Visual Language: Composition 3 Elements

In class we were given some really useful sheets based on composition  so I picked some up after missing last weeks session- composition is something I really tend to struggle with and its alway something I'm left wondering if it works or not in my work. I feel comfortable now being able to look back at the sheets to get a heads up to see of I'm working in the right direction.

After missing last weeks composition session I decided to read up on the session and carry out the task at home. The task was to design a number of compositional sketches which involved a figure, object and location. I chose something really easy - a man, a pint glass and a pub. but it wasn't about how easy the subjects where - it was about how I could place them in a way which would look compositionally correct. I had to consider what would initially make the image look good. usually the main focus of the image would be a figure so I decided to make the pint glass have the majority of the attention by putting it in the fore ground whilst placing the figure in the background.

The Untold Story Part 2: First InDesign Mock up

InDesign Mock up's

Since christmas I feel like I have completely forgotten everything I have ever learnt on InDesign. Thankfully there was a workshop running so I had the opportunity to get some help and get a few things cleared up before the deadline, this was also the perfect opportunity to print out a mock up with a few of my sketches on - ideally i could see if they worked as page designs or not.

Considering Size

After taking into consideration what was said in the silent crit I'm most likely going to go with the A5 format. I decided to print off an A4 format as well just to see what it would look like in comparison to the A5. I found that the A4 format was very over powering, it kind of took away the energy of my drawings and it felt like there was too much to look at. With the A5 it felt nice to hold, the pages were full of energy and I felt as if I could follow the book through more. I also asked my peers on their opinion and fortunately I had the same response.

Overall thoughts and next steps.

• Due to the fact I used my sketchbook drawings in my mock up ( although they do look good) I need to now move onto Photoshopping them and having a go at working digitally just to polish them off (or completely re edit them?)
• I'm confident that the A5 format looks best, I also really like the way the mock up turned out - I'm quite relieved that I now know the basics of indesign - I was abolsutely dreading using it as I knew nothing about it!!
• I was really worried about the resolution of the photos changing but today I learnt how to fix blurry photos which I'm really happy about.
• My next step from here is to make the final book!! wooooo!

The Untold Story Part 2: Silent Crit Reflection

Love/Hate relationship with Silent Crits.

I love silent crits, I think they're really helpful and beneficial, but I HATE the fact you have to sit there and not be able to say a word.

I managed to get some great notes from the crit, I scribbled down elements of my work which my peers liked, this was really helpful, it was also a massive confidence boost to get some really positive feedback. It was great for me to sit there, not allowed to speak, and for my peers to understand what I was trying to convey e.g The repetition of the nagging mum characters were specifically repeated to portray the 'nagginess'.

 I also got some really good advice which I am definitely going to act on, such as a comment on scale - i had created an image in my hotdog book and then developed it in my sketchbook - my peers agreed that the image looked better as a smaller piece - it gave the image more energy. 

Matt also didn't like the inverted commas which held the text, which after him mentioning it, neither do I, so if I want to include the images with the inverted commas in then I will have to either re draw them or just fix them through Photoshop.

Overall thoughts and Next steps.

• My next steps following from the crit is to go back and read my notes and act upon them.
• I will do this by taking on board what my peers have said e.g carry on working on a small scale, get rid of inverted commas in final pages etc.
• I think overall my crit was fairly positive, but when it comes to critiquing myself I know I can be a lot more harsh on myself - I know I haven't done enough work, I need to use the rest of the time i have left to absolutely crack on and make some work that i can be really proud of.
• My next step is to fill my sketchbook and continue working in the style of hotdog books - they're really small and fun to work with and I feel as if it will really help m develop my work.

The Untold Story Part 2: Sketchbook Ideas

Following on from the hotdog book.

Some nice ideas have stemmed from my hotdog book - I decided to carry on experimenting with the stereotypical age genres, this time focusing on "moody middle-aged men".

 I started off with considering who is the ultimate moody middle aged man that I could draw in relation to my stereotype, and then after remembering a conversation I had with Matt in my tutorial, Matt suggested Jeremy Clarkson, so I used his face as a starting point. I really like these drawings, I like the texture in the hair, it might be worth having a go working with this piece digitally? Could possibly add some colour and texture?

I really liked the composition of the double page spread of the "annoying nagging Mum's" similar to the image above, as to why I re created it in the form of the "moody middle-aged men". I don't know why they have abnormally long necks but I think it looks really good and the composition is really effective, I think I've just been picking up elements of David Hughes and Lewis Rossignol's work where in their work they include people with abnormal features? Definitely want to work with this drawing digitally, I think t might be really fun to manipulate, possibly add some colour?

