What is Line?

Creative art begins with creative line. Creative line can only be the line as you see it and prefer to draw it. Projecting literal contours by and artificial means can only result in stifling your most valuable asset- individuality. Draw from copy as you would from life. Have always the courage to draw it yourself.

- Andrew Loomis. 1947

I discovered that there are many ways to create line in order to create an effective image.

• Quick lines and sketchy marks create a fast paced image 
• Strong bold marks can create more graphic images.

Using different media -

• Ink/Paints can create a brushed line - changing the speed of the brush could also create different effects.
• Fineliner/Pens the effects and thickness of the pen can be almost restricted in the way that they can be used.
• Thread - the line can be almost textured with this media but it can be used in different ways to create different types of line strengths and textures.

Sam Vanallemeersch

A Day In The Life - Midpoint Feedback

I received feedback from peers on my roughs for the Lad Culture project. We did an activity where the other person had to tell me what they thought the roughs were representing without my input or them seeing the article. 

My work got the response:

• "Idea of lads drinking, getting drunk and being laid. The wolf head is to convey the idea of pack mentality and animalistic attitude of the subculture"

• "Idea of a pack of lads (again with wolf heads as a a metaphor for pack attitude) as a group suggesting that they have seen their pray (a woman). It also suggests the idea of harassment and how it's passed off as banter"

I was very pleased with the responses to my roughs as these were the exact ideas that I was trying to portray in my work, this has helped me realise that I have used the idea of narrative well.

Photoshop 5 Images

In the photoshop workshops I have explored a variety of techniques and digital tools in order to explore how to create a variety of images.

Initially I scanned in my ink drawing and began to look at how 'levels' can effect the colours and textures in the image. The levels tool is how I created the blue and green style images. I really liked how the colours and levels were able to pick up the texture of the paper and create an almost handmade texture.

I also explored the idea of using my own drawing as a stamp in order to add more line work to the illustration. I found this quite effective however I found that the extra lines could often overtake the image and drawing itself.

I also explored the idea of multiplying layers and colours in order to create different shades and tones, I particularly liked this technique as I found that the colours were really able to enhance my work even though I tried to keep them quite simple.

I found the selection tool helpful as well as it allowed me to be more specific when adjusting the lines and shapes in my drawing.

Overall I have found the photoshop workshops very helpful and I came into them with little knowledge about it but I feel that I have learnt enough to effectively enhance my work in the future.

A Day in the Life - Initial Ideas

The article I was given for the Day in the Life project was based around the idea of Misogyny and 'Lad Culture' and how it is negatively effecting the minds of men, particularly of university student age. I found the article shocking which really inspired me to begin researching into the topic immediately. I found books based on gender stereotypes and how this can shape and form peoples attitudes and personalities in terms of the treatment of the opposite gender.
The NUS defines lad culture as a group or 'pack' mentality. This was the phrase that initially made me think about the idea of a 'pack of wolves', which in many ways have the same characteristics as a group of 'lads' on a stereotypical 'night out'. I began by looking at the physical form of a wolf and how I could draw it as this is something that I haven't tried before. I initially I found it really difficult to get the proportions and shape of the wolf head but after further experimentation and use of different source then I was able to come to a conclusion that I was happy with.

Following this, I began to look at how I could incorporate this image of a wolf into the idea of Lad culture, I looked at photographs from clubs in the local area and how lad culture and drinking culture is such a large part of these nights out. I began to draw these photographs and combined my wolf head drawings with the bodies. I really liked this idea and wanted to continue with it.

Following on from my drawing experiments, I began to create potential roughs that could be used for my final designs. I found this technique really helpful as it enabled me to see what my final designs could potentially look like without having to fully commit to them.

Sketchbooks - Week One - Carnival and Fun Fairs

I wasn't at all happy with the quality or quantity of work that I did for this week's task for visual language, I feel that I could have explored my topic in a lot more depth and looked more into colour and visual imagery. I feel that my drawings look rushed and I defiantly could do better.

However, saying this I found the imagery that I did find interesting and I'm looking forward to looking at the topic in more depth as the weeks progress through the moduel.

What Makes A Good Sketchbook?

I really enjoyed the sketchbook presentation as it gave me an insight on other illustrators methods of working.
The mains things that I will take away from the sketchbook talk is

• Not to worry too much about how each page looks in your sketchbook, you should be messy!
• Be experimental - try different media and shapes, sizes and colours 
• Draw quickly - don't over think your drawings
• Draw from real life
• Draw from photos
• Draw from imagination
• Draw everyday
  
  

  

  James Jean Sketchbook

  

  James Jean's Sketchbook

  I love all of the colours and shapes in James Jean's work, partucarily the way the sketchbook isn't a final piece, but in some ways can often look better than the final piece!
  For the visual language module, I have chosen to explore the theme of circus and fun fair as I feel that this will enable me to explore both structures and the human form.
  
  

Typeology Poster Final

Overall, I was really happy with my use of colour in my final piece. I have attempted to stay true to the brief and use the one colour with variation of tones. I chose green as I thought this would be appropriate for the fruit and vegetable theme. I was also very pleased with my use of media, I think I had explored my options well and through experimentation, I realised that the shoe aspect of the fruit and veg didn't need to be as prominent and coloured as the body or 'fruit/veg' itself. 
I was also pleased with my use of space on the page. I feel like I have effectively used the A2 space on the page and planned it out effectively in terms of making some fruits and veg larger than others for more impact.

