I have started my learning log on paper. Then moved to a learning log by blog. First time I'm doing this. Reasons for change: easier for assessment, comparisons/comments from other people, can post with images (++) and links. This seems easy to use, except loggin on. For some reason it takes about 10mn for me to log on. Changed password million times, and it still does not recognise it. Perhaps enter wrong mail address? still dont know for sure, but it's a pain .
Talked to tutor on phone. Asked for a Reading List, as I think I dont know enough about illustrators. I haven't sorted out my timetable yet, time management as usual not my best friend. Making images: could do with some basic kind of photoshop knowledge. need some materials (eg bamboo pens) but will received student card for discounts within 7 days, so I'm waiting.
Monday 27 September 2010
My first effort in the style of Kathleen Kale
I used my teenage cat Sparkle as the model for this cover of an imaginary book. I'm still working at it, not happy with many things. Have learnt that I should have done a larger drawing. Used Gouache.
more on Kathleen Hale 'vs' Quentin Blake
Context:
K Hale started designing dust-jackets for WH Smith, and illustrated children's books. Married 1926 - bored. 1938 Started Series of children's books Orlando the Marmalade Cat (A camping holiday). Link between what goes on in her life and stories. Last one 1972 (Orlando and the water rats). OBE 1976.
Q Blake: Involved with Chelsea School of Art, Institute of education, taught RCA over 20 years - Illustration. OBE 1988
1999 Children's laureate, collaborated with Roald Dahl. Remembers drawing from young age. Made living from illustrations and cartoons (eg Punch), also exhibition curator and made public art for hospitals. He is a patron of the big draw.
I was interested to compare his personal life with Hale's to see if the amount of time they could devote to their art was comparable (families/children). All I found is that Blake never had children, in a wonderful article. Liked the article especially because it gives a sense of how blakes tries to convey an idea, how does he go about it.
guardian article
Style/Imagery:
K. Hale: colourful illustrations. Complimentary colours. Cats in human poses/actions. quirky, humorous and stylised.
Q Blake: spontaneous look. pen and watercolours. Imagery inspired from the stories he illustrates (many with children) imagination important, people, animals, contraptions. Also purpose: hospital entrance - to cheer up sick patients (alien pushing trolley) see Blake's work for hospitals
Production:
K. Hale: Pencil and watercolour sometimes with crayon (e.g. Orlando and Grace afloat, 1955 or ABicycle made for 5, 1938). For the Orlando books, many pages were hand-lithographed and that gave them a painterly look (www.charlottecory.com).
Q Blake: Fast scribbly ink lines. Pen and ink and watercolours, pens: with nibs or bamboo or quills. Gives black line a very varying thickness and expressiveness.
Blake says he likes to sketch and then use a light box (standing up!). The image below his paper is visible but not 100% clearly, so he can be fluid and spontaneous with his line. I can understand that easily as I've learnt to write with pen and ink at school. A line that is not spontaneous is not right, it just looks terrible. Lots of info on Quentin Blake Official Website.
K Hale started designing dust-jackets for WH Smith, and illustrated children's books. Married 1926 - bored. 1938 Started Series of children's books Orlando the Marmalade Cat (A camping holiday). Link between what goes on in her life and stories. Last one 1972 (Orlando and the water rats). OBE 1976.
Q Blake: Involved with Chelsea School of Art, Institute of education, taught RCA over 20 years - Illustration. OBE 1988
1999 Children's laureate, collaborated with Roald Dahl. Remembers drawing from young age. Made living from illustrations and cartoons (eg Punch), also exhibition curator and made public art for hospitals. He is a patron of the big draw.
I was interested to compare his personal life with Hale's to see if the amount of time they could devote to their art was comparable (families/children). All I found is that Blake never had children, in a wonderful article. Liked the article especially because it gives a sense of how blakes tries to convey an idea, how does he go about it.
guardian article
Style/Imagery:
K. Hale: colourful illustrations. Complimentary colours. Cats in human poses/actions. quirky, humorous and stylised.
Q Blake: spontaneous look. pen and watercolours. Imagery inspired from the stories he illustrates (many with children) imagination important, people, animals, contraptions. Also purpose: hospital entrance - to cheer up sick patients (alien pushing trolley) see Blake's work for hospitals
Production:
K. Hale: Pencil and watercolour sometimes with crayon (e.g. Orlando and Grace afloat, 1955 or ABicycle made for 5, 1938). For the Orlando books, many pages were hand-lithographed and that gave them a painterly look (www.charlottecory.com).
