting the subject; no meaningless Japanese) appear only where you want the eye to catch.
- Material
- Ground in Kumadori's material (Red and indigo brushed over white, the bristle streaks left showing); bring in exactly one thing from Ukiyo-e (Keylines and few color blocks; use the paper as one of the colors).
- Colour
- Build on #e9e6dd, #67635d, #171615 and admit one accent from #e6d7b5, #285b7e, #c9a260.
Where they fight
- Roughly 1656 years apart. Keep one of them recognisably period rather than letting both drift into the middle.
Caution
- Kumadori Drawing the red and indigo as pure pattern breaks the code that marks good, evil and the superhuman, leaving a decorated face that states nothing.
- Ukiyo-e Not a kit of 'Japanese-style' signs. Research the artist, carver, printer, period and subject.
Image prompt
An original image that takes its structure from Kumadori (Style, 1673–) and its accent from Ukiyo-e (Style, 17th–19th century). Structural cues: Red and indigo kuma lines; Musculature drawn as pattern; White ground; A color code of character. Accent cues, used sparingly: Clear outlines; Flat color; Bold cropping; Overlapping space. Composition: Crop tight to the face and let brow and eye lines set the axis. Type and lettering: Brushed letters that match the stroke energy of the makeup lines. Let one material quality come from the second style: Keylines and few color blocks; use the paper as one of the colors. Mood: Exhilaration, Rebellion, Nostalgia, Calm. Color: build on #e9e6dd, #67635d, #171615 with a single accent drawn from #e6d7b5, #285b7e, #c9a260. Constraints: do not imitate, reference or name any specific artist, studio, brand, character or copyrighted work. Produce an original composition in the general period languages described above.
Related entries
- Kumadori 1673– / Style / Stage Design
Kabuki makeup that exaggerates muscle and vein in red and indigo lines, diagramming a role's character on the face. With Sharaku's actor prints, the origin of the strong graphic face in Japanese design.
- Ukiyo-e 17th–19th century / Style / Japanese Woodblock Prints
Fixes a passing moment of daily life or landscape into strong composition with contour, flat color and daring crops.
Share this pairing:https://indexstyle.org/compose?ids=kumadori+ukiyo-e