Circus Time

I've recently become interested in illustrating the circus and all it's mysterious elements..Inspired by vintage circus illustrations and my own photographs, I've started on a big piece which incorporates both burlesque and circus aspects.

The circus is something that has always caught my imagination from an early age. In this piece I want to capture these memories and bring to life a familiar, yet other worldly scene that most childhoods have been inspired by in one way or another - conveying it in a slightly abstract and surreal style.

Please see below the work in progress and circus illustrations that have caught my eye;

I'm now working on 'Jive' - the figures are smaller than I usually do them - as my main interest with this piece is in capturing the whole scene of the night - the mood, lighting and perspective of the moment is what I want to achieve here.

Here are some sketches for Jive below;

Also in progress is a smaller version of Balloon, see below;