Case study:

Inspired by the aesthetic of the series Sugar I watched recently, countless noir movies, and Gothic films and novels, this passion project blends themes and the aesthetic of classic film noir with my illustration style to celebrate the complex role of femmes fatales (lethal women) across different mediums and historical contexts.

femme fatale

The red, white, black color palette mirrors the mood of classic film noir and pulp fiction book covers. The red lips and trailing dress convey the femme fatale’s sensuality and the character’s place at the end of an enduring deadly legacy.

I let the figure guide me when choosing the type of background. This scene called for the palm trees of the City of Angels / City of The Fallen, as well as the full moon of fairy tales, Gothic stories, and classic and contemporary noir.

the process

I envisioned the femme fatale blowing smoke from a recently fired gun.

I tried making the dress black and removing the hat, but they didn’t have the effect I was looking for.

While refining the design in Illustrator for iPad, I realized that the head overshadowed the gun, so I replaced it with a more impactful dagger dripping blood.