The first illustration is “Bees nest”, by an artist called Kelsey Beckett, she specialises in illustrations in oil paint. Her work features female portraits with a fantasy like atmosphere, incorporating feminine elements and pastel coloursThese articles of the natural world serve as interpretive indicators or symbolic representations of what is going on in the minds of each character. She has a unique style of painting; realistic, but she uses black outlines to give it a slightly cartoon feel. To me it looks more like digital artwork than oils. The painting reminds me of the Art Nouveau movement and Alphonse Mucha, because of the linework and the subject of her painting. 

The second image is a photograph by Steve McCurry, titled “Los Angeles, USA” This photograph is meant to show beauty in a different light, and to give attention to alternative movements and appearances. I like how he used just a simple black background, because the contrast against her blue skin makes the image really stand out. I saw links between this photograph and Beckett’s work because they both feature women with feminine elements, and the fact that the woman is painted blue reminds me of the pastel colour scheme in the illustration. The two serve different purposes as well- one depicts a woman that fits in societies beauty standards and the other is one that rebels against that, however they both find common ground with the way they are both presented- trying to celebrate beauty in both. 

Mccurry, S. (2015) Los Angeles, USA [image] <http://stevemccurry.com>

Beckett, K. (2016) Bees Nest [image]  <http://kelseybeckett.com/#bees-nest>

Ainley, N, Creators Vice, ‘Enjoy the silence in Kelsey Beckett’s Intimate Illustrated Portraits’, Accessed 4 December 2017, <https://creators.vice.com/en_au/article/d74aj7/kelsey-beckett-solitude-illustrated-women-portrait-series>