Experimentation

My aims: to be more experimental with materials, methods of application, and mark making.
At this stage I am trying to be open minded - and do not have a set direction for my book i want to produce a lot of testing, before evaluating what is successful, and how this can be developed further.
After this week I hope to have a clearer idea of the visual side of my book.

Initially - continued to test media, but felt that I still needed to loosen up, and stop drawing with a solid line!! To break away from this i realised i needed to stop using an ink pen to draw shapes and start making them.

Shape and Texture

Starting to loosed up - using a combination of pastils, and acrylic paint. - quite chaotic, needed to simplify.

being brave and primarily using shape. - I begun to simplify the ammonite form more and more, - reducing the amount of detail. Cutting out these shapes on different card, and combining with coloured pencil has worked quite successfully to create tone and texture.
- I like the combination of pencil, against acrylic paint background. - think they compliment each other quite well.

As well as creating the Ammonite, i also began to think about  experimentation for the sea.
- using brushes, and spatular to crete different effects.
note: I really like the tones, and graduation of light in the top image. - felt that this could be continued.

Using one form of media - interpreting the ammonite in different forms of simplicity.
- block gouache paint  breaking down the content; allows you to see the most important elements. - very simple but you can still identify; how far can this go?

These paper cut examples have been some of the most successful pieces so far. I  am really  interested in the textured effects created.
I began these pieces by creating a variety of textures using acrylic paint, before cutting out the desired shapes. - the texture provided the detail so very little more needs to be added.
- Creating these textures first allowed me to be more free and expressive with my mark making - using fast marks and confident flicks - there isn't a limited space to work in; and the results are more impressive. - more depth and variety.
- I aim to develop this style of working - potential for final.

Background experimenting.

- My aim was to create a really beautiful textured background that effectively described the movement and depth of the ocean.

Trying new methods of application. - paper cut. - could be more gradual with the change in tone.

using a spatular. - quite effective - like how the motion of the marks can be used to describe the sea.

These examples are my most successful backgrounds by far; created by layering acrylic paint.  I used a medium sized brush and daubed the paint to get a mix of dry brush marks and solid colour. the many layers and build up of tone create the effect of deep water; I really like the gradual graduation from light to dark.
I think the similar direction of the brush strokes help to create a believable movement as you would see in water.

During this week, I have gained new skills, in painting and creating textures. I have really enjoyed loosening up my style and trying new things; - particularly using paint, and texture.

As the week progressed i moved away from 'drawing' in the traditional sense, and began to create my pieces primarily using shape and texture; instead of solid line, which i am really interested in developing further.

- I think shape and texture come together really well when using paper cut.

Feedback: 

from our group review, i received positive comments about the paper cuts - which i have found encouraging.

- Next, I aim to continue with this exploration of media; its now about deciding the right balance between detail, and shape. - looking at which textures work best - how can i manipulate the mark making to be more descriptive? - but still loose.

- I like the idea of using a variety of textures - contrasting. - test some successful examples against one another. 

- possible method of production: if going forward with paper cuts, layer together in photoshop??

- In the feedback it was also said that storyboarding at the point in time would be helpful in decided on the tone of voice for my book. - Perhaps this experimenting will inform that?