Author: admin

For this brief I was asked to create an image of seasonal fruits for Good Food magazine.

The problem:

• To make a selection of appropriate fruits
• To make the fruit seem appetising
• to create an image which will work against text in that particular publication

I researched into seasonal fruits and gathered some information, from that list I started sketching out some ideas, I initially wanted to do some straight photographic style images, I have seen these featured in cafes and restaurants around london and they always looked quite appetising, once I started working on a drawing it really seemed quite a stagnant and passive concept, so I stopped working towards this direction.
I started to think about what makes fruit appealing, it’s not the organic shape, the lumps and rough bits, these would need to be present in the Illustration to depict the subject faithfully and accurately but wouldn’t make it appetising.
I came to the conclusion that Fruit is preferred when its juicy and ripe, colourful and interesting to look at, I started to sketch fruits cut in half and included some splashes, I kept the shapes simple the detail minimal but with texture, this to my mind seemed to fit the brief.

 

For this brief I was asked to create an image for The Radio Times for a TV programme about racial discrimination in the police force.

The problem:

• To come up with an idea that suggests what discrimination is
• To ensure sensitive depiction of people of diverse ethnic origin
• to create an image that entices people to watch the TV programme

This was a real challenge, Racial discrimination comes in all forms and guises, and was essential I stay fair and impartial in the presentation of the artwork.

I originally planned to make a grid of police officers all looking outwards with an officer in the middle being looked at from above below and from the sides.

This seemed like a good enough concept, but it was flawed as it meant showing different ethnic groups even though I intended on showing all the characters in blue tones, I didnt want to portray a group as a victim and I didnt want to imply the depicted groups were all racist, I then thought what if I didn’t show their faces, I then came up with the idea of using skulls.
Using Skulls would remove any reference to ethnicity and make a strong statement, we are all the same underneath.
The skull idea would bring a very sinister and dark tone to the image, which I eventually offset with bright colours.

I then had the idea of putting the skulls not in a grid but depict a skeleton police officer, squeezing the colour from the world, the symbol of lady justice with her scales in the background looking away, the whole act of discrimination being a hate crime carried out by people paid to enforce the law.
I felt  was on the right tracks, I’d solved the problem of keeping it equitable so as not to offend minority groups and to come up with a shocking and visually interesting concept to attract viewers.

I really quite enjoyed this exercise, I looked at my book shelf and picked out William Golding’s, lord of the flies, I have read the book a while ago but I can still remember the story, its message (at least my interpretation) and its key scenes.

The key scenes/characters for me, are the conch shell they use to establish a democratic system and order, who ever holds the shell is the one talking. This upsets some of the boys and eventually divides them, this needed to be a part of my cover.

Piggies Glasses, these to me represented a few things, they represent civility, and mans achievement to create and repair even poor eye site. They allow the boys to create fire for survival, these to me sum up mans inventive side, again these also are a sought item by the other faction who just want to have fun be reckless and hunt, which brings me to the main character, and the shocking part of the story, the pig, I was in two minds about displaying something so shocking as a pigs head on a spear, it sets the tone for the story and as an old book it seems to be the main feature for most of the covers, I decided that maybe a bit of shock was needed, I’d seen a few (examples below ) that included the text in the image rather than in a box over the top for example, I quite liked that look so decided that’s what I’d aim for.

I tried several different version as you can see from the thumbnails, I wanted to get over a classic look, I opted for worn old looking faded colours and a washy style of paint, I had originally seen this maybe as more of a woodcut style but this didn’t convey classic enough.

This exercise I believe was to understand structure and layout to create interesting composition.

I found two illustrations and broke them down into their simple shapes. One was the live and let die poster by Robert E McGinnis and the other was Drew Struzan’s Back to the future 2 artwork, I liked the way that Robert E McGinnis included the key characters and events within the scene, classic looking montage of action and interesting characters, they rarely do this on film posters anymore. The Back to the future cover has great contrast and is an update of the original poster, this includes both characters looking at their watches standing next to the Delorean time machine, only the bare essentials of the car haven been included, the rest obscured by light offering great contrast for the main characters.

The key to this exercise was to simplify the structure, it was very revealing as to what basic forms and shapes were used.

I then simplified it further trying to keep the essence of the original intact. The second one I’d say, only I knew what was there, when showing others the art direction it definitely would need to be simple yet descriptive, the person commissioning the work wouldn’t necessarily have the same degree of vision to see what I had drawn, that would be the difference between getting a job or losing one.

After doing this exercise I can see the choices both Illustrators made, I have made notes on the images below.

After Simplifying the image above I noticed these points:

• The Image is made up of 2 parts
• The car only includes as much detail as it needs, the back of the car is not included
• The bottom of the car runs in line with the ascending horizon line
• The structure is very simple, as a result the hierarchy of the images is dictated by colour and contrast
• The negative space at the top makes up a diagonal space

After simplifying this image I noticed;

• The image is in 3 distinct parts the main figure breaks up the main Fan shape
• The bottom third section is made from 2 opposing diagonals
• The secondary figures all sit in there own spaces only slightly breaking their boundaries

This exercise involved some photography, I was required to photograph some objects related to the keyword workshop.

I gathered some tools and placed them on a wooden table to mimic a workshop enviroment. There was several challenges in this exercise, then main one was to make an interesting image from things that are normally in action or being used by a human, I decided to emphasise texture, shape and chose interesting angles, to create some “movement” around the composition. This was part of the criteria when I chose which image to work from.

