ILLUSTRATION PROJECT WEEK 2

Arthur Rackham - Goldilocks & the Three Bears

By now you should all have completed the initial research and completed at least one photoshoot. That should allow us to concentrate on the drawing side of things over the next week.

Obviously drawing is a key method of illustration, so we want you to focus on achieving some really good images in a number of media. It is also important to show some diversity in your approach, so be prepared to work in expressive and energetic ways to complement some more sustained drawing.

You need to complete the following work by the end of Tuesday next week (10th March) before we move on to printmaking:

DRAWING TASKS

• At least one full page sustained tonal pencil drawing - this should represent a minimum of 3 hours of focussed work.
• A sustained full page drawing in either fine liner or biro, again this should have 3 or more hours invested in it.
• A careful carbon print where you control pressure and tone precisely, it would be good to combine a blue or black base with some accents added with red carbon paper.
• A series of expressive pencil drawings - we will complete these as a timed exercise in Friday's lessons.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Obviously all the work from the week one list (see 2nd post below) needs completion as well. If you have only managed to complete some test shots so far then you should also be making the effort to complete some photoshoots with full make up, costume and props. By 10th March you should all have a location shoot and a studio shoot that you feel happy with.

RESEARCH

In addition you need to complete some strong research this week, this counts towards one of the summative units you are covering in this unit, so make the effort to do it well.

• Look at one historical and one contemporary illustrator whose work focuses on drawing. On the historical side Arthur Rackham is a good choice, for contemporary try Esra Roise, Hope Gangloff or David Foldvari.
• In this research it is important to give background biographical information on each Artist, analyse some specific images in terms of content, technique and media and justify your own opinions on the work. You also need to compare the illustrators from different eras and describe how you feel illustration has changed over time.
• In order to complement the photography we have been doing you should look at a photographer whose work explores fantastical themes and makes extensive use of props, make up, costume and location. Annie Leibovitz's Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan photos are a good example of this or work by Ruven Afanador. Again give a brief bio, then analyse some particular images in depth.
  



Annie Leibovitz - Alice in Wonderland shoot for Vogue

For lessons this week it is essential that you arrive prepared with a range of drawing materials:

• A mixture of pencils including HB and several B grade ones (e.g. B, 2B, 4B, 6B).
• Biros and fineliners.
• Erasers.
• Money for carbon paper (at least 50p).
• At least 6 A4 print outs of a range of your best photographs to work from.

Be organised and arrive at sessions prepared and you will potentially get lots done this week.