Q Blake: Fast scribbly ink lines. Pen and ink and watercolours, pens: with nibs or bamboo or quills. Gives black line a very varying thickness and expressiveness.
Blake says he likes to sketch and then use a light box (standing up!). The image below his paper is visible but not 100% clearly, so he can be fluid and spontaneous with his line. I can understand that easily as I've learnt to write with pen and ink at school. A line that is not spontaneous is not right, it just looks terrible. Lots of info on Quentin Blake Official Website.
Thursday 23 September 2010
tuesday 14.09.10
I started. The question was about how illustration has evolved over the past 50 years . This showed me how little I know, and that I should get a BOOK LIST. Also shows they are all British illustrators.Found all the information through Google, G. images, and Wikipedia. I find that information on format, support, and making technique are often lacking.
The artists to choose from were:
EDWARD BAWDEN: (1930-70). His style is very 60's. Reminded me of my childhood - fabrics, vague memory of a small printed plate. Superimposed patterns. Houses, Smithfield market. Prints. YUK. I hate it, and it would be useful to know why. Something to do with childhood memories? I think his choice of colours mostly. I wont dwell on him anymore, since I like many of the others.
KATHLEEN HALE : ( 1898-2000) Illustrator, Children's Author, also interesting as a Working Mother
! Famous for Orlando the Marmalade Cat. Bright colourful very 50's pictures - hand-lithographed. Large format books (Only found images on Google, none available locally and Bridgman Library had nothing on her). She wrote biographical A Slender Reputation. Would like to see real copies!
ERIC RAVILIOUS: (1903-1942) Painter, Designer, book illustrator, wood engraver.War artist killed on a mission. Many landscapes, use of light - dramatic. Stylised and slightly naive. My favourites are his black and white woodcut prints. See Towner art gallery in Eastbourne. Love Scenery from the train (watercolour?)
http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/leisure/museums-galleries/towner/about-towner/collection/
EDWARD ARDIZZONE: (1900-1979) pen and wash. Humour. Children's books: Little Tim. I like the feeling of lovely little illustrations with pen and ink, or watercolours.
JOHN MINTON Painter, illustrator, theatrical designer. Not my cup of tea.Too serious!
E H SHEPARD: (1879-1976) Illustrator and contributor of cartoons (Punch). He illustrated Winnie the Pooh, and also The Wind in the willows.
I am an admirer, I love his style, fluent and catching the moment. It is so obvious that Shepard must have been sketching for a very long time. He must have been so excellent at it! Well I look up to him and keep up practising! I was reading comments about how his illustrations made Winnie the Pooh. I would agree! My children were so attracted by the illustrations that it encouraged them to read these stories. Oh and he was influenced by Sir John Tenniel (Alice in Wonderland's illustrations).
The artists to choose from were:
EDWARD BAWDEN: (1930-70). His style is very 60's. Reminded me of my childhood - fabrics, vague memory of a small printed plate. Superimposed patterns. Houses, Smithfield market. Prints. YUK. I hate it, and it would be useful to know why. Something to do with childhood memories? I think his choice of colours mostly. I wont dwell on him anymore, since I like many of the others.
KATHLEEN HALE : ( 1898-2000) Illustrator, Children's Author, also interesting as a Working Mother
! Famous for Orlando the Marmalade Cat. Bright colourful very 50's pictures - hand-lithographed. Large format books (Only found images on Google, none available locally and Bridgman Library had nothing on her). She wrote biographical A Slender Reputation. Would like to see real copies!
ERIC RAVILIOUS: (1903-1942) Painter, Designer, book illustrator, wood engraver.War artist killed on a mission. Many landscapes, use of light - dramatic. Stylised and slightly naive. My favourites are his black and white woodcut prints. See Towner art gallery in Eastbourne. Love Scenery from the train (watercolour?)
http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/leisure/museums-galleries/towner/about-towner/collection/
EDWARD ARDIZZONE: (1900-1979) pen and wash. Humour. Children's books: Little Tim. I like the feeling of lovely little illustrations with pen and ink, or watercolours.
JOHN MINTON Painter, illustrator, theatrical designer. Not my cup of tea.Too serious!
E H SHEPARD: (1879-1976) Illustrator and contributor of cartoons (Punch). He illustrated Winnie the Pooh, and also The Wind in the willows.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)