Two women in a hotel bathroom in Las Vegas

This is another dark image, though I find that fitting of Las Vegas. Three years ago we drove from Santa Ana to the city of sin. We played the penny slots, looked up at tall glowing buildings, and lost ourselves, but not each other, under a permanent blue sky. We also took photos and used the bathroom (as evident below).

I like drawing mirrors. This is the final 16″x20″ though I may brighten up the ladies’ faces. I hope the purples and the tone of this image isn’t romantic. I’d prefer it to be a bit unsettling and mysterious.

Although the image below is meant to show the process, I actually created it after the fact. I think it gives a sense of the layers.

Most of the line drawing is below. I forgot to copy the lamp layer before I added color.

I altered the original photo’s brightness/contrast and saturation to get this darker version. I used these lines to create the shapes of the eyes.

The original photo (with some preliminary color correction):

14 responses to “Two women in a hotel bathroom in Las Vegas”

lena de almeida

January 30, 2013 at 1:25 pm

I find the mood a bit mysterious, in part because of their expressions, more specifically their mouths. In the original photo both women look serious and apprehensive but in the final image the woman on the left looks like she might just have heard some news from the other woman who appears to be smiling.
exokotoks

January 30, 2013 at 1:50 pm

terrific
hannophenn

January 30, 2013 at 2:04 pm

You really have a eye for putting the finger on the dramatic side of daily life in our society. The urge to play and playing for money is for me reflected in the chosen colours the colour of coins.
lornaalkanaart

January 30, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Yes! I love your interpretation!
lornaalkanaart

January 30, 2013 at 2:13 pm

Good eye! I tried a new layering effect with the mouths. The ladies were lip-less for most of the drawing. I appreciate your perspective!
snowgood

January 30, 2013 at 3:32 pm

Las Vegas maybe “The City of Sin” but they take 5 times more money in Macau. The casinos there are vile, but what do I know I’d never been in one before 1/01/2013.
lornaalkanaart

January 30, 2013 at 3:39 pm

At first, I wrote that Las Vegas is “the city that never sleeps,” because that felt right, but then I realized that New York is known for its restless nights and Las Vegas is better known for sin, so I changed it. I feel both descriptions fit.
Rodger Jacobs

January 31, 2013 at 10:27 am

Reblogged this on Silver Lake Adjacent.
donhoannguyen

January 31, 2013 at 12:59 pm

Nice! Thanks for following. Appreciate that.
Zoë

February 1, 2013 at 1:38 am

These are all really beautiful!
lornaalkanaart

February 1, 2013 at 2:33 am

Thank you!
Rodger Jacobs

February 1, 2013 at 1:20 pm

Greatly enjoy your work, Lana. Good form, function, storytelling through visual arts. I showcase your work every so often at my blog.
Rodger Jacobs

February 1, 2013 at 1:27 pm

“Lorna”, I mean. ‘scuse me.
lornaalkanaart

February 3, 2013 at 11:05 am

Thank you! I’m honored!