Visual language
With this project I wanted to develop my visual language further. Although I enjoy creating work digitally I found there wasn’t enough texture in my work which is something I really wanted to work on. I also found I was being too perfect with my work and so my visual language wasn’t standing out enough.
I created a moodboard with many illustrators and artists I admire. I wrote a quality I really enjoy about their work and something I’d like to incorporate into mine somehow.
The main elements I want to incorporate into my work are :
- Layering and transparency
- Textures – pencil, risograph, paper
- Freeform shapes
- Bright colours
Developments & experimentation
Creating an image
To create an image I begin withdrawing out thumbnails until I’m happy with the idea. I then draw out a bigger version to work out the paper shapes I need. Without drawing on the paper I cut out the shape to keep it more organic and not too perfect. I learnt that Mattiste does this on a Zoom masterclass and I have been enjoying using this technique so far. If I cut out more than shape to create the image I will use different colours. Usually I try to match the paper colour choice with the real colours of what I’m creating the image on as I will be experimenting and adjusting or completely changing the colours later on, digitally with the gradient key tool. I then scan in the image and play around with the composition until I’m happy. I then add details digitally to the paper shapes to make them look like what they are and to make them more realistic. I usually draw in other components of the image digitally to add some contrast to the paper image. I try adding texture through adding a paper overlay or some risograph effect somewhere within the image.I have also discovered I love adding in pencil texture and to slightly outline a part of a shape with a brightly coloured pencil line. I also enjoy layering multiple layers on top of each other to create different effects. This works really well with the risograph effect as the colours layer really well. I then play with the image until I’m happy with the way it looks.
The 1940s shaving image was the first image I created. I wanted to pay homage to the decade so I researched razors from the time period to make sure it was accurate.
For the 1960s image I cut out the paper shapes but later realised I wanted the image from a different angle after creating a rough sketch so I cut different shapes to suit that. I cut some other shapes and worked from that. I also decided to draw the tape measure as It was hard to get the ideal shape by cutting it out. I think It turned out a lot better this way also.
Colours
I have recently been trying to use more unnatural and unconventional colours for images as I want to use more exciting colour palettes and experiment with colour more than I do, as I feel I play it quite safe usually.
I found colour palettes for each decade on a website called : juiceboxinteractive.com
I found some of these to be really useful because they were really bright and fun however I didn’t stick to these colour palettes as I didn’t like them all. Understandably some decades such as the 1920s and 40s were quite muted and weren’t loud enough for this project.
What works? What does not ?
Some images I have changed a few times as they weren’t quite right or I needed to edit different sections of them. By re working on the image they usually come out a lot better than they were originally. Through crits I also get to hear what doesn’t work so I can change it and usually I find a better way of doing it.
1920s image developments – Smoking to lose weight
This was one of the images I changed a lot since starting.
In one of my crits I was given the advice that it was hard to see what the cigarette box was, also the smoke didn’t look too much like smoke. So I went back to re-edit the image. I developed the smoke by using a risograph overlay so the colours would blend nicely together and it was more smoke like than a solid image. I found it really hard developing a colour palette for this image as the 1920s colour palette I had found was very dull and wasn’t too interesting. I also recreated the cigarette box by drawing it at another angle so it was more understandable.
In my group crit I was then told it would look better if i zoomed the image in further so I tries it while also changing the colour palette again as I still wasn’t too happy.
It isn’t my favourite image from the collection however I much prefer the image after I had gone back and edited it.
1930s image developments – Bleaching Hair
I needed to add a lot more detail in the hair , and I also needed to make the hair strand that had fallen out more realistic.
I went back to edit the image and added in a big more detail on the comb also. I am much happier with the way this image turned out as I think it looks more realistic and the details elevate the image.
1940s developments – Shaving
As previously mentioned this was my first image I had created. I had added the text as an example in a group crit however this was before I had decided to match the typeface to the decade. I slightly altered the image after a while yet I think I could develop it further through maybe changing the colours, especially the pencil marks. I could make them more vibrant. Here I also used the brand logo in the text which is a factor I really like and would like to carry that through to the other images. I also plan to change the typeface to match the decade.
1950s – Wate-On
This was one of the images I really wasn’t sure what to do with. I made several changes as I went on until it finally felt right. I changed the colours as I wasnt happy on the colour palette of the image as I felt it was too dark. I used the 1950s favourite colours colour palette from Juiceboxinteractive.com to get some nice bright colours.
I attempted the drawing the liquid many times yet I couldn’t seem to get it right until I decided to use less colours and make it a simpler shape.
The spoon worked so much better drawn than as a paper cut out, as that one looked too rigid and small for the image. I added in a some 1950s inspired shapes , one for the background and some sparkle shapes to make the image seem more retro.
1970s- Last Chance Diet & 1980s– Jazzercise
For both the 1970s image and the 1980s I had a clear plan for both of how I wanted them to look. This meant I could then try experimenting with more textures , tones and background as I felt more confident with how the images would look.
In my opinion these had the best colour palettes as they were really vibrant and fit into the image well. I also personally think they fit their decades well too.
1990s- Heroin Chic
I wanted to be careful with how I presented this image as it was about magazines exploiting drug addiction. I was mindful of how it could come across poorly so I decided to show the model on the magazine to get right to the point. I tried to stick with the 1990s colour theme however I decided to add some bright pink colours to brighten the image up slightly. I also added some tone in the background to make the image more grungy.
2000s – Spray tan abs
I planned on doing an image for the 2000s however I ran out of time and I couldn’t get the image to work how I wanted it to. I created a quick rough of how I planned for the image to work but when I tried refining the image it didn’t quite go to plan and so I decided to scrap it for now.
The idea was to possibly remove the body and just have the shape of the abs being formed out of a ‘mist’ of spray tan , however any drawings of it didn’t quite hit the mark and I also didn’t have enough time to develop them to a high level this time unfortunately.
Discovering techniques
Through experimenting I have found out how to do things I didn’t even think of. I’ve really been enjoying having the time to play around and develop the images instead of just creating it straight away. It is something I definitely have to do more of and spend the time doing so that I can further develop my visual language as I am beginning to enjoy it again as it’s starting to come together.
Catherine's learning journal 