Illustration Project, Week 1 Tasks.

Quentin Blake

• Research into Quentin Blake's illustration (print out several examples of his work and include personal analysis of his technique, background information and at least one visual response).

Fantastic Mr. Fox, directed by Wes Anderson

Research into at least 2 Films that are based on works by Roald Dahl. Again include vital information: director, year made, lead actors, some personal written response and good images from the film. It is particularly valuable to find "behind the scenes" information about the making of these films, for example storyboards and Artist's visualisations.
• Photoshoot storyboarding for 3 scenes from your chosen Roald Dahl story with annotation. Carefully read some specific scenes from your chosen story, photocopy these sections (say 2/3 pages of text for each scene selected) and go through with a highlighter picking out key aspects to consider for your photoshoot (these could be descriptions of locations, characters, or action). Then use your analysis of the text to complete at least 3 pages of storyboards with annotation, also include breakdown of requirements for your shoot/s (models, location, props, make up, lighting etc.).
• Examples of good existing storyboards presented in your sketchbook with some analysis (e.g. work by Josh Sheppard).
• Making practical preparations for your shoot - gathering/making props, costume, planning make up, arranging use of locations, booking models, checking weather forecasts.

You should be aiming to prepare for photoshoots either on location over the weekend or in the studio at the early next week. Book your studio times well in advance and get technical help from Ben [Photography Technician] to use the studio lights properly.

Illustration Project Brief

BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design

1^st Year Project Brief

“It’s Illustration Dahling!”

 

James Carver-Grenside - Matilda

Specialism: Illustration

This Project addresses the following Course Units:

UNIT 38 – Mixed Media Image Making
Target criteria
P1		Use experimental and non-traditional graphic media techniques and processes
P2		Use mixed media in producing graphic image outcomes
P3		Select reproduction techniques towards graphic image outcomes.
M1		Explore coherently, experimental and non-traditional graphic media
M2		Design an effective graphic media product which uses experimental and non-traditional graphic media practices
M3		Explain, with reference to well-chosen examples, reproduction techniques used towards graphic image outcomes.
D1		Explore independently, diverse experimental and non-traditional graphic media
D2		Design an innovative graphic media product independently, which uses experimental and non-traditional graphic media practices
D3		Evaluate, with reference to detailed examples, reproduction techniques used towards graphic image outcomes.
UNIT 48 – Narrative Image Making
Target criteria
P1	Investigate relevant examples of narrative imagery
P2	Review the processes used in illustrating narratives
P3	Develop ideas for narrative imagery in response to given themes
P4	Present narrative imagery
M1	Apply detailed investigations to inform narrative image making responses
M2	Analyse the processes used in illustrating narratives
M3	Develop coherent ideas for narrative imagery using effective visual language
M4	Concisely present resolved narrative imagery
D1	Integrate in-depth investigations and evaluation with development of innovative narrative image making responses
D2	Present diverse imaginative outcomes which demonstrate skilful narrative image making

TIME: 7 Weeks

ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE:

In this project you will be responding to a piece of narrative text (selected from the works of Roald Dahl), initially through photography, which will give you the imagery to develop towards making illustrations in a range of media.

The final objective is to produce a book of your illustrations. Your final images could depict a sequence of events or you may wish to select and portray several different scenes from the same book.

WEEK ONE: Research and Storyboards

In the first week of the project you will need to select and familiarise yourself with a book by Roald Dahl, many of you will know these stories well, but refreshing your memory through some reading will help you to visualise characters and scenes more effectively.

A full list of Roald Dahl’s work can be found online at www.roalddahl.com but here are a few you may want to consider:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, George’s Marvellous Medicine, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, The Witches, The Magic Finger.

As soon as you have selected your text you need to start shortlisting scenes that interest you in terms of developing photographic and illustrational work. Choose at least 3 separate scenes. Now you need to deconstruct these scenes …what do they include in terms of characters? Props? Costume? Location? Make Up? (U48 P3, M1)

You need to consider all these things carefully as you will be need to be resourceful and prepared in order to get as good a photoshoot as possible. To help you prepare for this you need to complete several pages of storyboarding for your shoot.

 

Fantastic Mr. Fox Storyboard

 Use your storyboards to work out shot composition, use of props and location, camera angles and lighting. A good storyboard usually combines visuals with thoughtful annotation (U48, P3, M3). Find some good examples of these online and include them in your sketchbook with some analysis on why they work well (U48 P1, P2, M1, M2).

