5.2 Creating connections

The purpose of this exercise was to use a cut-up process to combine the experimental portfolio of images selected as part of 5.1 Creative audit in order to push the content even further by creating a set of new images and interconnections so that any insights can be taken forward into Assignment 5.

Key words from the brief:

  • Take the 10 images you uploaded in the last exercise and print them
  • Mix up and combine selected elements to create new images
  • Arrange your composite drawings to create connections between them
  • Be as experimental as you can
  • You may decide to complete this exercise digitally
  • Upload them to your blog and reflect on the process

Approach

I subverted the exercise somewhat by using the process to create a set of mural designs as part of a client proposal. I have an opportunity to create a mural in a public space measuring 8 metres by 3½ metres and needed to generate some ideas quickly to give an idea of what’s possible and to gain feedback.

The location is along one wall of a taproom/bar that measures 8 metres by 3½ metres.  There are several mockups below that give a good indication of the space. The customers are typically between 20 and 30-years old.

If I get offered the project I’ll use it as my subject for Assignment 5.

The making approach I used was digital. Although I see huge benefits in working with paper and scissors, for this exercise I needed more flexibility to rescale and possibly make colour adjustments.

I set up a Photoshop document using a format to match the scale of the location.

Cut-ups

The following 10 x cut-up were produced in approx. 6-hours.

By the horns mural option01
Cut-up 01
By the horns mural option02
Cut-up 02
By the horns mural option03
Cut-up 03
By the horns mural option04
Cut-up 04
By the horns mural option05
Cut-up 05
By the horns mural option06
Cut-up 06
By the horns mural option07
Cut-up 07
By the horns mural option10
Cut-up 08
By the horns mural option09
Cut-up 09
By the horns mural option08
Cut-up 10

I didn’t feel they were all suitable to put forward and ended up using five of the ten images. These were then mocked-up and tested on the target audience in order to get user feedback to evidence if/how the images were successful.

Mock-ups

At the time of writing these are being tested and I’ll publish the results as part of Assignment 5 if I progress further with the project.

Connections

In order to make connections I printed out thumbnails of all of the images are organised them into categories, adding text and connecting lines as part of the process.

EPSON MFP image
Connections map

You can download a higher resolution version of this image here: Connections

Reflections

Reflections on image cut-ups

  • Interestingly I seem to have a problem knowing when a cut-up is ‘finished’ and/or whether it’s usable in a book illustration context, but no problem with this working within the context of a mural
  • I found it very easy to produce 10 x cut-up images using my selected images
  • I’m pleased that these contain new narrative elements
  • The multi-dimensional automatic drawings have a lot of potential for reuse and scale-up in a particularly interesting way

Reflections on connections map

I found this process of visual reflection quite interesting and make the following observations:

  • The life and figure drawing classes that I’ve been regularly attending since the start of lockdown are playing quite heavily into my OCA work; both in terms of visual style, composition, rapid experimentation and and an increasing confidence with figure drawing
  • The process driven creative approaches from PART 2 have really changed the nature and visual language of my work
  • I like working rapidly and this is how I produce some of my best images. I need to find ways to use this attribute more effectively in my finished artwork
  • I feel confident in developing a visual language and having the analytical skills and understanding to know what that means
  • Working with the relationship between image and typography is an area I’d like to explore further
  • My work is still all over the place. I’m equally excited to work in reportage, book illustration, sequential illustration and murals. At what point do I focus?

 

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