Townscape design

during the townscape project, i have been using adobe illustrator to recreate an image taken of a townscape.
the first step was to plase animage into a background and use the different drawing tools to trace the photograph.

idid a very basic drawing at first using the caligraphy pen.

i then moved on to a more complex way of drawin, using the pen tool to anchor points in an image and fill it with colour, using different shapes to recreate the various angles.

the image i ended up doing i thought would be better as an abstract image,  i used many different  techniques  to  create thiis image such as pen and fill, free hand drawing and creating a pattern (displayed on the right)

Auto Biography Cover

Auto biography cover

To start off with the book cover I was designing I used a book cover template to work over and eventually bring to be the sleeve to the auto biography cover I was designing.

the template was a very basic one, with a barcode printed on it to add more detail.








I then searched for an image of me to edit to be in the cover, I then found a photo I took last year and thought it would fit perfectly.        

 The image I chose i thought suited my personality after using phototshop to edit the image i had copied it at added several layers of it and added a background.

After completing the cover I wasn’t happy with the final outcome, after playing around on Photoshop for a while I edited a painting of myself and found it interesting, I then added it to the book cover template, and put in some writing, this is my finished piece. 

although many book covers have  different coloured backgrounds or a certain theme, i think having it plain brings more attention to the image itself.

Ingrid Siliakus

Ingrid Siliakus

The work that Ingrid Siliakus produces using only folded paper and the excessive detail perfectly patterned to create such a magnificent sculpture is brilliant, using the intricate forms and arraignment and a mixture of blocks and lines allows her to create a piece which resembles a townscape, each and every piece she has done if visually flawless, with perfectly even and symmetrical buildings, and life like decorations, Ingrid has used a simple piece of paper and transformed into a piece of art without the need for a pencil or paint.

another great aspect of Ingrids work is the photography, as it has been cleverly photographed, it allows the darkness to add shading and increase the 3D appearance.

Figure Evaluation

Figure Evaluation

The figure project is based around the body, and consisted of life drawing, print work, 3D sculpture and graphic design, using this variety of media to capture the essence of the subject you are drawing, painting etc.

Throughout the project I have come to learn new techniques and processes in order to recreate the subject I would be drawing in a more accurate and precise way. For instance, the point and line technique, using a ruler pencil, stick, or your hand to measure, get angle references and mark a structure almost resembling a stick person, after which going over it to add detail, tone or colour. I enjoyed learning all aspects of the different techniques and believe it has helped me to incorporate to my personal practice and improved my drawing skills on the whole.

The different aspects of the project intrigued me, specifically the life model sessions, being able to draw a nude model helped me to understand more about the structures and compositions of the body. Having a variety of media available allowed me to experiment and allow myself to capture the tones and qualities of the body in different ways. For example, the conte  crayons, I did a quick sketch of the model on sugar paper using black and white conte crayons, which I believe turned out great, I was able to capture the light as well as the dark areas of the body, which gave an effect greater then when using other media, such as charcoal, pen and pencil, although it is easy to clearly tone the image with these other forms, being able to highlight in a variety of different shades, it brings a new texture and contrast to the image.

Although I have enjoyed all aspects of the course, I still get disappointed when an image I whether drawing, or sculpting, I am doing goes wrong or not the way I have imagined it. I am working on this issue and have been helped to use the mistake as a way to create a new piece all together.

I did three main studies during the project, a personal study, a study of friends and family, and a study of the eyes.

The majority of the project involved personal studies; drawings, sketches, ink work and printmaking, I found it easy to work this way due to the fact I'm always here to draw, and I wouldn't have to rely on another person to stay still, this made it easier to practice different way of capturing light and tones. My favourite personal study piece I did was when I notice myself in the mirror and the light had hit my face in a way that fascinated me. When doing these images, I thought it would be best to leave the eyes so the viewer could concentrate on the difference between black and white and how the different shades would contrast with each other, rather than looking at the image as a representation of me.

The study of my friends contained drawings of classmates in college. I also did a study of my mum. I am proud of the way the image turned out, at the time I was painting; there was an electric heater in the living room emitting a yellowy, orange colour which created a great colour effect which I believe I have captured.

My favourite study by far was the study of the eyes, I found myself infatuated with eyes, and how the slightest movement in the face can change the mood of the subject sometimes drastically, I am particularly proud of the way the Anthony Hopkins study turned out, as he has very distinguished eyes, I found it interesting to draw.

If I were to change anything in the future, it would be my time keeping, although I manage to stay on top of my work, I find myself getting slightly flustered at times due to leaving something unfinished.

3D Townscape Structure

The 3D structure I have made out of card and paper based on architecture is founded around the Eiffel tower.

I chose the Eiffel tower due to the magnificent structural design of the building; throughout the project I have developed my ideas by sketches, designs, prototype models and cataloguing blueprints of my piece.

the structure i have created was based
loosely around the structure of the
Eiffel Tower, it eventually became my own design.

