Beginning Illustration...

I have used one of the briefs from the LLoyds TSB 'Art of Nurture' competition, to give me a starting theme for a piece of illustrative work. The theme is 'We stretch ourselves'.

I initially made a spider diagram of all the things I could associate with the word 'stretch'.
Now, I have drawn lots of images of giraffes and started experimenting with using tissue paper and PVA glue for background colours.


(Images soon.)

Illustration from now on...

I have been thinking a lot about what type of practice I would most like to specialise in. Up until now I have been undecided but now I think I would like to aim to become an illustrator.

I think this option leaves room for mixed media work, collage, paint and photography as well as drawing, so this ambition won't leave me boxed into one way of working.

It will also help me to form ides quicker- as I will always have a brief- in the form of the story I choose or write myself.

The Walls Are Talking- exhibition.

I visited this exhibition at the Whitworth and wrote a review which is included in my journal.

More Magnet Men...

I have now imagined that these Magnet Men have infiltrated the media, and have started using collage to place my magnet men onto magazine ads and pictures to represent this idea.

I was inspired to 'edit' magazine images in this way by this sketch onto a poster of a pin-up girl by Picasso.

'Jaime Sabartes with a Pin-up' Pablo Picasso, 1957.

I like this image (above) in particular because I think it looks as if my additions are really part of the advertisement.

Developing this process, I have created a set of three, more complex images, using drawing and collage. In these images, I wanted to depict the sinister nature of my characters, the idea of them creeping up behind you and changing you without your consent. I chose to use pictures of models from fashion magazines because I think they have a more striking effect than an ordinary photograph, and also because fashion and fashion advertising, have a way of changing and slowly transforming how people look and how people feel about themselves.




With this image, I wanted it to be about choosing the right image, so that what's happening is obvious right away. I wanted to express the feeling that wherever you turn for help, this sinister force will be there too.

In the image below, I wanted to show a magnet man merged with a human, and increase their sinister vibe by choosing a picture of a model that looked timid, with an intimidating gang of creatures just behind her, and already taking over. I chose to keep the same colour palette I used for the magnet man, as if they had already transformed their surroundings

In this image I tried to create the feel of things lurking in the shadows, without actually using much shading, as I wanted the image to be clear and simple.

I will use these images to create a final series of collage images on Photoshop, layering other drawings or material and possibly text,to make the images more complex and interesting.

Magnet Men In the City...

I have started experimenting with the idea of the magnet men infiltrating every day life, and transforming things from our world to look like them- (their sketchy, black, brown and white style).

I have drawn things from around Manchester in the style of the magnet men in connection with this idea.

Some examples:

Parts of the big wheel in Manchester City Centre- 'transformed'

Magnet Men Continued...

I have decided on a Photoshop collage approach for this project as I think it is one of my stronger ways of working and I need to have the work done quickly so don't want to have to start again if a new technique goes wrong.

Before moving onto Photoshop I have made a series of images (sketches and collage) in my sketchbook which I will then use to create 3 final images on Photoshop.

Some pages from my sketchbook:

Magnet Men...

I am struggling to think of an idea for my next project, so, after being advised to in a tutorial, I have looked through my general doodles and sketches and have decided to try and develop a project around some little men that I had doodled a while ago, and which popped up a few times.

These characters remind me of the half blue, half red magnets used in science classes at school, so I have dubbed them 'Magnet Men'.