Brief
The brief was to create several illustrations around a single subject to explore working with different unfamiliar materials.
Keywords from the brief:
- Create a sketchbook
- Different coloured and textured papers
- Range of drawing implements
- Explore unchartered territories
- Label each of your pieces of work
Approach
I started by creating a matrix that had drawing/painting materials down one side and different papers across the top. I was aiming to make around 10 to 15 pictures that each used a different combination of media.
It became clear very quickly that some of the combinations I thought would work wouldn’t and I quickly dismissed my initial plan and let the process take over.
The subject I selected was cup-cakes; they are easy to draw with lots of colour and texture combinations to keep the exercise interesting.
I ended up creating 14 different pictures. I could have carried on but felt that I’d learned a lot from the exercise and I needed to move on to the next thing.
Artwork
Here are photographs of the work.
What I learned from the exercise
What went well
- I worked with new materials and combinations of media that I’ve never worked with before. I think some were successful and things I’ll use again in the future.
- I enjoyed the vibrant colours I could achieve using coloured inks. I think this learning will be directly applicable to my choice of materials for Assignment 2.
- I liked working against a coloured background.
- I was surprised at how poorly/well some materials reacted on different textured papers.
What I would do differently/better
- I would have liked to explore a wider range of drawing materials on different textured papers – something I’ll have to pick up later.
- It would be interesting to explore using coloured ink in a more free-form/less controlled way.
Illustration 