Part 2: Ideas - Words to pictures - Making a moodboard

For this exercise we were asked to select a word from the same list as for the previous exercise and to make a moodboard.

I thought it would be interesting to use the word I had chosen before - kitchen. And so picking up from my earlier kitchen explorations I searched in magazines, catalogues and online for images and text.

I sorted them into categories and started to paste them into place. This in itself was an interesting process. Just by moving images and words around the board brought new ideas and thoughts about the topic. For example, by placing a laptop image, representing using the kitchen as a place of work, alongside an image of kitchen scales, made me think about home/work balance - so I pasted those words onto the scales.

Something that was evident was the amount of stereotyping in advertising - I know it's not necessarily a bad thing - it can be used to great effect and with great humour.

This was an enjoyable and playful activity - but also proved to be a useful tool.

Part 2: Ideas - turning words into pictures

For this exercise we were asked to select a word from a given list and to draw everything that comes to mind without concern for the accuracy of the drawing or the prettiness of it.

These quick drawings at the early stage of the design process are for ideas generation and not generally for others to see.

I chose to draw the word kitchen.

I started the first page of drawings too carefully I think - trying to make each one look right. But I managed to become less meticulous and drew quick ideas rather than accurate drawings, and started to group similar ideas together.

I had a look at some learning blogs of other students to see what they had done for this exercise.

It was very interesting to see similarities between theirs and mine, plus I discovered some good ideas to try. One student had done some textural rubbings from their kitchen - so I decided to have a go at that.

Using a kitchen material (cooking foil) I rubbed the surface of items such as cooking utensils, the textured surface of a non-stick baking tin and wall tiles which achieved some kind of a 3-dimensional effect.

One student described this exercise as creating a visual spider diagram - I think that's a good description.

I then went on to create a second page of kitchen drawings.

This time I think I was more successful. The drawings were made more quickly and simply as I moved about the page to record and expand on ideas as they occurred to me.

Part 2: Ideas - generating ideas - spider diagrams

Firstly, please let me apologise for the images on this blog!

I don't know how many times I've tried to upload them, but two of them just will not go the right way round. I've tried using different sizes and layouts, but they will not co-operate.

So, if anyone can help, please let me know. The same thing happened when I was uploading the images for the 'say hello' work. In the end I had to change the images to portrait format to get round the problem.


Anyway to get back to this exercise.


I found the spider diagram for 'seaside' by far the easiest. I suppose it's because it's an actual physical thing. Also we went on lots of seaside holidays when I was a child, so I have those memories, plus I live by the sea, and always have done, so it's something I know well.

All the other words I found quite difficult.

The next one was 'childhood'. I based some of this from personal memories, but obviously, I had to think more generally. Although my memories are of a safe and secure time, many children are not so lucky.

'Angry' is difficult because it's an emotion plus I'm not a particularly angry person. The idea of angry as inflamed came to me, but I had to resort to the dictionary for relating angry to the weather or the sea.

'Festival' was very difficult and I didn't do it justice at all. It would probably have been possible to fill several pages of associated words for even a handful of religious festivals. But I didn't think about that at the time!

Once I had done the spider diagrams, it was interesting to work alongside another person - for which thanks for taking the time to assist! Many of the words coincided with mine, but there were plenty of additional ones (marked in red) and extra ideas that evolved as we discussed them (shown with asterisks).

After reflecting on this exercise, I think the use of spider diagrams for ideas generation is effective. It takes ideas beyond first thoughts, and co-operation with one or possibly several others, takes them even further. It's good to have effective tools!

Part 2: Ideas - the brief - writing a brief

For this exercise we were asked to select an illustration and to try to write a brief that would have led to the creation of the image.

I selected the new packaging for the range of Mornflake cereal products, created by illustrator and printmaker Clare Curtis.

It was interesting to work backwards from the finished illustration and to try to place oneself in the position of being the one writing the brief.



Here I have shown some sketchbook work for this exercise:

Writing a brief for Mornflake packaging




The old style packaging together with the new style.

Background of the company Mornflake have been milling oats in the south Cheshire countryside since 1675, and now 15 generations later, it is still owned and managed by the direct descendants of the original miller. We are the longest established millers of oats and cereal in the UK.

The brief We would like a fresh new modern look that is consistent with the long-established and traditional nature of our business and products. It must embrace the ideas of - nature - sustainability - health - high quality - purity - reliability. We would like the illustrator to have substantial creative input and liaise closely with our in-house team.

The audience

• food shoppers browsing in store and online wanting pure, natural, high quality cereal products
  
• consumers interested in buying British products and supporting traditional British manufacturing methods
• an existing base of consumers already aware of our products

The context The illustration is to be used across our range of natural cereal products - in stores and online. Additionally for advertising in magazines, newspapers and other media.

The content The illustration must be appropriate for a range of natural cereal products and packaging types including boxes, bags and sachets. The packaging will include text:

• manufacturer's name
• name and short description of product
• tagline 'Family milling in Cheshire since 1675'
• plus possible additional text for special promotions, awards, etc.

