Prophets and Poets

Drawing and Media

Positive/Negative and Silhouettes

For this activity decided to revisit the references drawn on in the Spike Milligan inspired screen prints: birds and bird cages. Decided to introduce a third element of keys to add a further layer of symbolism.

I like the different silhouetted qualities of each element: the way the filigree of the cage contrasts with the solidity of the bird shapes. I had never consciously considered the impact of scale and format on compositions before this exercise and therefore learnt much from it. Must include considration of these elements in future work. I like the mystery created by cropped elements but I realise from speaking to others that this may not be to everyone's taste.

Decided to use some of the images created as a means to explore printing a little further. On the face of it the designs would seem to lend themselves to lino print but I was keen to explore drypoint - a new experience. I was pleased with the more moody outcomes achieved through leaving greater amounts of ink on the plate. However, these are still crude attempts and I need to explore more thoroughly the application of ink and colour. Used sandpaper to produce some texture, but how to produce greater variety of textured effects is another area to develop.

Prophets and Poets

Drawing and Media

Communicating Creatively

Chose to pursue the observational drawings of trainers in this context. I find the larger composite image more satisfying. It is less clumsy and fussy in execution than the smaller piece and I feel that it also benefits from the direction that I injected into it by making it a commentary piece. It has more interest. Essentially it is a work constructed from a number of mini experiments, some more successful than others.

Rather like the digitally collaged pieces attempted earlier, I discovered just how difficult it is to produce a delicately layered and coherent composition. One strategy that I might adopt to develop this skill is to follow processes outlined by books such as the 'Collage Sourcebook' - artists outline the processes they go through in order to achieve particular effects. Certainly my attempts seem to lack sophistication.

Exploration has offered up the potential of some effects e.g. sgraffito and masking fluid, but exploration in itself doesn't always signpost ways to effective and coherent usage. I don't feel that understanding the media has in this instance indicated the possibilities sufficiently enough - certainly not for sophisticated usage. Perhaps this a situation where learning is further enhanced via demonstration.

In terms of abstracting the key elements of an object whilst still retaining overall recognition, I feel that I am able to achieve this but it doesn't necessarily lead to a creative illustrative image - well, certainly not one of the type that I evisaged at the outset. Once again I think this comes back to developing a deeper understanding of techniques and how they can be orchestrated to achieve a desired effect. I think that emulation might need to come before creation here.

Prophets and Poets

Drawing and Media

Observational Drawing

This was quite a demanding unit in that it required a sizeable quota of drawings within a fairly condensed period. The objects, due to their complexity, exerted time constraints, as did the fact that other projects ran concurrently. The unit as a whole suffered a little from its disparate nature; it was not connected to a wider purpose but rested as a discrete exercise in its own right. Why were we drawing typewriters, sewing machines, bicycles etc? Obviously to hone our observational skills, but I can't help feeling that we would have been more motivated if the context had offered greater purpose.

However, there was learning to be had: considering different angles when recording an object and the kind of visual information that a particular view offers. Dealing with the problems of 2D representation of a 3D object - proportion, perspective, texture, line and shape. Working with different media also made me explore and reflect upon the most appropriate style/technique to employ e.g. the amount of detail that can be undertaken with a pencil is very different to that which can be obtained using a brush and ink. Reflecting on the necessary adjustments between media was a valuable learning experience.

These tasks, and the drawing using wire, offered insights into the structure and form of objects. I was forced to focus on key elements in an effort to simplify the representations. And once again it made me face up to that key question - What is my own personal preferred style of representation?

The pursuit continues.

Prophets and Poets

Drawing and Media

Collage Technique - One day Workshop

Enjoyed playing around with layers and 'paste into' function in Photoshop. Learnt a lot about the effect of different layer formats and use of scanned textures.

Found that creating a cohesive image incorporating digital, hand-drawn and scanned elements, together with text, is much more difficult than it appears. It is easily possible to overdo it and end up with a disjointed 'mess'. This could be one of those instances where less is more. At least the computer allows you to play around with layout and colour with some ease.

I referenced David Hughes for some of the hand-drawn animals and once again ended up with a child oriented piece. Is there a message emerging here?

The image was resued somewhat via heavy cropping and through harmonising the colour scheme until it is almost monochromatic. I know that this is a matter of taste but I feel that it gives the image more mystery and unity.

I am concerned that I don't use Photoshop enough to internalise all the processes that I encounter. I need to set time aside for further use, to consolidate this and also to fine tune the balance of elements mentioned before; at the moment they make for fairly crude viewing.

Concerned that some effects are achieved through accident rather than intentional design - need more understanding of the scope of features and technical aspects such as file types, image size and resolution settings.