Animations

What does 'Illustration' mean?

Personal project
2012

I believe the answer to this question is as vast and wide as the question itself. The answer will be a personal viewpoint of the individual asked - and there is no right nor wrong answer.
The ironic thing is most people outside of the industry don't have much of an idea of what illustration is. I generally get asked what I'm studying at uni by customers at my job - and 99% of those who have asked have pulled a face of puzzlement upon hearing me say illustration. 

"Is that like ... them book pictures?"  - Said the other 1%

Illustration for me is many things. As suggested by Michael Salu in his article in Varoom Magazine [2012] "As our visual language evolves, the playing field is levelling. Graphic designs, sculptors, painters, creative developers and even musicians amorphously meander across different parts of our creative industries." Illustration is many things, consists of many parts and is practised by many individuals. You don't have to be an illustrator by trade or job title to do an illustration, in the same way that drawing is not the only form of illustration - it is a net that stretches outwards and covers many creative outlets. 

It can be used to send a message, make a point, communicate words, look pretty, be random, satisfy an urge, entertain, sadden and surprise people. It can be done through music, fonts, acting, film, photography, drawing, painting, hand movements, shadows, light.

I believe illustration to be an act of creative outlet - with many segments. There is the obvious act of 'illustrating' - portraying something to the audience, through storybook writing, events, diaries through imagery. There is also personal illustration - when an artist will be conveying a point of their own, making a statement - or just illustrating because it takes their fancy - taking inspiration from something around them and putting it to paper, wood, film etc. 

Interestingly the term 'illustration' originates from the 14 century and was used to convey 'a shining', 'a manifestation' and 'a spiritual illumination'. The word itself is taken from the Latin word 'illustrationem' which meant 'vivid representation'. Its meaning has slowly adapted and changed over time, and by the 1580's 'illustration' meant a mental sense of an 'act of making clear in the mind' - by 1816 it meant 'an illustrative picture'. Thus it is clear that now in this day and age once again the meaning behind the word 'illustration' has changed once more and adapted to cover a vast scope of creative outlets. 

My own work originally started out traditionally, pencil, crayons and paints, yet over time I've practised with 3D elements, collage, photography and digital and tablet work. I've briefly touched on animation, which is something I'd like to take further and am really pleased to find out we will be doing so after the critical journals are done and dusted. Like the term - my 'illustration' has adapted and now covers a vast scope of techniques and styles yet remains the definition of 'illustration'. 

I think a name change for illustration is unnecessary. Unlike many things 'illustration' has managed to adapt and modernise, this is a feat in itself and should remain as so. From it's original standing in the 14 century it has evolved and still stands strong in 2012. 

Inspiration | Fantasy

A part of my personal project included merging fantasy-esque horizons/buildings with reality. While on holiday in Paris I took a bunch of photos of unique and interesting architecture to help inspire these pieces. 

I found Disneyland to be a strong source due to the obvious connections - I will be working from these images to create some imagery.

Final Year | Personal Project

I have been thinking over the past month what to do with my final year, in terms of my final project and dissertation/journal. I have been reading the book 'Girl Reading' by Katie Ward as it was suggested to me by my tutor - the book explores seven portraits, seven artists, seven girls and women reading.  An imaginative evocation of seven different worlds ranging from the seventeenth century all the way up to 2008. I am about midway through and enjoying it, all though on several occasions I find myself slightly lost at times, the descriptive understanding of the writer is strong throughout. During the briefing I was also introduced to Umberto Eco - an Italian medievalist and cultural commentator - the author of 'Six fictional in the Fictional Woods' - a book that I am currently waiting to be delivered. Umberto questions the implications of society, between reality and fiction - what occurs when they become blurred. This idea really appeals to me, in a sense I am an activist of blurring my real life and fantasy worlds similar to that of the women in Katie Ward's book. My cosplay can be seen as a way of foregoing reality and entering a fantasy world - making it my reality by crafting the costume and wearing it/acting in character on stage etc. My art also focuses on fantasy interpretations, I am more drawn to magical and surreal ideas and ideals. One of the artists I hold in high esteem is Victor Eredel who merges his photography [reality] with his art [fantasy]. 

http://eredel.deviantart.com/ 

This method greatly appeals to me as I love my photography as much as my art, thus the ability to merge the two is something I'd really like to try - it also strongly puts across the idealism of blurring ones reality with fantasy notions. Often we see things in our minds that others cannot see - this would allow the artist to portray the things seen in their mind making it a form of reality upon paper or screen allowing people an insight. It can put a twist on reality - as shown in the above image featuring the snail - it is only a very small change but has a strong effect and questions the reality of the piece. 

One last example I have come across was a video I blogged not to long ago - http://emiillustration.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/third-seventh.html

The Third & the Seventh by Alex Roman. The images and locations appear real despite being made entirely out of CG animation which alone brings questions to where reality stands but then the further into the piece you get the more abstract and blurred it becomes as books explode and giant orbs of levitating water float through the structures - looking realistic the entire way through. 

