Development for Final Illustrations

Revisions to '10 things I've learnt at uni' and initial scamps for 'mini Jazz'

After my reflections on tone of voice and my illustration practice as a whole I went back and narrowed down my list of 'new experiences at uni' to 'things I've learnt at uni'. I also thought more about how these things could be represented as illustrations and reflected on past personal experiences for possible solutions.

 I started scamping out some ideas for a mini cut out version of myself, trying out a few different medias and variations of style//how much detail I wanted to include. I wanted the mini versions of myself to be analog and include some form of texture, I decided on pencil crayon and brush pen as it created a strong sense of contrast which would be important while photographing them to make sure the details were seen. I also felt these medias allowed me to work more with shape (the pencil crayon) and be a little looser in my line work (brush pen). I wanted a selective colour palette within the figures too so they worked well as a set and would stand out and feel different to the world I was photographing them in. 

While initially scamping I decided I wanted to work with yellow, as it's a personal favourite colour of mine, reflects my sunny personality and is light enough to contrast with the black ink. My only worry is that people will think it looks a little bit Simpson like! But hopefully my style will deter that from happening.

Cut out tests for final

I had an idea of how I wanted each of my final images to work and made a few notes on possible locations//layouts. Throughout this process I found a way of working which I felt helped me to retain the immediateness of my sketches in my final work. I'd start with a pencil sketch from either imagination or reference, then redraw it using a coloured pencil to block out the colour//silhouette of the image, drawing the details in with the brush pen. I'd do this until I felt I had a figure that worked well, I then took this image to the light box with some heavy-weight card and traced over it. This allowed me to get in the yellow shape (and proportions) of my figure accurately whilst still allowing for some looseness and expressive line quality in the brush lines. Not having pencil sketches underneath the final cut outs was also a big plus craft-wise.

Scamps for finals (process of drawing the image)

Final images to be traced onto good card

Process photo

So far I'm really pleased with how these final cut out illustrations have turned out. I feel as though I'm finally starting to push my own way of image making and exploring it more thoroughly. The experience of placing these 2D illustrations into a 3D setting is also quite fun and exciting, and the process of 3D and lens is becoming something I'm growing more interested in. I think by applying my illustration to new settings and formats I'm learning more about it as a whole; where it can exist, what mood//atmosphere I can get from it.

Project-wise I've made a timetable of when I need to have certain practical elements done by so I can photograph them, edit them and have them ready by the hand in.

TIMETABLE

Tuesday//Wednesday - Have all final cut out illustrations done and finished

Thursday - Presentation work//Finish any illustrations that might not be complete

Friday - Take photos//blog project

Saturday - Edit photos ready for print//blog project

Sunday - Blog rest of project//blog presentation prep//final evaluation

Test photos of first finished cut outs