Silhouettes #1

A bit of costume design work that I did last night.

I've been throwing costume ideas around for a while, and figured I'd simplify things down to silhouettes.

The benefit of this is that you see what shapes have the most impact, a visual balance, and by adding little lumps and edges here and there your mind then inspires you to think of it in further detail - what material could that be caused by?  What detail does that lead to?

Silhouetting stops you from over-thinking.

Now I can pick and mix from the shapes I'm happy with to go on to develop specifics; materials, colours, patterns and even finer details (stitching, buttons, embellishments etc.)

I also need to produce a sheet for the Princes, the King, and the Queen.

I'd be really interested in hearing any opinions on what designs stand out!

J. x

Pretty in Ink

 A few quick experiments with Indian Ink and water combinations from Tuesday.
I did these with cloth material in mind as a part of costume design for the Children of Lír project.

I have a mix of tie-dye and decay with a Camelot/fasión/C.17th France mongrel style.
As it's fantasy I didn't want to set it in a specific time period so I'm completely free to be inspired.
J. x

T-Rex Rides Them

4B Pencil and Coloured Pencils

While researching swans for one of my project proposals yesterday, I did a few study sketches.
The project is based on the Irish folk tale The Children of Lír, where the king's children are transformed into swans by their evil and jealous step-mother (of course!).
Step-mother's don't half get a bad rep in fairy tales....
I should write my own where the step-mother's the outright heroine.

I'm getting a little nervous for my project presentations, which are this Friday.
I've got an unusual visual style for this one, an imaginative concept for the other, and a mixed media/installation approach for the final, so I really have no clue what I'll end up doing for the rest of this year!

J. x

Eye On the Horizon

Initial Cover 1 Design

After much discussion and inspiration (people are great! I love people....) I'm making a serious start on one of my comic strip ideas, The Winter Coast.

I've loved comics as soon as I was old enough to read Asterix and Tintin all by myself but ever since university I've neglected that part of me.  Coming back to it has reminded me who I am and feels a bit like going home.

I had this particular comic planned about two years ago, but the story was almost a metaphor for my life at the time which made it intimidating to start.  I didn't want to feel psycho analysed, I wanted to create something simply enjoyable!
Enough time has passed, I've learned a lot since then and tried new things, so now is perfect to begin.  I feel relaxed when I do work now, and I know that this comic is something that's achievable.

So far I have lots of bullet-pointed scenes/ideas, I've begun to script out the scenes and drafted out panel layouts.  Once the first chapter is fully laid out I can begin pencilling, inking and will finally colour.
To make sure I keep going once uni begins I'll add it to my timetable, meaning I should do a bit each week.

J. x

Practise, Not Perfect

I had a go at digital painting to practise more realistic colour and lighting.  I think I got that right, but I started working the picture over and over so much that I realised it wasn't getting any better as it had become too familiar.  For that reason I might go back to it and adjust it (hands and face).

I've learnt a lot to do with colour/tone and have a little more confidence within myself - I didn't use any visual references so I was surprised at how well it turned out overall.
Next time: work quicker, better results, use anatomical references...

J. x

Wow, been so long since I posted anything!

Well, I've been working very hard at taking it easy.

I'm also remembering how to enjoy my drawing work and not force ideas for my graduate (eek!) project, which starts at the end of September.

My Morocco Photos

The result of a severe lack of money post-holiday, grey English weather and plenty of time on my hands has given me plenty of creative breathing space.

My trip to Morocco showed me (apart from that I'm made to live somewhere hot) how much the people of the country make everything themselves, which got me thinking about all the crap I needlessly buy.  If you can make it, why buy it?  Not that I could make all my household furniture, but I'd give it a good go!

 So, I've been tearing down wallpaper, putting up curtains, sanding and painting, stitching up clothes, sewing cushion covers and making mobiles.  And of course, drawing.  Even a little bit of animating!  Which I'll save from showing anyone until it's finished.

Mobile made from playing cards....

....With a few jingle bells at the end.

Hope you're all enjoying your summer.

And if you're in London being affected by the riots my thoughts are with you.

Stay safe!

J. x

I Need a Clone

I had a discussion today that wasn't long enough or as in-depth as it could have been.
It was about the sheer frustration with feeling as if time is constantly slipping away when it comes to conceiving ideas, developing them, and achieving the skill level desired.

This is a list of what goes round and round in my head EVERY DAY:

- I have to think of 3 project ideas for uni next year and be happy with them.....
- Focus on that one idea!  Research!  Develop it!
- Shit, what about the other ideas?
- I thought of a new idea....
- I wish I had a life drawing class to go to.
- Oh yeah, my dissertation needs to get started.
- I love photography...  What could I do with that?
- I need to be good enough to be a character designer for animation
- I need to be good enough to be a character designer for video games
- I need to be good enough to be a costume designer for film and TV production
- I need to be good enough to be a concept artist for video games
- Digitally paint stuff for fun! Just chill out, I'm worrying too much.
- I need a style.
- I need a variety of styles.
- I never finished that comic strip...
- I never started that other comic strip...
- In a year it's time to find a job. I need a portfolio with some impressive work to go in it and not just next year's project....
- I need to show I have a consistent style and standard.  But I need a variety of styles...  Just work on the standard?

And round and round it goes.

When it comes to creating imagery there are no limitations - skill, purpose, style, format - apart from the ones that you apply to yourself.
I've been that person, complete tunnel vision, and my work was shit.  Now, I'm at a standard I'm fairly pleased with, enough to not worry so much while I work, but I'm also desperately clawing at time to keep practising at every aspect.
It's not so much as a creative block but a creative flood, overwhelmingly washing over me.
I just want to be good at everything!  Is that too much to ask?!

I hope reincarnation is real.

J. x