Image Evaluation

Evaluation
OUGD205 Drawing Practise 




Throughout this module I feel I have developed a range of existing and new skills, becoming more intricate with and challenging myself in hand crafting. Previously I had limited myself to small pieces of work in other module when using craft. Within this module we were given the brief 2d, to 3d, to 2d which was primarily to work in craft. This enabled me to push boundaries, creating large scale pieces of work, in a whole new range of formats, in this case I case created a 3ft long mobile made from over 40 paper forks. The scale, range of stock, materials and media of the piece was something I had never considered before due to the time consumption something like this would take; it was nice to spend time doing something I love, to result in something I'm very proud of. 


With this came a new found photography skill, or so I would like to think. Creating an image was one thing, but the way you photographed the work could either make it brilliant, or awful. There were so many more things I had to consider when photographing my work, especially with the hand crafted work; scale, colour, format and orientation being just a few. I made it priority to use a digital SLR, previously I would have felt my poor quality digital camera would have done the job; I've become more conscious of how a photograph can represent your work.


My approaches to methods of design production have been consistent throughout, the way the course is run, by giving you a brief, and writing a rationale within the space of an hour has been a brilliant way to work for me. I used to always struggle to start work immediately, thinking of all the options available, feeling research would inform me of a decision. By working this way I was able to start work immediately thus saving time and having a better and well informed end result.
Within this module I do feel I have lacked research, letting my excitement get the better of me in getting straight into creating / designing the end product. Sometimes this worked, other times it didn't and I felt myself going backwards, but it was brilliant having such enthusiasm about design which I thought I had some what lost.
Another important element of design production was the printing of the end products, I tried to push my boundaries and limitations, asking James in digital print of his opinion on the best stock, and other ways of finishing my products; laminating became one of these when approaching 'Book works'. I didnt limit stock choice to that of what I could find in the library, I began looking in craft shops and online, this helped give my work some variety, giving myself a wider portfolio of work, media and stock. Sometimes, my chosen / found stock informed my design process too.


Throughout this module I feel I have come into my own, gaining a signature style which was unseen by myself before; this too was recognised by peers. Its certainly a positive, its nice to know my work is recognisable as mine, without having to inform people. This I hope to take through into the my work for the rest of the time I spend at university, its something which I will need when entering the world of work.
I feel too the quality of my work has improved immensely, as Its taken me a long time to create an image, I seem to have more pride and care for it, I've been extremely precise in cutting, folding and shaping my work. Which, when I intend on selling hand crafted work, is a very important aspect, potential customers will expect the upmost quality if they intend on paying for something.
I have recognised my time keeping has been on key within this module, a lot of my peers have really struggled alongside all the other work running alongside Image before easter. With my time keeping and enthusiasm for the module, I have been able to keep up without it hindering other work.


Some weaknesses within Image has been primarily my lack of research, sometimes the enthusiasm i've had to start my final outcome straight away has slowed me down, resulting in my final outcome not being as effective as I had intended. This has resulted in a lack of informed design, which seems to have appeared from nowhere, other than my head, when in fact it's an idea I've gained from some inspirations, but I've failed to note this.


From this, I intend on doing a few thins differently within my future work, more so when working with image. Researching more and noting down inspiration is certainly something I need to do more, more so for myself, theres always a need to look at something again, without it noted down you tend to forget. Alongside this, producing more rationales will keep me on track, informing myself and others of the direction my work is taking, in a sense it gives me a clearer idea of what I need to do next.
Obtaining more feedback in the middle of work is something I found quite informative, I had a tenancy to get feedback very last minute, which didn't give me the chance to respond to it. Next time, with every design decision I take, I should try and gain some, even if very little, feedback from a peer who hasn't seen my work up until then. The way you see and read your work can be very different to an outsider which is a very important aspect to consider.


Overall I have throughly enjoyed this module, its given my a new direction and better understanding of where my skills lie and the sort of work and briefs I would like to work with once I graduate. Its been very informing, I've learnt a lot about myself, the way I work, and how best to do so.

Image - Final poster outcomes

My final series of theatre posters, each consistent in typeface, layout and colour palette. The images themselves visually representing the film, either a scene or the overall theme, through craft and photography. 

Although the images are very different in content, colour and craft they have a consistent artistic style in the sense of stock and the way they have been photographed. I'm really quite proud, considering my photography skills are far from amazing but with the right camera and lighting, i've managed to achieve something quite professional looking.

On the Theatre Royal Front

Image - Dirty Dancing

I couldn't obtain a high quality image of the dirty dancing lift....so decided to attempt it myself, with a bit of help! Ok, so I couldn't find someone strong enough to do it on there own, but three people later we got it. I intend of using my silhouette to draw and create a crafted piece.

Image - Posters as a series

The final printed image resolution

Image - Thriller final images

Image - Theatre front mock up

Below, I have mocked my initial images into the Grand Theatre front in Leeds. The images fit in with the sophisticated front, and branding of the theatre.

Image - Photographing the Grande Theatre

I decided on the direction of my images, considering the range of media within my chosen 

The chosen dances within the media I chose to craft all differentiate in where they are seen, for instance 'Thriller' was in a music video, 'Flashdance' within film. I decided a brilliant direction for my images, considering the style of them, would to use them for cinema. I intend on mocking up the Grande Theatre front to hold the range of posters i'm designing.

Image - Crafting Thriller sequence

I began looking into the images from my context blog, trying to find the easiest images to draw, which were also the most iconic from the Thriller dance. I decided on the two below, I began my crafting templates, as I wanted a four move sequence of repeated moves, in different directions. It was easiest to create templates to draw around, reverse, and draw again.