Remember a storyboard should be a functional tool that helps you resolve potential problems and prepare effectively, if it also includes strong drawing and good layout that is a real bonus. You may also find making some lists of props, models, costume, make up and locations required is helpful to your planning. Think ahead, if you need to book studio time then do this in advance (use photography if possible, otherwise a small space exists within the Art department).

This week you should also look at how others have interpreted the work of Roald Dahl, this will involve collecting imagery and analysing Quentin Blake’s original illustrations and films made by Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) & Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox). (U48 P1, M2)

WEEK 2: Photography

This week you need to carry out your photoshoot(s). Remember the imagery generated from this shoot will be sustaining your work for the next 5 weeks. If you get fantastic photos you are already a huge step down the road towards a successful project, poor or limited imagery will make the next 6 weeks a real struggle.

Consider every aspect of your photos and be resourceful. If you have ambitious ideas about location shoots make every effort to carry them out, if you need time away from the college campus to do this, then this can be arranged, but staff must know of your plans in advance. (U48 P3)

Use your storyboards for inspiration and direct your models to get the shots you need, don’t forget that dramatic lighting and camera angles can help create powerful imagery.

Take lots of photos and print off contact sheets for your sketchbook. Select your favourite 12 images to start your illustrations from and print these out at A5 or A4. You may need to tweak your selected images with Photoshop to ensure you have optimum colour, definition and contrast.

Alongside your photography you need to research at least 2 photographers who explore narrative or fantastical themes through their work. Some good examples of this are Annie Leibovitz, Ruven Afanador, Viona Ielegems and Tim Walker (U48 P1).

WEEK 3 and 4: Drawing

Through weeks 3 and 4 we will be concentrating on making a range of good drawings from your photographic source imagery.  We want to see you explore drawing more thoroughly than you have done before: sustained studies, quick sketches and experimentation with a range of media, annotate and review your work as it progresses. (U48, P2, P3, M3, D1)

Research 2 narrative Illustrators from different eras to support this work, compare the styles and discuss how techniques of illustration have evolved and altered. Produce some responses to your own photographs in the style of your selected illustrators.

Suggested Historical Illustrators: Randolph Caldecott, Arthur Rackham, Harry Furniss, E.H. Shepard, Beatrix Potter, Sir John Tenniel.

Suggested Contemporary Illustrators: Chris Haughton, Oliver Jeffers, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Shaun Tan, Catherine Rayner. (U48, P1, P2, M1, M2, D1)

WEEK 5 and 6: Printmaking and Mixed Media Experimentation

Some time will be focussed on producing strong monoprints and relief (gold card) prints from your photos. We will then use the work you have generated to this point in the project to experiment with a mixed media approach. Use the photocopier, drawn elements, text, image transfer, photomontage, collage, printmaking, paint, acetates, photoshop etc. to come up with some inventive responses. (U48 D1) (U38 P1, P3, M1, D1)

Research and analyse the work of at least 2 of the following illustrators to gain ideas for ways of applying a mixed media approach Eduardo Recife, Martin O’Neill, Tim Marrs, Dave McKean, Nazario Graziano, Mario Wagner, Eva Han, Tez Humphreys. (U38 M3, D3)

WEEK 7: Selection, Presentation and Evaluation.

In the final week of the project you will select, scan and save your best work from the preceding weeks then compose these images alongside original text from your story. You will need to make a small investment (approx. £15 - £25) at this stage to upload your images onto an online book provider (such as Snapfish, Mixbook, Shutterfly or Blurb) and order a hard copy. (U48 P4, M4, D2) (U38 P2, P3, M2, D2)

You should complete your project with a word-processed evaluation of 600 – 800 words (further guidance for this will be given out). (U38 D3) (U48 D1)

MINIMUM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

A full detailed list will be given towards the conclusion of the project, but the following will all be required:

·         1 (or more) Sketchbooks with all the relevant research, storyboards, photography, drawing, printmaking and mixed media work.

·         A suitably bound book of your illustrations, alongside original text from Roald Dahl.

·         A word-processed Evaluation of 600-800 words.

REFERENCES: See the text in the brief. Use the Course Blog for additional guidance http://btecartblog.blogspot.co.uk/  use the internet, the library, your imagination!

Architecture Evaluation and Submission Requirements List

Architectural Forms Project.