The illustration and text will be separate, but text space must be included as part of the overall design, and must allow for easy identification of the product. Some boxed ranges will also have a cut-out window to display the product inside. Space must also be allocated for this within the design layout.

The role To decorate, whilst conveying the combined messages of the product and the company: modern - traditional - natural - sustainable - healthy - wholesome - high quality - pure - long-established - reliable - down-to-earth.

The colours Earthy and natural - the palette must be restricted to 3 or 4 colours.



The flavour Traditional, handcrafted eg. wood cut/lino cut prints, simple lines and shapes, organic. Good examples are shown here in the prints by Edward Bawden and Angie Lewin.



The timetable:

• initial ideas: in 2 weeks
  
• visuals: in 6 weeks
• finished artwork: in 3 months

Part 1: Getting Started: the key is communication - Assignment 1 - say hello

The brief for this assignment was to tell your tutor about yourself, your interests and inspirations and the materials that you feel happy working with - presented as a greetings card.

I started by listing things that are important to me and my life. I wanted to include these in a single illustration. I also wanted to show that I don't have a lot of confidence about my work, but I do have enthusiasm.

I started to sketch - ideas about format, how to convey the messages, our cats, gardening, drawing, watercolour, lino printing. Also I wanted the word 'hello' to be major part of the card.


Gradually the ideas came together - and here it is!



It is folded so that the first part of the image is mainly pencil lines - tentative, unsure, lacking in confidence. When it is opened out there is more colour and vibrancy - to represent enthusiasm and enjoyment. The word 'hello' is handcrafted using a variety of techniques - pencil, watercolour, fabric collage and lino cut and the images include things that are important to me.

The key is communication - getting the gist

For this exercise I used an article from The Times, Saturday 17 September 2011 - 'Green light for GM wheat trial to tackle aphids'. The UK government has given permission for scientific open-air trials to be carried out on wheat that has been genetically modified to be resistant to aphids.

I read and re-read the article many times searching for the essence. Although the text gave the viewpoints from various angles, it was apparent throughout the report, that most people are apprehensive about genetic modification. I decided to take this angle as the focus for the illustration.


My next step was to get to grips with the imagery - using images found online. As I sketched them to get an understanding of their shape and construction, ideas started to develop.




The first sketched ideas were too literal - I wanted the illustration to have more depth. Using the idea of the 'green light' from the title to represent a chemical glow, the next drawings became too detailed. The article is only short and the illustration needs to be small - small and simple, but thought-provoking.



I hope that the idea I eventually selected as the one that would be worked up for a finished piece conveys the message. It shows a harvest mouse clinging to a stalk of wheat behind chain-link fencing, its eyes glowing green. A small and vulnerable creature, trying to survive in its natural environment. The fence representing entrapment by, or protection from, an intervention with unknown consequences.

History of Illustration - Catherine Rayner

Catherine Rayner is a children's book author and illustrator - see her website at http://www.catherinerayner.co.uk.

She studied illustration at Edinburgh college of art where she began her first book 'Augustus and his Smile' as part of her final-year project.

After graduating she continued to live in Edinburgh with numerous pets - including her cat Ena, an inspiration and model for many of her characters.

She won the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards in 2006 and the Kate Greenaway medal in 2009.

I love the liveliness of her work, and the appeal of her characters and would love my work to have more of these qualities.

I started by looking carefully at her art and trying to copy her style - firstly in pencil -

- and then using brush pen and watercolour.
I continued sketching ideas for my own composition using her techniques and style as a basis.
Gradually the composition developed and here is my submission for this part of the project.

I looked back at the work of Catherine Rayner to see how it compared with the piece that I had produced. I was pleased that it wasn't just a copy - it was lively, with loose lines and colour, but was my own style. I enjoyed the experience of working in this way, and would like to continue to experiment and develop the style.

History of Illustration - Edward Bawden

Edward Bawden 1903-1989 British painter, illustrator and graphic artist

Whilst still at school he attended the Cambridge School of Art one day a week, before gaining entry to the Royal College of Art.

In 1940 he was appointed as an official WW2 artist recording the war effort in Europe and the Middle East.

He is probably best known for his prints, bookcovers and posters, but his work also included murals, wallpaper designs, ceramics and watercolours.



I love his linocut prints, like the ones shown here, and I've used these as a basis for my own attempt at his style.


I haven't made a linocut before, so this is all new territory to me.

I started by looking closely at examples of work by Edward Bawden to see how he used lines and shapes to create the images.

I continued by sketching out ideas until I came up with some kind of image that was in his style, but was my design.






I transferred the design onto lino and began cutting out the areas that are to be left white - the remaining areas are to be printed in a dark colour - black or dark brown.

Many attempts later ... ... ... I started to print!




The best attempt so far is this one.

But I would still like to make alterations to it.

I think it would be improved by cutting away more of the background. This would have a two-fold effect - there would be more of a contrast between foreground and background (the background would be light with fine dark lines rather than dark with fine light lines) and the hard white line around the tiger would be softened.

However, I have spent a long time on this part of the project and I think I need to move onto the next bit, but I may return to this later.







Something I did try though - I took the image into photoshop and coloured the eyes!