Wednesday, 28 October 2015

OUIL502 Study Task 2: Product, Context, Function

In Studio Task


Illustration examples


Editorial and Reportage examples


Character and Narrative examples


Retail and Merchandise examples

Notes from studio session



Context of illustration- where it is
Product- What it is
Function - Why/what does it do?

What do we mean by "Context"? For instance can a product be the context? Think in terms of:

Physical context
Conceptual context
Disciplinary context

The context of illustration in the creative industries: 

- Publishing and Book Design
- Editorial and Reportage
- Product and Packaging
- Retail and Merchandise 
- Object and Environment (e.g film sets, 3d, graffiti)

What is illustration?


"Drawing": A process. An investigation. Translating and documenting. Exploration of media and the world around you. Drawing is an activity.


"Image making": Visual language in terms of considering compositional techniques such as shape, colour, frame. The construction of images.


"Illustration": Has a purpose. Centres around communication and solving a problem. Illustration is in response to a brief and has a job to do (communicate/problem solve)


Worries regarding illustration, my own practice and industry:


- Limitations of style (What styles of illustration are in fashion and being asked for? This may be vastly different to my own.)

- Being exploited (Please do this amazing work for free. It will look great in your portfolio.)
- Getting work
- Not your work (Work being asked for is not the work I want to be improving.)
- Stuck in a rut (Producing work for the means of money and being unable to progress own practice.)

These worries are all external and to do with the world around me, e.g "Them". At least 50% of what we define as illustration is defined by people out there - not me. I should make the rules and in order to progress as a practitioner, I need to ask questions of myself and of those around me. Asking questions is about wanting to inform yourself - this is a positive thing. Intelligent people ask questions:


WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN? You ask questions because either:


- you don't know the answer

- you aren't happy with the answer you have been given

Level 5 is all about individualising my own practice.



What do I need to learn? 
How do I know that I've learnt it?
Whats driving/informing me?

Anything can be illustration DEPENDING on what you do with it.


Study Task 2: Product, Context, Function


Visual examples of Retail and Merchandise

Product: Album artwork, vinyl sleeve
Context: Vinyl stores, homes, gigs
Function: To advertise, stand out, tell a story, be aesthetic


Illustrator: Roger Dean
http://www.rogerdean.com/picture-database/
Illustrator: Roger Dean
http://www.rogerdean.com/picture-database/
Context: Vinyl Store


Product: Poster, movie advertisement
Context: Cinemas, homes, public transport, bus shelters, adverts
Function: To advertise, promote, be aesthetic and eye catching, collectable



Illustrator: Olly Moss
http://ollymoss.com/
Illustrator: Olly Moss 
http://ollymoss.com/



Product: Skateboard
Context: Stores, walls, homes, streets, competitions
Function: To advertise, stand out and be aesthetic. Collectable

Illustrator: Mr Gauky
http://www.mrgauky.com/


Product: Clothing, jacket, apparel
Context: To be worn
Function: To be worn, advertise, entertain, be aesthetic and eye catching. Collectable



Illustrator: Mr Penfold x Supreme Being - White Canvas Project







Product: Mug, egg cup
Context: Kitchen stores, home stores, homes, cupboards
Function: To use/drink/eat out of. Advertise, be aesthetic, be part of a collection
Illustrator: Rob Ryan
http://robryanstudio.com/

Illustrator: Rob Ryan
http://robryanstudio.com/



Visual examples of Character and Narrative



Product: Graphic Novel: "Sin City" - Frank Miller
Context: Book stores, comic stores
Function: To create a story, tell a story, give visuals to a story, to merchandise (late with movie)




Product: Illustrated Novel: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" - Bernie Wrightson
Context: Book stores, comic stores, galleries
Function: To create a story, tell a story, give visuals to a story, to reinvent a story





Product: Character concept design for Studio Ghibli's 
"Hals Moving Castle" movie
Context: Animation studio, later published in book to be sold as merchandise
Function: To design and create a story based character for movie







Product: Comic book "The Incredible Hulk" - Marvel
Context: Book stores, comic book stores, comic book conventions
Function: To entertain, tell a story, merchandise







Product: Character design for video game Tomb Raider
Context: Game animation, motion graphics studio. 
Function: To create a relatable, functional, likeable character and main star of new game. Merchadise






Visual examples of Editorial Illustration and Reportage




Ana Albero for The New York Times



David Sparshott for the Guardian Weekend magazine


Theresa Berens for the Omaha World-Herald
Olivier Kuger
Kelsey Heinrichs for Wired magazine




Visual examples of Product and Packaging


Kate Forrester - Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
http://www.kateforrester.co.uk/
Lacy Kuhn - Beehive Honey Squares Cereal
http://www.lacykuhn.com/
Simon Laliberté "Poilu", a set of packaging concepts for paintbrushes.
 