As these were representing tools in a workshop, I wanted to portray a feeling of expertise and craftsmanship, a passion for detail and a methodical and organised approach, I carefully positioned the tools considering their similar and complimentary shapes and textures. I wanted to experiment with zoomed in and tightly cropped images and also using some perspective to generate some movement around the composition. I feel that a close and distorted angle worked best, it did give more of an expert crafting in his workshop feel, the flat images felt like it could have been a tool catalogue cover.

The square format didn’t really give me the movement I was looking for, I’m sure If I had used colour I could have done more to create a focal point, as this was a pencil drawing it seemed easier to use a tall rectangle to get the eye moving along the diagonal shapes. If I was told it was a square format I needed to use then I would have definitely made different choices when it came to arranging those items. I probably would have added a horizon line in so I could trick the content in the square format into a rectangle to get the focus I wanted.

This was the final drawing. I feel it does give a sense of an active workshop, I feel it was the correct choice from the photos I took, it gives a  good sense of detail and the close nature suggests a detailed meticulous craft.

I quite enjoyed the freedom in this exercise, creating something completely abstract is a very liberating feeling. Using the rhythms, beat and dynamics of a piece of music I interpreted the sounds I was hearing into visuals using colour, shape, marks and textures. I was asked to use an adjective to describe the tone of the piece, I used the word Dynamic, I chose the Gypsy Kings as they are known for their dynamics going from loud to soft to create invigorating, rousing songs.

I listened through Bambeleo a few times and a few more as my pen moved across the screen, I did this digitally, it was important for me to be spontaneous and be able to change colours and style quickly.
The rhythms I was hearing quickly translated into peaks and dives across the canvas  each instrument I focused on creating their own shapes, even a solo guitar has its own isolated area, just like the song has.

The changes in volume I represented with size, as the volume pulsed I drew circles in different sizes, dancing across the work area.

It did look a bit of a mess if I’m honest, a bit like childish scribble. But after re drawing it I was quite pleased with the way it turned out.

It almost looks like a spanish landscape, the colours are very warm and seem to suit the style of music very well.
I was asked if it would work as a cd cover and I think it probably would pass, I have made a mock up with their logo to see how it might work.

For this exercise I was asked to take an image and crop it into different formats and present the content in different ways, I chose Édouard Manet’s Le déjeuner sur l’herbe, this painting has a lot of different “scenes” and I thought it would lend itself nicely to the exercise.

 

This image did cause controversy when first exhibited, it is quite a surreal scene, and my research did seem to lead to most art historians disagreeing  the meaning behind it.
Are the ladies prostitutes, if so why the picnic, why is one dressed and bathing in the lake? Why is the nude staring directly at the viewer, is she trying to catch your attention. even the title which translates into luncheon on the grass and originally titled “the bath”  makes little reference to what seems to be the main focus of the image.

Once I had changed the compositions and format, I was asked to sum each new arrangement in a word, these are below.

The mans arm is raised as if he’s making a point or telling a meaningful anecdote, his dress almost makes him look like he is philosophising.

The lady is nude and looking right at the viewer, she isn’t shy and wants to be seen in a state of undress.

The forest, the fruit and the lake, even being nude all seems to be a nod to nature in this composition.

Similar to the philosopher the addition of a second figure makes the man look like he is calling the lady over from the stream/lake.

A simple still life of a fruit and bread basket.

I was then asked to take one of the images and re draw using colour and texture to reflect the meaning of the word.

I used the word exhibitionism, I wanted this to be bold and vibrant and extravagant. I decided to use red as it seemed to fit the context and is a colour that demands attention. The typewriter style font seemed to fit as it’s almost calling out it’s a condition or psychological disorder or even an entry into a dictionary.

This exercise was quite an invaluable lesson to me, that one image could be read so many different ways and certain parts in isolation can change the theme drastically.

The image is of two children exploring a cave one holds a torch up high illuminating the interior of the cave and making the ceiling glow red, inside a dragon sits guarding his treasure horde. The dragon is sleeping and the children are fearful, one cowering behind the other, the braver of the two is pointing to the path ahead, the other back to the way they came. weapons are piled on the ground, a dragon would have no use for these, they are likely trophies from adventurous treasure seekers that have perished before them.

The main focal points are very warm in contrast to the cool blue cave, the dragon is curled around a green throne, this is complimenting the red of the dragon’s body and allows us to quickly pick out his shape of his body and curve of his tail from the warm yellows and oranges of the treasure that surrounds him. The children’s faces are glowing from the torch,  the surrounding blue  area at the bottom and arc of warm red above their faces draw you right in this is balanced by the large scale use of red from the dragon, leading your eye from the top left to the bottom right.

The use of green as a complementary colour to the red can be seen in 4 places, I think this area is intended to act as a secondary focal or resting point.

1. The boys can be seen one wearing green, this stands out over the cold blue but not as much as the warm reds.
2. The dragon is the main focal point the warm reds jump off the image.
3. This is where the eye starts to lead through the picture, it’s the warmest area but doesn’t have a subject.
4. The green of the chair helps to define the shape of the dragon’s body.
5. The arrows follow the path diagonally across the image.
6. Once our eye lands on the dragon, the four green areas act as one to create an additional focus.