Research and inspiraation

I am particularly interested in wildlife and nature illustrations, one artist I found a few months ago was Jack Ashton-Booth. He uses drawing and notes as an extra way to record and observe nature.

This is such a great descriptive piece of the main views you get of this bird, flying out to see. It doesn't state what materials are used here but it seems to be some sort of felt tip pen, multi-layered for the shaded areas. The detail in the bird is brilliant even though really there is very little lines there. 

This is brilliant, seems to be maybe watercolour wash and very fine cross hatching. The darks in the drawing really help push the form and depth of the bird. 

I really like this, so much white is left and just enough mid tones and shadow to fully understand the picture. The dark outlines on the adult bird really help show the size of the bird, the fact that it is bigger than everything else on the picture. 

Visual references

I found this whilst looking for illustration techniques, fantastic looking piece but there is nothing about the creator, there was a link to a website but no name, the website was no longer active. Who is this person?

A collage page of doodles, very interesting to look at, lovely warm tones and contrasting black. The bottom right corner almost looks like a splat of paint (by mistake or deliberate?) turned in to a flower.

The flowers and leaves not seem to be stuck down but maybe paint on them and then pressed liked a stamp, could be worth trying.

Exercise Reading an image

The image seems to be about 2 characters looking for and finding treasure protected by a dragon. One the children seem curious, I think more about the dragon than the treasure and the other one terrified and wanting to leave. 

A nice mix of purples, reds and oranges, showing heat and light and the cold stone cave and dark. The dragon is fire red obviously because it breaths fire. The brightest yellow is showing the strongest light (that is warm from the fire) and the darkest purple behind the dragon is showing the coolest darkest area. 

The dragon is there protecting the treasure, there are scattered remains of warrior type weapons and armor, many have come for the treasure only to be eaten by the dragon.

In ways of hierarchy, I see the dragon first, then naturally moving towards the light you see the children, from that you see the remains of weapons then back to the dragon (which we now notice is sleeping), the next logical step would be to check the reactions of the children after visually identifying the elements within the image, one is intrigued, the other scared. 

The darkness and the fact the dragon is asleep adds some sense of suspense to the image, will the dragon wake up? what will happen? the dragon is obviously dangerous but how will it react to non threatening children. Maybe the children aren't even there to take treasure but have heard of the legend of the dragon and want only to see or meet it.

The dragon also seems to have a little feminine feeling over it, possibly due to the color, maybe not intended by the illustrator but a feminine figure would be less hostile than a masculine in the eyes of children.  

Exercise Image development

Chosen image

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Images 1 and 4 show much more drama and interest. 

Images 7 show concern.

Image 5 doesn't seem to have much meaning now.

Images 2 and 3 just about maintain meaning.

Image 6 is more joy than worry or drama.

Over all a good balance of emotions from the one image. 

Exercise Illustrating visual space

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

How does your sense of the image and its meaning change when the figure is smaller than the other elements? 
The smaller the figure when placed correctly with the horizon creates the illusion of distance. When the figure is close with a large element near by it creates the illusion that the figure is small, the other object helps understand the scale, a house is generally bigger than a tree and a tree generally bigger than a person or child.

If the elements are at differing angles to each other and at an angle to the frame, what dynamic is suggested? 
When angled like in image 2, it helps show speed in the running of the child, gravity pulling everything down the slope. Maybe even a sense of falling or lack of control, knowing that running on a slope as steep as that you would not be able to control your outcome as much as you would at less of an angle.

If all the elements are completely horizontal or vertical in relation to the frame what dynamic is suggested? What is your opinion about this image and what sensation does it communicate? 
Horizontal images are more normal, vertical images like in 5-6 are confusing, it takes several looks before you can get a mental grasp over the image, even then in number 5 it just makes no sense. Number 6 you can simple tilt your head to the side and understand the image. The horizon line helps place objects together and in this case is very important in imagery.

Which is your favorite composition? Explain why you feel it is most successful. 
For my favorite, I'm split between number 1 and 7. The boy in both images seems to be running to the building (whether it be a home or just a fun place to be). I'm drawn more to image 1 than 7, the lack of detail and distances of the objects makes it more interesting, is the boy running for his life now, is he sad, is he happy, what is the strange building? All questions one could wonder when looking at it.

Assignment 2 Point of Sale Display

I started with a google search for autumn vegetables and thought a pumpkin would be a good one to draw.
My biggest challenge here was going to be ending up with a finished illustration that looked appetizing.

I drew up a pumpkin, I felt it was a good vegetable to start with. 

I ended up sketching radish, carrots, pepper, pumpkin, sweetcorn, tomato and spring onion. 

I really wanted to explore mixed media, digital and traditional so I used watercolour and blocked out the shapes of the vegetables with the aim of layering the two.

Some came out better than others, I tidied up some of them more and tried to create a composition using a group of vegetables together.

I accidently wrote spring instead of summer, the arrangement itself didn't feel balanced and the radish stood out both in style and colour. Less is more in some cases and I felt a single object would be the best way to go.

Looking at the Autumn vegetable composition the sweetcorn gave the best impression so I chose that as my single object to focus on.

I mocked up what would be a sign and even suitable for labels and other promotions. 

There is a nice balance in colours and proportions to elements within the design although I do see now the Sweetcorn could have been around 10-20% smaller. Other than that I feel they complete. 

Exercise Visual Metaphors

I honestly don't have a good understanding of metaphors.
After days of pondering I have come to the conclusion (at least for myself) that visual metaphors can have several meanings depending on who is looking at them but when put in to context for example with some headline or article they become very relevant to the information/story being told.

Doctors heal? Not one man can solve/heal all the worlds problems? The world is in a fragile state? All very possible in my eyes but maybe the illustrated had a specific topic not related to any of my above statements. 

Exposing your children to dangerous people online.

Global Warming.

Non violence, anti-guns. The above becomes more relevant though when you read the story behind it, Swedish sculpture Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd made this as a non-violence protest after his friend John Lennon was meaninglessly shot to death.

I started with a visual brainstorming session and came up with some nice sketches, hoping to be able to piece  some concept around the objects. I tried to think of the best way to represent the press in one object, I find the microphone object from the early 50's is a good option. 

I went with 2 ideas, the first was around a story I read a while back and one that seems to be reoccurring and possible relevant to a modern audience, the blockage of information available on the internet in entire countries or in some case the complete cut off of the internet, I couldn't remember the country but knew it was an Asian country and used the Japanese flag just so I knew to use a flag. The second was along those lines, blockage of information but using mobile phones as the "press". 

I showed them to my wife and asked her what they were, she didn't understand the first one and the second one she thought was about communicating, saying hello via mobile phones. 

At first I wasn't impressed with this but if it can't be understood then I haven't achieved what I set out to do.