These are some recent practices with Gouache. This is my second time using gouache so I have a lot of practicing to do! I love the smooth textures to the line, however the tones and textures within the images are very solid opaque, and lack the alluring ethereal and translucent quality of the ocean. Maybe I should apply it as a lighter wash instead...
0 Comments
In these latest designs I have re-introduced the use of circles (a key element in my Pre-Major Project work), as without them I feel quite lost with my compositions. They help to structure my work, as well as subtly echo the sense of wholeness within the cyclic power of nature. These images are inspired by the ocean's ecosystems, focusing on the macro aspects of seaweed, coral and sea creatures. Whilst these select colours and compositions may seem a little strange, and not necessarily successful, they have helped me to make the transition from repeated pattern to colour and abstract form. This will help me to progress with my image making and hopefully shift the artist's block that I have been struggling with.
This is my first attempt at a repeated pattern wallpaper design! I drew an A3 image of swirling bubbles in fine liner, then I scanned, coloured, cropped, and mirrored it to make these effects. I am not particularly fond of these patterns, the colours are a little boring and the overall aesthetic is quite old fashioned and fussy, but hey it was an experiment.
Since creating these designs I have had the dreaded 'artist's block', and it has been quite hard to shift. I know the aesthetic and content that I want to achieve within my work, but I have been facing a few barriers in getting there! I think that I keep worrying so much about the design working as a wallpaper or repeated pattern, that it is stopping the flow of my image making. It's time to now go back to the drawings and let them become something naturally. I am exploring scale, composition, and overlay of texture in these images. The clusters of orange and turquoise particles subtly represent the pollution of micro plastics. Still a lot of work to be done but it is just so good to start drawing again after so long! Colour palette is something that I continue to work on.
In this unit I am going to look at different methods of applying colour and texture. I was pleased with the outcomes of my Pre- Major project, however the application of colour gave the illustrations quite a digitised feel. In contrast, I would like my images in this unit to reflect the raw and organic nature of the environment.
Here are some examples of pollution caused by micro plastics. Here organisms have ingested the plastic micro beads. These can be found in cosmetics such as exfoliating cream and toothpaste, synthetic fibres found in clothing, and other manufactured products. These micro plastics are unfiltered from the water that is streamed into the ocean after human use. The high level of toxicity within these plastics poisons and kills marine life, effectively disrupting food chains, damaged habitats and destroying ecosystems.
I would like to incorporate some of these elements within my illustrative designs so that they may meaningful as well as aesthetically interesting. |