 Evaluation Guidance.

Your evaluation should be word-processed and be between 500 & 800 words in length. Please discuss anything you feel was significant to your work in this project, but ensure you cover the following points:

·       Describe how you gathered source imagery for the project, how successful were your drawings and photos? What did you see in your images that you thought had potential for development into substantial 2D or 3D work.

·       How did you go about developing your imagery? What techniques and materials did you use? How successful were these experiments? Did your printmaking and collage work help you to reach your final outcomes?

·       Describe your outcome, discuss their formal elements such as composition, technique, use of colour and tone etc. Do you consider your outcome successful? Discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

·       What Architects and Artists work did you research during the project? Were any of these particularly helpful in providing ideas/inspiration for your own work? Identify the aspects of Artists/Architects work that you found helpful or interesting.

·       How well do you think you worked in this project overall? Did you manage your time effectively? Suggest improvements you might have made to your approach. Did you enjoy the project, if not suggest changes that might have made the project more enjoyable.

Including photos of your final piece in your book alongside your evaluation is helpful.

Please submit your word-processed evaluation with your sketchbook and project outcome/s.

Architectural Forms Submission Requirements

• Pre trip work:
  • Selection of your best photos from the College architecture.
  • Research into 2 modern Architects (see the brief for names).
  • 1 or more sustained full page pencil tonal drawings based on your College photos.
  • 1 or more controlled linear (fineliner/biro) drawings based on your College photos.
  • Expressive timed drawings produced in class.
  • 1 good Gold Card print from your College photos.
   Post Trip work:
  • Selection of your best photos from the London Trip.
  • A sustained full page pencil tonal drawings based on your London photos and/or a controlled linear (fineliner/biro) drawing.
  • 1 or more good Gold Card print from your London photos.
  • At least 1 sustained and successful piece of monoprinting based on London Architecture.
  • Paper city photographs, edit your best shots and print them out at A5/A4 for inclusion in your sketchbook.
  • Research into at least one paper engineering Artist (see link in previous post for names).
  • At least 4 Collage/mixed media pieces developed from your London imagery. Use a range of techniques to create these (refer to the brief for a list of potential media), one or two of these images could be developed through PhotoShop.
  • Research into a Collage/Mixed Media Artist (see earlier post for details).
  • Visual planning and notes that outline your intentions for your project outcome. The nature of this planning might be very different from person to person, it could take the form of Fashion Drawings, experiments with 3D media, storyboards for animation or many other things. Annotating your developmental work is important!
  • Photographs and annotation that record the process of making your outcome.
  • An ambitious and well resolved final outcome.
  • Research into at least one Artist closely associated with the approach taken in your final piece - so this could be a Fashion Designer, Fine Artist, Illustrator or Graphic Designer for example.
  • A word processed evaluation (see the notes above).

After half term we will be starting work on an illustration project based on the stories of Roald Dahl, so start giving some thought to which book you might want to respond to.

Final Piece - Complementary Research

Matthias Heiderich - Graphic architectural photography

Zee Nunes - Archifashion (photographer)

Zimoun - Sound Sculpture

James Gulliver Hancock - Gherkin (Illustration)

Teh Chankerk - painting

Kerrie Jane Stritton - mixed media illustration

Samantha Fortenberry - manipulated photography

Iris Van Herpen - constructed fashion

It is good to see a wide range of final pieces taking shape in the studio. 

To complement your final piece you need to compile 2 pages of research into an Artist/Designer whose work is closely associated with the approach taken in your final piece - so this could be a Fashion Designer, Fine Artist, Illustrator or Graphic Designer for example. 
There are a variety of potential research sources illustrated above (and included in previous posts and list within the project brief). If none of these feel like a good fit with your own creative direction then ask staff for suggestions ...or, even better, find your own.
As usual with research pay attention to visual presentation/layout. Get a range of good reproductions of the Artist's work, keep pages busy, but in sympathy with the style of the work you are studying.
Written content is important, engage your brain, don't just lift from the internet. Provide brief background biographical information, but go on to analyse specific works in detail. Offer your own opinions and explain why you hold them. Discuss aspects of images such as technique, scale, colour and composition; and make sure you say how the Artist selected relates to your own work.

This will complete your research for this project, in total you should have looked at: 2 Modern Architects, 1 Paper Engineering Artist, 1 Mixed Media Artist or Illustrator and 1 Artist specific to your Final Piece.