I found the idea of finding a concept challenging in the initial planning stages. I feel that I was trying to be too abstract and have an idea that was more from the imagination, however I feel that my combination of two topics has worked really well. Despite being pleased with the final product, I found choosing the materials for the piece very difficult, I experimented with a variety of tools in order to achieve the most effective results for the characters.

If I were to do the poster again I think I would reconsider how I have constructed the piece in terms of positioning on the page. I would have considered perhaps putting the characters in a scene or a scenario in order to give more of a narrative to the piece.  

Typeology Poster - Development

After considering a variety of designs and ideas in terms of the lists of A-Zs, I have come to the conclusion that the idea of the combination of Fruit and Vegetables with Shoes is humorous and somewhat of a challenge for me. I have been experimenting with ways in which I can effectively draw this idea and so far I am pleased with the outcomes. I have been experimenting with media such as fine liners, felt tips, pro markers, colouring pencil and watercolours in order to get a broad range of ideas and techniques that I could potentially use in my final piece.

Visual Language - Observational Drawing

On Tuesday 6th October, I continued with the exploration into observational drawing. We were to do two separate studies, one from a still image or photograph in a book and the second from a physical object, in particular a plant. 
I found that drawing from the still image was a lot harder for me to do, I think this is because there wasnt much concept of physical size or tone as it remained the same no matter how it was drawn. I understand that images and stills are an important aspect of illustration in order to collect sources to draw from when it's not possible to draw from life, but I found it wasnt as effective as having the subject directly in front of me. I chose to draw a shell from a sea life book, I feel uneasy about my final drawings as I feel that towards the end of the task I began to make up parts of the image when I couldn't necessarily  see it on the photograph in the book.

I really enjoyed the real life observation task as we were asked to think about how we translated the subject onto the paper. I looked at different ways that I could do this with the medium of ink. I found that when using a nib or a finer brush that the line work was more effective, yet a thicker brush gave a tonal image, both of which have used for different types of observational drawing. I was really pleased with my final images of the Peace Lily plant, I think I have focused on the leaves and the shapes and lines in them really well in order to create an effective drawing.
I also really enjoyed using the ink medium as I haven't worked a lot with it in the past. I really like the effects you could achieve, particularly with the nibs, I felt that they complimented by finer, detailed style showing my strengths of line and shape. I will definitely use ink again for visual tasks. A negative of the ink was that it wasn't as definite as a simple fine liner, you can not always predict that the ink will go where you place it on the page. 

Visual Skills - Typeology

Idea Development

Brief 1 is to create an A2 size poster displaying an A-Z typology of your choice. I began by visiting the library where I looked at a copy of 'Wrap' magazine in order to gain inspiration in terms of what I wanted to illustrate for my typology poster. I discovered many new illustrators and graphic designers in which I will explore further and blog my findings in the P.P.P blog. I made lists of possible subjects that I could explore in the development
process such as:

A-Z of british birds
A-Z of canned goods
A-Z of vegetarian food
A-Z of types of shoes
A-Z of cheese
A-Z of insects

After making a list of what each of the letters could represent, I felt that I wasn't being creative or imaginative enough and I felt that the poster wouldn't be engaging and exciting if it just displayed a list of images that people are familiar with. Following this I began to think about combining my lists, for example, The A-Z of insects eating cheeses, both of which will start with the corresponding letter. I found this idea alot more exciting and after discussing with my peers, they agreed that this idea would be humorous, which, as I have learnt is an aspect of illustration that is important (the idea of creating some form of emotion in the viewer).
I am currently still combining different lists but I found it very helpful to continuously draw out objects and subjects from the lists in order to get an idea of how they might work together. 

OUIL404 Visual Language

As a part of improving my visual language skills, I took part in a variety of observational drawing tasks. I really enjoyed the challenge of drawing in order to get a sense of the scale, shape and tone. 

This drawing was a squirrel skeleton, initially I found it difficult to get the shape of the intricate object, however I feel that the end drawing was successful as I studied the joints and detailed features of the skeleton.

Another observational drawing was leaves, I decided to use a slightly thicker pen for this with a felt tip texture. I focussed on the shape of the leaves and how they bend and fold into each other as well as curving around each other. Initially I found it difficult to draw the leaves in an 3D style, however I feel that as I drew more the drawings became more successful. 

My third observational drawing was a class member drawing. I wanted to challenge myself by drawing a moving subject. I found this one particularly difficult as with the thin felt tip as my medium it was difficult to draw the detail and tone in the clothing and face. However, I feel that the quick yet considered marks were a successful element of the final observational drawing. 












Another drawing that I was pleased with was the antlers from the Royal Armouries in Leeds. I chose to draw this particular subject as I loved the textures and the way the antlers seemed to weave around themselves, I wanted to dry and recreate this effect. I feel that the antler drawing on the right could have been better if I had used a different medium such as a thinner fine liner in order to recreate the details and interesting texture that the antlers had.

Overall I really enjoyed the observational drawing tasks and I found it extremely helpful in terms of improving my visual language skills. I think it's important to continue with the repetition of drawing in order to improve skills but also improve the idea of using your eyes as a tool to assist in illustration.