'Make your Mark' Brief: My Backpack/Badges.

 We're continuing to explore different ideas for our brief. At the minute I'm looking at my little black backpack and my badges. I actually got my backpack at Chesterfield market, since then I've always had badges and brooches that I've attached to it. The problem is I'm always losing or breaking these badges, so they're always being replaced or changed around. I thought this would be an interesting thing to document. I started with a couple of collage/pen/ink illustrations of my backpack and a few of my badges.

I really like how this first piece came out, although for the text ('and all the badges I've loved and lost'.) I wished I had used a sea green/dark green colour. I think it would have worked much better. 

This is two of my badges, one broken and one surviving. It's a shame the colouring on the frog didn't quite work as I think it would have made a nice page! 

Minimalistic collage of a woman brooch I had. This is growing on me. Initially I wasn't sure, but I like the minimal colours and the use of white space.

A quick blind drawing/ink drawing of some buttons and badge pins. I think what works is the limited colour and the mix of detail and basic line.

Same as above really, but with my broken frog pin. 

Another of a pin in ink detail, with collage areas of another broken brooch. I'm really enjoying what I'm doing so far, but I need to expand it further. I'm thinking of illustrating the entire collection, just producing more work. I think I'll do this along with experimenting with bypass printing over my Independent Study days, as well as that I'd like to keep working on the hands idea. 

On another note, this is my 40th blog post! Worth a miniature celebration.

2D design: composition work.

Over the two week period we have had a constant focus on composition. Stripping things down, we've been using different techniques (blind drawing, left hand drawing, outline drawing, negative space...) and creating A3 pieces of work. When we first started this I was definitely out of my comfort zone, I found it difficult to work the way we were. However, looking through other people's work (and my own) I realised I am now learning to appreciate the importance of composition and simple line work and am actually enjoying working this way!

I really like these last two, I think the simplicity works well, and the negative space around the rubber duck compliments the red pen lines.

2D design: Independent study.

Set the task of using the techniques we have learnt in 2D design so far, and applying these - creating 15 observational drawings/images.
I won't show you all 15, but have a peek into my sketchbook at a few of the ways I've tried to combine line drawing, collage, paint and found imagery whilst trying to keep a focus on relationships of different sorts throughout the work.

(toy, shoes, keys, packaging and clothing)

2D design: paper/found imagery illustration.

We have been looking at illustration/animation that is constructed using found imagery, this could be photographs, paper, newspaper cut outs etc. However, the challenge was to evoke a particular scenario or phrans.

Aextinctionctionlooking through some examples of similar work I found a few artists that influenced my work and ideas surrounding the subject area.

Ashley Edwards uses found imagery, contrasting colour, shape and text to bring across a certain message. 

Richard Vergez uses mainly found imagery, collage, and clever composition to give his work impact.

Mathilde Aubier, who uses a whole range of media and has a very delicate/pretty feel to her work.

JP King, this work for me was different as there was a common use of cut out's and colour in the images, which creates a whole new dimension to the work (new figures, negative space).  

We were then set the challenge of creating 8 A4 'found image' illustrations corresponding to a word/phrase we were given. I was given the phrase 'off the grid'. I struggled at first, but managed to create 4 images - 

(extintion, lost, curves, extrovert).

2D Design: 7/10 Things

We were set a challenge to find 10 things and document them, I only managed 7, including some flowers/plants from the garden, my dinner, and an open draw! I tried to work with lots of different media when documenting. However, I wish I'd done more drawing as I think I largely focused on collage and collecting items. 

I chose to focus on the open draw because I thought the shapes/folds and mix of colours and materials were very interesting. Also, the idea that was you see is an aftermath of a moment, getting ready or a morning rush.

The texture of my bathroom wall reminded me of crashing waves and the sea, I did some rubbings in my sketchbook, trying out different colours and strengths. The page on the right is a collection of flowers and plants from the garden and stray bits of material.

My dinner.