I initially aimed to created something resembling the Arcelormittal orbit in London

(to the left)

(images yet to come)

The top design shows its self as quite an animalistic frame, the bottom design follows the spiral effect of the Arcelormital orbit, although the design come become quite interesting, to be able to create such an intricate design out of card and paper and  the size scale I would be using may prove too difficult.

(images yet to come)

After doing this design I thought it resembled a dancing man figure and following that fashion  I decided to change the building in the background to a 'boom box'

(images yet to come)

i started to create a prototype out of skewer sticks, I then realised it would not be structurally supportive.

after some planning I decide to create a small prototype of a standard Eiffel tower out of card, sticks and tape,

To start I made a strong base to support the rest of the structure

 I then used the sticks to create a template for the top half of the tower,

 

i found doing a small simple structure such as this one proved more difficult then expected and I had a re-think about my design.
I wasn't particularly happy with the outcome of the prototype, I had expected it to come out with a better quality and to look more visually pleasing.

After some consideration  I had decided to change the design as to create a more abstract piece, although my previous design interested me, the new design seamed more appealing. 

(images yet to come)

Using eight of the pieces to the left and a flat square piece of card I created the base of the tower.

I then turned the frame upside  down and use a card tube for a structural support.

i then made the sides of the structure into a a pyramid shape with a gap between each spike.

after some fiddling I managed to put cone-like paper between the spikes to make the piece more smooth and symmetrical.

David Oliveira

David Oliveira

A wire sculpture who interests me incredibly, his style, a very energetic yet detailed style, allows him to create visually stunning and outstanding pieces which catch the eye, in a way that makes you wonder if in fact his pieces are a line drawing cleverly photographed to give the appearance of a 3D sculpture.  

This piece in particularly fascinates me, the structure of the piece you can see in the little finger and thumb combined with the detail added causes a sketch like effect and just looks amazing, 

The rest of his work follows suite, with ease, every piece looks like a masterpiece, and he makes it look easy.

David Oliveira portfolio

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/06/scribbled-wire-sculptures-by-david-oliveira/

Still Life Evaluation

Still Life Evaluation

Materials

Pencils

Pencils are great for tonal and line qualities, changing the strength of the strokes can completely change the lines and tones.

Conte Crayons

Similar to the pencil, the conte crayon can deliver a great line and tonal quality but to a greater extent, capturing the difference between light and dark, they create a great visual effect. As I learned to create a better looking piece of work, it is better to use a slightly tinted paper such as sugar paper to capture the highlights.

Biro and Water Soluble Pens

Just as the pencil does, the biro, with different techniques can create a variety of different line and tonal qualities and has proven to be a great way to create a bolder looking drawing, and by adding water to the water soluble pens, they create a great visual effect making the shaded areas more appealing.

Newspaper

Using the newspaper to create the bird skulls proved to be a challenge, the material can be hard to master and create a visually stunning piece of work, adding detail was extremely awkward with the way the material would bend and become loose, this made it very aggravating to Finnish the piece, but after completion I was pleased to see the outcome.

Acrylic Paint

Using the acrylic paint was a great for layering in a painting, to add several different layers of tone without affecting the image itself turned out be very useful, and the colours gave the colours great characteristics.

Tape

I took it upon myself to experiment with a variety of different materials, the most interesting one for me is the tape, I used a selection of different kinds of tape, and used it to draw a mannequin, I was pleasantly surprised with the way it turned out as the tape had created different line and tonal qualities by overlapping different kind of tapes.

Sewing Machine

Although the sewing machines proved to be tricky to arrange, they also showed you can make a line drawing from almost anything, it also proved to be a way to show a great texture.

Contextual references

Vincent van Gogh

In my work I usually keep to my own style of drawing, painting etc. but found one painting turned out to slightly resemble the style of van Gogh’s paintings

I chose van Gogh as a contextual reference not as an influence but because of the admiration I have for him and his work.

Sybil Andrews

Similar to van Gogh I chose Sybil Andrews not to be influenced as I like to do my own style but I chose her because her work fascinates me, the technique and effort which goes into every one of her prints truly shows through the beauty of her work.

Research

The sheer amount of places to look to research is outstanding, however, the reliability of many may not be as solid as thought, when doing secondary research, you can’t trust all of your sources, as they may be false or incorrect, which is why I have used books more than on-line as a research tool primarily because it is highly unlikely for the information to be false, it is also a good idea to do some primary research and get the information yourself as I did as I took a trip to some art galleries in Liverpool, such as the Walker and the Tate, to get some first-hand research into some art movements and artist.

Experimental Process and Technical Skill

The biggest experiment I have faced was the piece I did using a variety of different tapes to create an image of a mannequin. Before I started the piece I briefly came to grips with the materials I was using by sampling them in a note pad I have, overlapping the tapes to create a selection of different line qualities and tonal features. The image may have come out either way but I am pleased with the end result.

Throughout the course of the still life project I have used a sample of different materials for the first time and just by trying to understand the different effects each has made, I have experimented severely and improved on my technical skills in a variety of different areas such as tone and shading and my ability to draw in general.