I'm getting a bit bored of black and white!! it's nice to have a little experiment with colour through paint - I'm probably not going to include this in my final book but it was nice to experiment with colour and be able to see a bit of depth within the piece.

I realllllly love these papercut collage faces, they just look so simple yet work so effectively - and again its nice to appreciate the drawings re created in colour form. I'm definitely going to continue with the idea of collage - I just love the way it looks, the shape, colour. I usually don't enjoy working in such a simple manor but I'm really pleased with the outcome of this page in my sketchbook, I'm quite eager to get cracking on some more.

Overall thoughts and next steps.

• My next step is to definitely get my head down and do some collaging - I think it will really give my drawings a completely new tone of voice.
• Take matts advice on board and consider shape and texture.
• another step to take is to start woking digitally.
• Overall I'm happy with the outcomes of my drawings, I' think a few of them will be added to my book.
• I feel as if I'm really pushing myself at the moment and it's really paying off.

The Untold Story Part 2: Development of Hotdog Images

Starting to finally love what I'm doing!!

I've started to really get my head down and get cracking in my sketchbook, I'm focusing on the images I created in my little hotdog book, I really like the quirky unique characterisation of them so I'm going to continue to develop them more.

Development of the hotdog book images:

After my tutorial with Matt, he suggested to continue the idea of the quirky stereotypes of different age genres, so I began to briefly think of really quick phrases just so I could get cracking and start drawing. The first one that sprung to mind (other than the original ones in my hotdog book) was "Annoying Nagging mums" so straight away I started to repetitively draw "Annoying Nagging mums", I noticed, interestingly, a character started to emerge and I suck with this throughout the sketches.

I took this idea further by beginning to think about composition, and if I was to use this in my final book how would I want it to look like? I really like the idea of using double page spreads, I think it looks very visually appealing and it allows you to use space with a little more freedom without cramming everything into one space. I going to keep working in this format, I think it works really well. 

When it comes to comparing the two compositions (the grid-like format, and the double page spread), I think they both work really effectively, at the moment I think its worth re drawing the grid image because I think they aren't as well drawn as the double page spread and this refelcts my opinion on it however once re drawn my opinion may change, it might be worth getting some feedback off peers?? 

Overall thoughts so far - What I'm happy about:

• I am really happy about how my project is progressing, spending a good 6-7 solid hours a day after uni is really proving to pay off! Need to carry this on!
• I'm really liking my general idea for the book - I feel like theres so much I can do with it/
• For the first time in ages Im really liking my own work - I'm starting to feel proud after a drawing or image and I'm starting to finally give myself some credit which is nice to realise.

What I am unhappy about/What can I improve on?:

I feel as if I have finally got stuck into my work and I'm quite annoyed?? or maybe a little angry, that I'm not going to have as much time as I wanted to enjoy this project - again due to my health.

I'm beginning to get really tired, working long hours into early hours of the morning needs to stop, I need to choose my time to work effectively - that way I will get more out of myself.

• Really want to start collaging or using other methods and techniques as for the time being pencil and pen seem to be my best friend.

The Untold Story Part 2: Tutorial with Matt

Start again!

The same question keeps going round in my head, should I start again??? is it too late? However after a tutorial today with Matt I feel so much better about this project, although I didn't have a lot of work to show, Matt seemed to like the idea of one of my hotdog books - I now intend to develop this idea and theme within the hotdog book which will hopefully lead me onto a really interesting idea.

The hotdog book included only a few little sketches but they were based on quirky and funny stereotypes of different ages such as "smelly old people", "moody middle - aged men" and "horrible 14 year olds" which initially came from and interview with my sister, I really like the drawings which accompany the quotes so I think its a really good idea to take this idea forward and develop it.

Before the tutorial I felt really lost, I had no idea what direction I was going in and I really felt as if I was just genuinely stuck. Now I'm excited to get stuck in, to start developing my drawings and to make up for the time I was ill. Lets gooooooooooooo.

Next steps

• Develop drawings from hotdog book.
• Draw repetitive characters that represent the characters e.g moody middle aged men - draw Jeremy Clarkson.
• Create more hotdog books in the style of previous one.
• Start thinking about mock ups.  

The Untold Story Part 2: Making No Progress Due to Illness

  Hit by Flu!!!!

Thoughts at this moment in time.-

Currently I feel like I'm making no progress at all, I've had the flu since the christmas holidays where I was physically incapable of creating any work or doing anything at all. I'm starting to feel really down about this whole project just because I know I'm falling behind and I can't seem to think about anything other than my health. I feel as if I really really really need to get my head down these next following weeks to catch up and actually get the chance to enjoy making work and enjoy this project!! I'm really un prepared for my tutorial on Monday but its something to look forward to as I can get as much advice as possible.