As with a lot of briefs towards the end of this first year at uni (after being introduced to this site in an earlier PPP task), I have found it really helpful to start with a Pinterest board. This is a way for me to collect anything that inspires me, from specific practitioners - to their works and other starting points for my own ideas. 'The Illustrated Self' brief is no exception and here is my board so far...
Light boxes / Dioramas - Application Inspiration
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| Kim Welling |
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| Kim Welling |
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Lova Blåvarg |
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| Anastassia Elias |
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| Suzette Korduner |
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| Suzette Korduner |
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| Jim Doran |
I think it is safe to say that I like small things, packages, boxes, keepsakes, shiny intricate things - like magpies do. I like the idea of creating a piece of art/illustration which is portable, however still creating a 3D scene from a 2D media - paper/card. I would like to create a series of works similar to these examples, as I think this format fits really well with the '10 Rules' brief and adds to the personal feel I want to generate with each piece - after all they are my rules.
Brittney Lee
Website: http://britsketch.blogspot.co.uk/
What I find interesting about Brittney's work is although it is similar to my own paper-craft, she predominantly uses paint and ink to create her coloured cut elements, not flat, pre-coloured card. This adds so much extra awesomeness to the final illustrations and something I plan on doing from now on in my own work. This high level of detail and scene-like pieces encapsulated in frames/boxes is what I want to attempt with this brief (although not so much Walt Disney-esque)
Her way of working and approach to briefs seems to be similar to that of my own, and something I am finding across the board with practitioners who like working with paper. On her blog (link above), Brittney mentions:
"I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but my creative process usually goes something like this:
Step 1: Receive a gallery show deadline
Step 2: Brainstorm ideas
Step 3: Drag feet/hem and haw/ procrastinate on ideas
Step 4: Panic attack one week before deadline
Step 5: Work like crazy to meet deadline
Step 5.5: Come up with the idea that I am most excited about one day before the deadline."
....YUP! I find it really difficult to engage with a brief unless my idea is solid and something that excites me...unfortunately I can't gage when that will be and more often than not...after days of thinking and speculating, it comes to me...with only a few days to execute. It isn't great and I would like my ideas to be more free-flowing, but hey ho - I think I don't work too bad under pressure.
Process notes
- Cut all elements from card and then paint/use ink
- Use pre-coloured card but add own illustration/details
- Assemble in shallow boxes for added structure and ease of portability
Morgana Wallace
Website: http://morgana-m-wallace.tumblr.com/
Similar to Brittney's work, Morgana uses mark-making in her final paper-cut illustrations as i plan on doing with mine. Her use of limited and striking colour palette really stands out to me and is something I want to employ in my own work and in this final brief. Paint and ink seem to be the way forward, in turning a 2D medium into something with more interest and depth. Although these paper cut illustrations don't have a frame as I plan on having, they still manage to encapsulate a story/ narrative and literally jump off the page.
Sonia Alins Miguel
Website: https://www.behance.net/sonia_alins
Sonia is a paper-cut artist and illustrator from Spain and I came across her work when researching into a variety of paper craft processes. Her illustrations as parts of the "Water" series are so beautiful and cleaver, I cant help but want to try this process out myself. Tracing paper used as water - how genius and her attention to detail and the anatomy/characterisation of her figures are so engaging, charming and comical.
Possible "Frame" Format tutorial:
https://littlegreenbox.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/pop-up-diorama-tutorial/
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| Choose selection of paper/card and draw out 1cm x 1cm frames (e.g stock size: 10cm x 14cm) |
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| Cut frames |
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| cut two strips of paper/card from each colour. Each strip should measure the height of the frame x 4cm (e.g 10cm x 4cm) . Score the strips using a bone folder. Trim the corners and fold the strips to create little zig-zags. These pieces are the “hinges” of our little pop-up diorama. |
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| Take your first frame, the one you want to place in the front, and add a stripe of glue to the back of one of its shorter edges. |
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| Take one of the “hinges” in the same colour as the first frame and attach. Repeat this step on the other short edge of the frame, with the second coordinating hinge. |
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| With the first frame facing down, add a stripe of glue to the inner tab of one of the attached hinges. |
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| Place the next frame in line on the hinge, making sure it’s not sticking out on the top or the bottom. |
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| Close the tab with the glue on top of the frame. Repeat on the other side. |
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| first completed diorama scene |
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| repeat stages and attach together for multiple scenes |