There are plenty of examples of illustrators who have defined a story visually by being the first or best illustrator to respond to it, such as Winnie the Pooh (1926) written by A A Milne and illustrated by E H Shepherd, The Gruffalo (1999) written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, or Little… Continue reading Research Point: Linking Illustrations with Text
Research Point: Combining Illustration and Type
Look at a range of book or magazine covers that use illustration. How does the typography of the title, author and other details interplay with the illustration? What’s the relationship between type and image? Identify examples where the illustrator has created space in their image to accommodate the typography, and other examples where this relationship… Continue reading Research Point: Combining Illustration and Type
Research Point: The Metamorphosis
Kafka’s short story The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung), first published in 1915, is a strongly visual tale of a man called Gregor who wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a beetle. The story then explores how Gregor and his parents deal with this transformation. The Metamorphosis is set in Gregor’s bedroom in his… Continue reading Research Point: The Metamorphosis
Exercise: You are what you eat
Proverbs are sayings that convey popular wisdom in short and memorable ways, such as ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. While they refer to practical home truths, there’s often a hint of judgement. Proverbs are based on metaphors, something being like something else, the stitch in time is a metaphor for doing things in a… Continue reading Exercise: You are what you eat
Research Point: Denotation and Connotation
Published by British artist William Hogarth in 1751, the popular satirical engravings Beer Street and Gin Lane were part of a campaign to curb gin drinking amongst the poor in London. The prints show the consequences of excessive gin drinking on Gin Lane in comparison with the moderate consumption of ale along Beer Street. The… Continue reading Research Point: Denotation and Connotation
Part 2: Reflection
Having reached end of Part 2, I reflected on the Assessment Criteria Points. Demonstration of technical and visual skills – materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills. This section forced me to carry out more observational drawing, which I believe I am gradually becoming more confident doing, as demonstrated in several of the… Continue reading Part 2: Reflection
Assignment 2: A Sense of Place
Your local tourist board has commissioned you to produce a series of reportage illustrations that celebrates aspects of local culture. Base your illustrations on real local events, locations and people. Capture a sense of place through drawing from life. Produce between three and five pieces of work, at least one of which should be in… Continue reading Assignment 2: A Sense of Place
Sketchbook
I set up an Instagram account some time ago as a way to make me regularly post artwork that I had created. To begin with I managed to keep to the routine of uploading a daily observational sketch, but did not keep this up for various reasons. I plan to start doing this again and… Continue reading Sketchbook
Visual Diary
Currently most of the content for my Visual Diary is digitally based, although I do have some items I have found in physical formats on a pinboard. I have steadily built up a section of creative individuals that I follow on Instagram, over 100 to date, which I find a great way of regularly viewing… Continue reading Visual Diary
Exercise: There and Back Again
With sketchbook in hand, go on a journey and document the experience. Depending on your circumstances this might be a regular commute from one end of town to the other on the bus, a short holiday, or a day trip. Wherever you decide to go, produce at least three drawings or illustrations that say something… Continue reading Exercise: There and Back Again