Life Drawing Part 3. Dwarf life model or bad foreshortening?

Working in different media always is a challenge for me I DON'T LIKE CHANGE!! so when I was told that I would be using an app on my iPad to complete my life drawing for the week, I was less than impressed to say the least. But once I got into it, I realised I have been missing out a lot! admittedly the program was a little slow at time, and therefore the lag meant that it was hard to get clear and concise line in my drawings however once I got used to it, it was easy enough to overcome. A feature I did like was the ability to edit the brushes you used. This meant that I could always achieve the exact effect I wanted, helping me avoid 'over shading' for which I am a serial offender.

I was impressed with the work I managed to produce, I would almost go as far as saying I was a little proud.

A problem I was learning to overcome in this workshop was my issues with foreshortening. But after doing some research over the weekend I learnt one very important lesson. Draw only what you see. Not what you think you should see. By drawing what your mind is telling you to, you end up with an unrecognisable figure. However how ever much it goes again your instincts you must only draw what you see. If this means my drawing being 90% bum cheeks like the one above, then so be it, because it actually means its perfectly proportioned. 

I then began to experiment with colour once I found myself feeling a little more confident with my programme. Using green and yellow was an unconscious decision. One I made with no real reason or rhyme. But I liked it. 

Life Drawing Part 2. Let there be light!

 
After creating work in black and white last week I decided to take It further and create more work, this time in colour. I did this by using the three primary colours as well as white paint to show light and dark without the use of black.

I used dark blues to indicate shadow instead and lights yellows to indicate the highlights.  This brought life into my artwork. However I find that when working more instinctively with colour I lose the accuracy in my work and can't therefore find it hard to keep work proportionally correct. I don't think its quite my style, everything being perfect. I prefer to have work with so many flaws that I can look at and learn from as a opposed to a piece which I've played it safe with and doesn't make me think or feel anything at all.

I think my work can be improved so much more but I'm just happy to see progress in my own, even though its not perfect, it is better than I anything I could even dream of producing months ago. I only hope my progression continues at such a rapid pace. 

Life drawing Part 1.

 As I am new to the world of life drawing I thought it a could idea to upload photos of my work in chronological order so that it might be possible to see some development and improvement in my work as time progresses.


To the left is one of my first ever life drawings, in what I would consider to be my  weakest media, charcoal. I find it hard to inject life into a piece when using this traditional material. Every piece I produce in chalk and charcoal seems to be flat and have to energy to it. When given time to explore  on my own I will try to develop different techniques in order to cope with this weakness of my work. However I have found that  my life drawings improve when using a different media.

This piece to the right was created using black and white paint and was painted using my hands instead of a brush like traditional pieces. I like the way that the piece only shows the information you need to  make out the form. Their is no definitive line to the work. I also manage to get more life into the work than when drawing something in a more traditional style. This is why I prefer this style of work and will develop it further when given the opportunity.

After exploring working in paint by hand I then went back to charcoal. This was the perfect order to work in as it allowed me to take the energy from the painted pieces into the charcoal work which was lacking in life. I also began to explore the use of contour lines. These lines are to indicate that the body continues further than the eye can see and is not just a flat surface. I will develop my use of these lines further as they are not looking effective in their current stage.

As my journey into life drawing continues I intend to use colour in my work instead of just black at white work.

Propaganda posters

 We were tasked with creating our own propaganda posters to make people understand the importance of the creative industry and the impact this has on our economy and day to day lives.

I began by looking at posters using during the world wars, and other conflicts, to give me an idea of how they are presented, and the common features they have.

The common features I identified were the following:

• Bright and bold colours
• Simple easy to read text
• A centre focal point
• An aspirational figure.

I began by creating this background using a series of geometric shapes, I played around with the different shades of grey and red to give depth to the poster. I think I achieved this. I wanted to created a dull and lifeless city. This was to show that a world without creative arts would be a boring one.

 

I then started playing around with different kinds of text to layer over the poster. I wanted something that looked quite worn and weathered so it represents the older posters from the war. This is due to the fact these would've been done using screen printing, and therefore there would be sections of the text with parts missing. I think I managed to achieve this effect by fading the different layers into each other.

This is my finished poster. I decided to add a small amount of information onto the poster (facts and figures) to grab the attention of the audience. I then related the bottom line of text to the picture that is the focal point of the poster. The orange waves of colour are supposed to represent brightness and colour being introduced into the world through the creative arts.