Alexandra Istratova - Kiss Fruit and Vegetable puree

Hiromi Hirosaka - Kokeshi Matchsticks

Saturday, 10 October 2015

Leeds Light Night 2015

This was the first time I have attended Leeds light night and what a unique experience it was.To have what felt like the whole of the city centre close its roads off and open up to the public in such a creative way - was a really inspiring way to spend an evening.
I am really interested in pushing the boundaries of my creative work and what illustration can be. I personally love 3D creative work varying in scale and interactivity so I couldn't miss it.


"What's On?" - Brochure:



Key exhibits I attended:


     

    


  

Photos from the event:




***********************

Paul Friedlander
Funnily enough one of the scientists and visual artists I saw at Breaking Convention over the summer was here showcasing some of his beautiful kinetic energy & light based sculpture artwork. This was great to see in person once again and the work he had on show i feel was really well received.


Video of his light sculptures from Leeds Light Night 2015:



What a lot of people don't know about this work is that in order for the plastic cables to dance under the fluorescent UV lighting, they need kinetic energy. This energy is provided by the audience themselves - the more people, the more energy, the more the light sculpture dance. Such a lovely and successful concept for subtle interactive creativity,

More examples of his work worldwide:



Thoughts Following the night:
• Would like to explore the possibly of light / projection based artwork in the fututre for sure
Projection mapping?

Monday, 5 October 2015

Study Task 1: Who Am I? Why Am I Here?

Study Task 1: Who Am I? Why Am I Here?

5 things I have learned so far on the programme
A range of digital software techniques using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
How to animate a GIF using Adobe Photoshop
How to plan, print and assemble a finished book product using Adobe InDesign
Blogging research, interests, activities and critical reflection of my own practice and progress
A range of printmaking techniques
The theory behind composition and how to apply this to my own work

5 things that I want to know more about
MY OWN PRACTICE - What I want to achieve as an illustrator. My own voice, style, and approach to illustration that I am proud of and excited to create.
Self promotion and networking
How to take my practice out into the industry? What is the best path to follow? How to get noticed? - Competitions, volunteer work, exhibitions, social media and internships?
A wider range of career opportunities/paths I could go down when pursuing illustration as a career. Illustration agencies? Freelance work?
How to get into the urban/underground scene, e.g: Festival artwork, music label artwork, DJ music visuals, skateboarding brands, graffiti, stickers, club flyers etc.



5 skills that I think are my strengths
Ideas generation
Attention to detail and quality
Using a range of media
Challenging myself whilst stepping outside of the box and my comfort zone
Time management, organisation and dedication 


5 things that I want to improve
Confidence in own skills/abilities 
Digital software skills and tablet work
Time management and being satisfied with the work I create
Colour theory and how to make an image its absolute best using a good knowledge of colour
I feel I can improve in all areas including the use of a variety of media.


5 practitioners that demonstrate your interest in illustration


Mr Penfold
Hattie Newman

Hattie Newman

Mr Gauky


Yulia Brodskaya


Carson Ellis
Arthur Rackham


Eyvind Earle

Ray Morimura
Claire Scully

Claire Scully



rekaone

rekaone

rekaone







Phlegm


Drew Millward
Koyamori - Maruti Bitamin
Koyamori - Maruti Bitamin


Koyamori - Maruti Bitamin

5 websites/online resources that demonstrate your areas of interest within the creative industries

Juxtapose http://www.juxtapoz.com/
Colossal http://www.thisiscolossal.com/
AOI http://www.theaoi.com/
Its Nice That http://www.itsnicethat.com/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/
Instagram https://instagram.com/