Buying Shirts, Artwork from Ads
What’s the most commercial inspiration for art you can think of? Maybe a series on Walmart groceries? The magic of broken shopping carts? Or perhaps drawings about Applebees would fit the bill. I think someone could argue convincingly that the Gap would be a great choice for a generic corporate entity. Well, if suburban commercial-inspired sketches happen to be in your wheelhouse, I’ve got something for you!
Recently, I just happened to come across a deal on Gap Men’s Oxford button down shirts, which turned out to be an excellent one. These shirts were on final clearance, and were like $6 each. I guess they were discontinuing them, so I bought a bunch. They fit great, so I’m really happy about it. Anywho, for some reason I decided to draw the guy from the advertisement. Hey, the guy made the shirt look great, and was a convincing static-image salesperson! Here’s my sketch inspired by the Gap ad:
Great shirt, Mr. Ad Guy – perfect addition to my work clothes rotation. While I was at it, I decided to draw from a couple more people from ads. I’ve only finished these two right now, but I might complete some more at some point. Thanks for the source material, Corporate America!
If you’re curious, it does look like they have a few of these shirts left, although they are a bit more expensive and they only have XL in white: Oxford Shirt link. For some bizarre reason, the Gap changed the shirt model out. So it’s not the guy from this post anymore. Glad I already drew him!
Post-Publication Edit: Wow, when I read this after I published, this post totally sounded like an advertisement in its own right. I made a few edits to mention the store’s name less, used a bit more snarky language, and even considered a longer discussion on how I don’t shop there unless there’s a uniquely huge discount.
I guess I’ll just settle for a big ol’ caveat: I wasn’t paid anything for this, and it’s just a post about my sketches. I think that’s clear now from the edited language, but I figured I’d say it again. The Gap’s clothes are just alright (usually too expensive), and it’s only a random coincidence that I decided to sketch people from their ads. It could have been any clothes store, and I just happened to be there because of a post I saw on Slickdeals about this clearance sale.
There now. I feel better. I do like these sketches though, they turned out well I think.
These are so good! I enjoy your use of color!
You are the colored pencil Houdini! It’s what I aspire to be, that and the watercolor Houdini.:) I love that shade of yellow.
Ha ha, thanks Becca! I’m sure you’ve got some artistic Houdini going as well
Really good drawings, and a great idea to sketch from ads. The finished drawings don’t even look very commercial- how ironic!
Much appreciated!
Isn’t that something? Make a post that sounds like I let the Gap corporate office write it, then somehow escape looking commercial in the drawings. Just call me colored pencil Houdini!
These are great! I love the bold colour! (like the disclaimer too:-))
Thanks! That first draft was hilariously weird…when I re-read it, I thought, “what in the world did I just write?”
I really think I’m getting more comfortable with color, though. When I first started, I was hesitant to press hard and really mix it up. Now that I know how a lot of these colors behave, it’s a bit easier.