I'm quite happy with the poster all together. I would like to have had enough time to play around with it some more, maybe try a different colour scheme, and try changing the clock into a figure of some kind. However with the amount of time I had at hand, I am impressed with the work I produced.

The 'Hub' logo design process . . .

 When designing a logo, there are some fundamental things you need to keep in mind. First of all, never forget what the client wants, even if its a vast contrast to what you yourself want to create. Second of all, keep it simple! Your logo needs to be easily recognisable and simple to understand with in a matter of seconds. The final point is that there must be a sound concept behind the whole thing. Without the concept to back up your idea, the idea becomes less influential and unfit for purpose. 

These to the left were my initial ideas for the logos. My basis for all my designs is that there is a central element, then their are smaller elements leading off from it. The centre is supposed to represent the forming of an idea, the lines leading off from it to represent all the different directions you can take your idea and different opportunities for it.
Then in order to visualise the logos in the situation which they will be used, which in this instance is as a vinyl sticker on a window, I super imposed my logo onto an image of the window it will be placed on. This gave me a better idea of how it would fit into the working environment.  

1

2

3

4

5

 After seeing them all on the window, I have been able to select my favourite designs. The designs I have chosen to take no further are number 4 and number 2.

The Negatives
Design Number 2:
I believe the central circle of the design takes up to much room on the window and therefore makes the room feel isolated from the outside, which is the complete opposite to what the clients have requested as they have stated they would like the room to feel integrated into the rest of the college. Also, I don't believe it is fit for purpose as it would look more appropriate as a NASA logo than one fit for this particular industry. However I will keep a sketch of it in my sketch book for future reference if I ever need something similar to this in another design task.

Design Number 4:
Using the rectangles instead of circles or ovals didn't work for me, I think it makes the design look restricted instead of following a natural curve and using all the available space of the window available.

The Positives
Design Number 1:
I really like this design out of all of the ones I have created. The colour green is meant to represent something organic that grows naturally like an idea should. The central rounded rectangle represents the hub centre and is supposed to show that ideas are nurtured in that environment as all the tangent lines radiate from that central shape. I also believe it looks fit for corporate use, but also has artistic flare and recognisability.

Design Number 3:
This design has a simple appeal which really intrigues me. The chalk like font is similar looking to that used on an old style chalk board, and is supposed to represent learning. Once again their is a central element, however this time the lines are curved to show how ideas can take different directions but are still applicable. 

Design Number 5:
The two interlocking shaped in the centre of this design are supposed to show how ideas can link into each other and support each other. The use of the colour red is to grab the attention of passersby and to encourage them to take a second glance at the hub instead of just writing it off as another 'staff room' or college classroom. 

I have then applied my logo to other merchandise to see how it could be developed further and used for purposes other than the vinyl window sticker. One of the downsides to the first two designs in this photo is that they could not be featured on white products as sections of the logo would not be visible. Therefore this logos would not be practical for something such as a letter header. However the last design works on both white and black merchandise side to the bright bold green colour.  It would also be appropriate as a letter header placed against white paper. 





I Intend to develop these designs further and finally select one as my final design, which I will present to the clients in order to be considered for the final logo for 'The Hub' at North Notts College.

Making an ID card.

 To get us used to working using photoshop we began creating ID cards for ourselves, using images we had taken and edited ourselves. So we all grabbed a camera and headed off to take some questionable photos. Sadly after the mis hap with my work, after it being wiped from a college computer, all I am left with are some of the images we took and the edits made.




I took this photo and then used Photoshop to edit it into something more interesting. I know the edit I ended up with is a bit garish but this was the first time I had EVER used the photo editing software, so decided to have a little fun figuring out how it works, and the limitations of using it.












I created the different colours on the bricks using selective colour, and choosing each brick individually using the magic wand. This was quite a lengthy process so hopefully after using Photoshop for a bit longer I might figure out a quicker way of getting the same effect.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 










 I then started playing around with the different focal types you can use. As well as enhancing the colours using the brightness and saturation.

I then took a photo of myself in a car wing mirror and used all the different editing options to play around and see what I am capable of doing, I am happy with all the photos I edited as they all have different elements to them which I like. I like the bottom one as the colour of the camera really pops when compared with the dull background. I also like the one above that because it has a more even balance of colour and black and grey. It also draws the eye to the focal point ME! I prefer all of these edits when compared with the originals.