The below image is the finished crafted piece.

How I intend the structure to stand, to then be photographed.

Image - Flashdance

The video in which the famous Bucket drop scene comes from. 

My idea was to recreate the famous bucket drop scene, using tissue paper to re-create raindrop (representing the water poured) and a silhouette of the main character draped on a chair. The rain drops have been dotted along a string of thread, in which the character has been placed at the bottom. The image is flat, other than the raised drops, and was simply stuck on a wall to be photographed.

Final Image

Final edited image

I didn't think the initial photograph has enough drama and impact, the scene in which this is shot, is a very dark, flashy nightclub. This needed to be evoked through the image, so I made a few brightness and contrast adjustments to give it this 'tone'.

Image - Black swan - Photographs 2

Using a Digital SLR I managed to achieve better quality images, I had more of an idea of what I wanted to do and avoid, considering how my images looked after the first photoshoot.


I decided against having an subject matter, as it complicated the simplicity and focus of the mask. Instead I have photographed the mask against a plain white back drop, feeling it has more of an impact.

Image - Black swan mask - Initial photographs

Some initial images with my awful digital camera. I initially wanted a subject matter, to be able to represent the actor who becomes the black swan, mimicking her makeup and use of red contacts within the film, which echo's the madness which ensues her. The image below is ok, but not brilliant. I will possibly try again, but feel will end up simply photographing the mask against a plain background, as shown in the bottom photograph, I feel it has more of an impact.

Image - Action Plan

1. Sketchbook - Ideas, how the paper media will be presented and photographed
2. Scan in images - Produce Mock ups
3. Buy - All materials which will be needed
4. Context - Find examples of what I want to do
5. Construct
6. Photograph
7. Blog
8. Create portfolio case
9. Print

Image - Chosen dance's to paper craft

From the research conducted I have came to the conclusion to use dances which were most mentioned and easiest for me to pape rcraft in one form or another.

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Dirty dancing - lift

Flash Dance - Bucket of water drop

Save the last dance - Ballerina

Black Swan

Some images to illustrate the chosen dances:

Image - Dance within Film and Video

Taking screenshots of famous and iconic 'moves' within film and video. 


Michael Jackson - Thriller

Bill Elliot 

Image - Re-creating film / stage sets

http://zapfino.deviantart.com/art/KILLER-JOE-stage-model-115642324

I could possibly recreate a stage set, although a Billy Elliot scene, to photograph his iconic moves or leap in the street (seen on DVD covers)

Image - Dances in relation to the media (i can think of)

Flashdance
Grease
Step up
Maccarina
DJ Caspa - Cha Cha
Dirty Dancing
Moonwalk
Solja Boy - Superman
Thriller
Singing in the rain
Billy Elliot
Single Ladies
Spice girls - Stop right now
Step - Tragedy 
Fat Boy Slim - Weapon Of Choice
Cheryl Cole - Fight for this love
LMFAO - Shuffling
Flo - Rida - Low
Agodoo
Hokey Cokey
Pulp Fiction
Wixard of Oz - Yellow brick road 
Saturday Night fever - Stayin Alive
Full Monty
Time Warp
Inbetweeners

Image - Self initiated Brief

BRIEF (What is the problem you intend to solve?)

To create an informative picture book showing a range of 2d, to 3d, to 2d images relating to the topic of dance within films. It will provide cut out nets for reader to be able to produce the same resolutions.


WHO NEEDS TO KNOW? (Who is your audience? BE CONCISE)

My printed media will be aimed at a young audience, who are either dancers  love to dance, or want to know know more about it - Possibly those between the ages of 16 - 25.


WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW? (BE CLEAR & SPECIFIC)

Visual information and imagery will provide an insight into the world of dance

WHY DO THEY NEED TO KNOW?

To be informed and made interested by dance and its culture.


WHAT WILL THEY RESPOND TO?

I will show 2d, to 3d, to 2d crafted work, photography and nets which can be cut out to re-mark the images presented, themselves.


WHAT RESEARCH IS REQUIRED?


Research Crafting
Dance - The technicals and the styles
Films - The most popular and famous films which contain dance
Famous Dances, the moves, and routines
Research type and layout
Collect stills of films - the dances within
The history of dance within film

Image - Type as image - Feedback

Scales image - "Nice disjointed text, you have to really look to be able to read the content"

'Latte Factor' - Try printing straight onto stock, edit in photoshop to look crisp

'Secretly seeing' - Try a different background, to help communicate message.

try a key hole shape, arrange type around.

Look at Brians 3rd year work

Try using an image of a spectacle, the word 'seeing' magnified, shadowed.

Image - Type as Image - A1 Prints

The final finished print outs. I'm very happy with the final results, the scale and composition of each piece is appropriate to the designs. Although, I did make a printing error on the scale piece, a miscellaneous white square was left on the final piece which I could see on screen. The 'Secretly seeing' design I feel is too precise to the original typeface, I wanted a handwritten / made tone but it doesn't evoke this.

Article Image - Changes Made

After seeing the final print I realised my designs hadn't considered the space available, there was a lot of negative space around each of the images, which wasn't ideal.


For the flu related quote, I decided to create a simple human timeline which shows, through a key and iconography, that the more colds you have when your younger, the less you have when your older. I feel this design works well as its entirely image based - using type was an issue in my previous design as it couldn't be seen due to the size. I feel it communicates the article well through colour and the sue of a key.