I have decided to base my final project around these themes and inspirations, I will explore the blurring of reality and fantasy in my own style while exploring others. I hope to combine my art, textiles and photography within the project and possibly attempt some animation. 

My aims for now are to complete 'Girl Reading' and start Umberto Eco's 'Six walks in Fictional Woods' to give me a greater understanding of the idea and to continue to be on the outlook for examples and other forms of expressing the idea within other artists works. All of which will help inform my dissertation/journal in terms of research and ideas. 

The Third & The Seventh

The Third & The Seventh

By Alex Roman

'A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal.'

---------

I was completely blown away by this video - it is entirely made using CGI - by one person - in a single year. The views, textures,ideas,lighting,colours,shapes - are just -- amazing.

It really makes you question reality - it just looks so real - I can't get over how realistic it looks. What's real nowadays when people can create such amazing clips as this?

I really recommend watching the whole piece - although honestly once it starts I imagine it's fairly hard to click off from - but do stick with it, as the artist begins to integrate parts of his imagination into the locations such as large floating orbs of liquid and exploding libraries.

It is honestly one of the most beautiful and inspiring things I have watched in a long time.

It also links to my proposed final project and possible dissertation/journal for next year in which I study the links and boundaries between reality and fantasy.

Print & Pattern - Book Review

Print & Pattern

Bowie Style

I bought this book a while back to use as reference and for the beautiful prints inside. I've taken photos of my favourite prints/pages and artists and included them in this post.

"Pattern is everywhere. Years of minimalism have superseded by a riot of colour and shape, whether on walls, fabrics, clothes or signage."

Compiled by the creator of the cult blog of the same name, this book documents the work of the best surface designers from around the world and features products that have been embellished with the surface print or pattern, including graphics, cards, gift wrap, stationery, textiles, ceramics, badges, stickers and wallpaper.

Published in 2010

Laurence King Publishing Ltd

London

Amanda Luke Designs

www.amandalukedesigns.co.uk

Amy Schimler

www.amyschilmer.com

www.redfishcircle.blogspot.com

I love the sketchy lines in 'Owl Toss' almost representing crayon and pencil crayon giving the image a child-like feel and approach. The scattered layout gives the pattern movement and the colours are bright, contrasting and eye-catching. The digital pattern was bought by an American company to use for a stationary range. I'm probably mostly drawn to the image due to it's subject matter as I have a fondness of all things owl.  

Ann Kelle Designs

www.ankelle.com

Anna Campbell

www.lovelydaymagazine.com.au

Anne Wendlandt

www.enna-online.com

I'm fond of vinyl wall stickers - Wendlandt caught my eye due to her texture wood print deer cut-out. I then came to appreciate the scribbling effect in the full page image titled 'Enna Pattern'. It's a collage of all the things she loves - mushrooms, whales, cherries, stars etc all represented in one pattern. 

Ayako Akazawa

www.lepetitgraphiste.com

BAM POP !

BAM POP !

www.bampop.com

Beth Gunnell

www.WScollection.com

www.bethdoodles.blogspot.com

'Birthday Birds' as suggested by the title is a birthday inspired wrapping paper print. The image was originally hand drawn and finished in Photoshop. I love the vibrancy and animation within the piece. It is bright, happy and inspiring. There is much to look at within the image, keeping the viewer engaged. 

Caroline Pratt

www.carolinepratt.blogspot.com

Carolyn Gavin

www.ecojot.com

www,designerjots.blogspot.com

Claire Ebdy

Ella Doran

www.elladoran.co.uk

I really like this idea - it's technically very simple to accomplish but Doran has managed to use the correct imagery to set the piece off - the various textures and colours work harmoniously together. I'm particularly fond of the heart print. 

Ella Doran

FlipFlopDesign

www.flipflopdesign.fr

Jillian Phillips

www.jillyp.co.uk

Jinjerup/ Chan Lynn

www.jinjerup.com

Another of my favourites is Lynns Cup-a-Cakes descirbed as love transcending in various scrumptious mixtures of animals and cupcakes. Each cupcake interacts in some way with the surrounding peices. It is simple but effective. The shading is cute and soft. 

Lucy Joy Oldfield

www.lucyjoyfield.com

Marilyn Patrizio

www.mpatrizo.com

www.softies.com

'Happy Icecream' is one of my favourite prints in the book - described as being based off the artists favourite type of icecream; soft scoop in a wafer cone. I love the use of pastel shades, cute faces and simplistic design. It's a really effective print. 

Pea Green

www.peagreen.co.uk

ww.hellopeagreen.blogspot.com

Rachel Harper

www.rahrahrepeats.blogspot.com

Showler and Showler

www.showlerandshowler.com

Susie Ghahremani

www.boygirlparty.com