Visual Research

I've been to the library and taking out some lovely books for both information and to work from the imagery. Theres's some lovely images inside to look at and draw from.

Contextual References

I have done some research in to illustrators who's work is inspiring me for my brief. They're all quite similar within the format and aesthetic they use, which ins why I've looked at them. 

Idea Development

Felicita Sala

During my cri today it was suggested that I look at the illustrator above (Felicita Sala), for her illustrated recipe cards. I love her work! I love the quirky feel that she's brought in to what would be an average, boring recipe card without her drawings. The level of drawing that she has produced from using coloured pencils is amazing and so inspiring. It's great how she's achieved illustrations that are detailed enough to tell what it is but they're quirky in the way they're off balance and wonky. That, along with the hand written text gives the recipe card as a whole a lovely hand made aesthetic. 

How has she now influenced my idea?

After seeing her work and I felt like my idea lacked something and it's context wasn't very strong. I also felt like my essay question didn't shine through enough in my idea. Her work has inspired my, not to produce recipe card, but to produce A4 cards that show facts and instructions on the wildlife in British gardens.

I aim to produce a similar hand made aesthetic. I am going to try using both coloured pencils by hand and trying to use the work digitally through different Photoshop brushes.

Audience- my target audience is families, mothers and children. I think my chosen style and medium will prove suitable for this market because I want to produce the illustrations to be almost childlike. 

Practical: Change of idea

The visit to the zoo for my was unsuccessful and uninspiring. I was undecided on whether to illustrations based on larger wild animals such as tigers or more local, British wildlife. After going to the zoo it became clear to me that I would prefer to focus on the wildlife you might find in your garden. 

Plan: I now aim to produce information cards at postcard size that inform how families can help wildlife in the garden. These will include an illustration on the animal or insect. The information I'll provide will include the animals habitat, food to provide, what time of year you see them etc. 

Could I make it interactive? For kids? 

Tick box for when they see the bird?

8 Image Task

Originally my 8 images were going to be illustrations I produced at the zoo but after visiting the zoo I decided that wasn't the path I wanted the take. After my unsuccessful visit I realised that it was local wildlife that I was going to focus on inside of bigger animals. With little time produce my images, I illustrated 8 local wildlife creatures such as birds and insects you might see in your garden. I was happy with the quality and closeness of the line work. Perhaps I could make some fact cards on each animal for my practical response and talk about what people can do to help animal habitat in their garden.

Research visit to the zoo

Today I went to Dudley Zoo. I'm a bit stuck on what my final idea is and thought I needed to do some more drawing and research. Reportage illustration has always interested me due to the style of loose line work that comes from it. For example; Olivier Kugler and Lucinda Rogers.

My aim was to draw that animals from life, including their surroundings. I'd include bits of information on how the zoo helps with their conservation work. I thought I'd base the images on the zoo itself and see if they'd want to use them. I sent them and email but sadly didn't get a reply:

Conservations work:

However when I was there I spoke briefly to a man working there about how they help the giraffes there and who they're helping raze numbers through their successful breeding programme.

Here are some photos that I took:

Overall I found the day a bit disappointing. I knew that it would be hard to draw the moving animals but I didn't get any decent drawings from the day. Once again I think I'm going to have to rethink my idea.

Botanical Illustration

Follow Rebecca's board Botanical illustration on Pinterest.

I'm really stuck as to what to do with my practical so I've been gathering imagery to hopefully inspire me. Maybe botanical drawings? They look great but I don't see it having a strong link to my essay and there's no concept or depth to it. I want to do something with a strong concept behind it.

Contexual References

Follow Rebecca's board Animal illustration on Pinterest.

I've been looking at other animal illustration that's out there and thinking about imagery and format. I don't really want to make a simple book I want to make something interesting.