LOST WORK!

Getting so frustrated after spending hours creating an ID badge, posters and other pieces on Photoshop, and for once being extremely proud and happy with my work it has all been wiped off by college technicians who decided to 'clear out' the computers. Yeah you really cleared it out alright, cleared it of all my hard work!!  So now there is a big GAPING hole in my exploratory work. Great. Good one college. Aren't you clever.

Lets get PLASTERED!

My first experience of being a model for a plaster cast was what I would a success; despite injuring myself in the process due to sitting in awkward positions for long periods of time. But it was all worth it! Nothing brings you closer together with the people on your course than letting them wrap you head to toe in cling film.

After this began the messy bit; after mixing plaster and cutting up enough skrim to keep us going the casting began. The ultimate aim for the casting it to create a tableaux of different poses to come together as one cohesive piece from all of the group.

The piece is inspired by the eglin marbles, from the greek parthanon. It is a usual occurance in greek sculpture that the work focuses on a side view of the human form as opposed to a standard frontal perspective.

It has been thought that the Elgin marbles were originally brightly coloured, unlike the pure white that ancient art is usually associated with. The casts are still in a pure stage at the moment however we are aiming to challenge this perception of art. As well as this we are aiming to challenge the usual body type that body casts are modelled on. We have done this by casting to people as one so they almost appear to be conjoined twins, as well as creating the body shape of someone with a curvature in their spine. Hopefully this will develop further into a more interesting view point of a traditional art form. Developments into this work will be posted as they occur, as the fully finished tableaux will be a lonnng process. . . . .

 

 

Those who paint together, stay together.

There is nothing more daunting than been given a blank sheet of paper, and some materials and told to express yourself, and show you personality through your art. Imagine how scary it is being faced with four 10ft long rolls of blank paper and being asked to do the exact same thing.

To begin with drawing felt like a task; and what I was drawing didn't feel natural, it felt false or staged. But as time went on; the task became easier. Ideas flowed freely, and small patterns and sketches soon covered the sheets. As a group we managed to cover all the canvas we were supplied with. The result was an explosion of colour, different techniques and different artistic

 styles.   
We then had to learn to control this raw artwork into something cleaner, more precise and following some rules of composition. To do this, as a group, we got our heads together and chose the elements we found most interesting as individuals. We then took these elements and fitted them together into a composition we all agreed on. 
Using our terrible preliminary sketch as our basis, we set to work. Creating the background using pastel shades of blue, green and purple, giving an almost oriental feel to the piece to begin with. 


Soon large doses of black and orange were added to create contrasts between the background and the foreground.
This began to bring the piece to life. Although the piece was supposed to be abstract, the majority of the group agreed that the canvas needed to be b
based on something real and not be pure abstract. This lead us to look at work
by John Martin as his work shared many characteristics of ours such as the 
use of deep reds and oranges which 
were contrasted with the dark browns 
and blacks in the piece.





We liked the direction the work had taken and realise the piece resembled a forrest fire and so began to paint silhouetted trees on the skyline. The only issue we were having was that the work seemed to have lost its liveliness. There was no energy left in the painting, it felt flat. 
We injected some life back into it with the use of inks to lift the black colour and make it bolder, we also used white to create highlights on the trees, and splatters of yellow and red paint in the centre of the fire to give the feeling of loss of control over the blaze. The final touch was the use of a resist to place a moon in the top right hand corner of the piece, which brought the work together and balanced the composition perfectly. 

 The finished product was something to be proud of, and we all were. Although I found controlling the piece from the first sketches was a tough task, but one that was defiantly worth while.

Turning a negative into a positive

There are many ways of exploring the use of negative space. We did it, with string. Taking something small which takes up very little space in a composition and making it take up a large area. After an hour or so of stapling to walls and tying round hooks, we'd managed to turn a whole lot of negative space into a whole lot of positive space with relative ease.

We then had to gain even more positive space, we did this by attaching tissue paper to the areas where the twine crossed over each other. This added pockets of colour to the considerably bland piece. 

I couldn't think of a better way to experiment with the use of negative and positive space; This gave me a whole new perspective on how much effect spacing may have on the composition of a piece. definitely a useful experience!