This week I looked through one of my sister-in-laws books. Being a big Disney fan, she had ordered They Drew as They Pleased, a new collection of concept art from Disney's golden age. The book showcases 4 artists: Albert Hurter, Ferdinand Horvath, Gustaf Tenggren, and Bianca Majolie. If anyone's interested in visual conception, this is a good one to look through. For the most part it's pretty raw sketches, perfect for debunking that "perfect sketchbook" craving we all have.

Flipping through these pages I definitely wanted to played around with some ideas from this "old illustration" source. Naturally there were different sensibilities in a different time, I wanted to experience the same thrill that Albert Hurter felt when he drew those goofy noses on his characters.

As a kid I can remember these "sausage" noses very clearly, they were actually quite disturbing at the time. I can now see them being used that way specifically to great effect. By and large I feel like the nose of a character in modern illustration is slightly overlooked, maybe just by me though. Here's to bringing some noses back!

If you've ever read and agree with Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist you know what a freeing thing it is to try on different styles, forms and ideas from other artists you admire. I'd say it's one of the funnest ways to warm up and play around with new ideas. You're adding to your own repertoire so, draw as you please!