Exercise: A menu card

a square example

After experimenting with paper fish cut-outs from different viewpoints, on different supports, I came up with my final idea.
I know how squeamish some British people can be when they are served fish, so I chose a very decorative design.

details in silver pen

I thought a black and white image would be decorative, and at the same time with the use gold or silver, add a touch of luxury. The silver does not come out well on this scan, I will try to take a picture later.

Although I have left plenty of space for the text, I have placed 'fancy fish place' as an example of where the name of the restaurant would go. The font choice is not important here, but gives an idea of what it would look like. It is covered in silver and burnished (but you can't see it).

I always complain that there isn't enough light in restaurants, but this is in favour of the silver finish which reflects the light very well and is supposed to glimmer like fish do.

Shortlist of different versions

Exercise: A menu card

Provide an illustration for use on the menu of a sophisticated quality fish restaurant - a chain, fresh ingredients, contemporary - food must be appetising

Some inspiring designs:

North Sea Fish Restaurant

123rf.com

Design123rf.com

valpendleton.com

jamieoliver.com

http://www.theblankcardcompany.co.uk/acatalog/fish-dish-by-Alan-Furneaux.jpg

Mari Inukai

 

cosyhomeblog.com

Markey Robinson Still Life - Fish on a Plate

exercise: animals around the world

I checked on the internet to see if some of my initial ideals had already been 'done'.

Found one children book cover by Doreen Kindersley entitled 'animals around the world', and a printing company has a design of animals 'walking around the world' one of my ideas too. I am still looking for people and animals, or animals and flags...

a soft cloth book from http://joscraftcornerstore.ca/books-pg4.html

 

http://www.artees.biz/zoo_aquarium.htm

Animals Around the World (Lift the Flap (Kingfisher)) [Board book]

 

app By Absolutist Ltd

Example of ideas

Exercise: A children's book cover

produce a cover illustration for a natural history book for children (aged 7-11) entitled "Animals from Around the World".

After spending a huge amount of time on the previous task - museum posters and deciding to stop and move on - I have enjoyed very much working on this.

I made some sketches in my sketchbook with different ideas, and discussed them with friends. Finally I chose to go ahead with my idea even if I didn't have 'coloured client visuals' apart from one.  The book format I imagined would be big and rather square. I wanted it to stand out so picked bright colours and simple type.  The text is there to give an idea of what I would like.  If I ever work in this field, I plan to get someone else to do the letters.

 

I was proud of my progress with the computer.  Each small painting was made in acrylics, and  scanned.  I played around with a simple programme.  Mistakes sometimes make it better (small around of white around the lemur's circle) sometimes not (white line over the fish).  

 

Exercise: Museum posters

My local museum is the Brent Museum, now located in the Willesden Library building. This building is due to be demolished and a new one built, if Brent Council's plans go ahead. This may explain that I found odd displays like a black doll which had fallen on its front, with its head next to the body. There are also interesting graffiti here and there...  I had a good laugh and took plenty of photographs.  

My scanner/printer is having problems at the moment, so I made charts towards my three posters by age group like this: I wrote the subjects of my photos on paper, cut it in strips and glued the selected ones on each chart.  That helped me come up with ideas suitable for each age, and a common theme for all three.  This museum has the ability to make me laugh every time I have visited it, so the common theme is "I love Brent Museum" and I vowed that my posters should reflect the funny side.

Child 5-9  :   I      Brent Museum

Teen: Roflmao at Brent Museum

 Adult: Brent Museum engages the community (?)

Initial ideas

Idea for the teenage poster that I wanted to picture in Manga style

Manga practice (pencil, pen and inks)

Poster for younger children (includes toys etc. from museum)

Exercise: Identifying tools and materials (2)

While my scanner is out of action, I have taken a picture of the two things I have painted influenced by the style and techniques/materials used by Will Terry:

The first one is the most successful. I have chosen to change the point of view of the subject from the initial drawing, to bring the frame closer

Painted in acrylics on paper

the original

These are the kind of colours I had planned to use

 I think it works well because the three characters are the focus, and like the three bears, they have different sizes.
I have tried to plan the writing so it is an integral part of the image, but I was still not sure about it. After asking other people their opinion, I am fairly satisfied that the lettering is ok, but many of them thought that the main hamster was a cat! I can see their point too, next time I'll have to remind myself to check not only the style and the viewpoint but also what I am drawing!!

For the next picture, I started with this image

I then decided to change the boy, to one that came from the Jazz poster. I also added sidekicks to add to the story:

At one point I realised that the picture wasn't working and I stopped painting.  I asked for advice about it from the illustrator Dave McAllister. He explained to me that I used too many elements of the same size (cats etc), and advised me to do it again. We also talked about the space in the image that I have 'filled' with creatures and flowers... and compared it to the style of Will Terry.  Will Terry keeps it interesting by suggesting clouds, vegetation etc and in his images that inspired me,  he uses the composition so there is little space like this

.

At this point, I have left it and may come back to try again later.