Subject: Leyendecker Study: Ekko & Jinx
Trying to crack the code on Leyendecker’s brush economy for this piece. Specifically those crisp, sculptural folds.
The Sketching Phase: I always start by re-drawing a master study by sight—never tracing. You have to have the reference in front of you, not underneath, or you won't learn the decision-making behind the lines. You have to feel what the artist was feeling.
The Key Insight: It’s all about interlocking. Leyendecker’s figures don't just stand next to each other; they hold each other. Even when there’s distance, the hands or poses interlock like chains. It’s all tension and connection.
On Intimacy & Color
But when the composition demands intimacy, we don't hold back. It stops being just about shapes interlocking—it becomes about the fear of loss. The man holds his woman closer, clutching her like something so dear he is terrified of letting go.
The palette has to mirror this. It’s a chaotic yet strangely stable kind of love. Each color isn't just a value change; it tells a story of lights and shadows.
