These a couple of bits I made while I was faffing around, sorting out things for concept panel. I think I'm getting close to having just the right amount of definition (getting the colours exactly right is difficult).
Experimentation in Photoshop - Fox
Experimentation in Photoshop - Flutter of butterflies
I had been struggling to do butterflies well with my other technique (I still need to work on that) but today, I had a go at using macro photographs of petals to make this, I think it works really well.
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
CONCEPT : Blog entry 28
Feedback from PPF:
- Rethink title [The art of the species guide in conservation] does the guide have a role in conservation?
- More research (primary, secondary)
- Include all research in bibliography, not just the thing referenced.
- More artists
- Improve rational - narrative; what I did, where I came from, my conclusions, how that has influenced my ideas for this module.
- Reference: what have I looked at in terms of guides?
- Be specific with references (all references - Sam Winston??)
- Current RSPB campaigns (Home for wildlife)
- Local community wildlife groups
- Audience? (TBD)
- Outcome? (TBD)
- Boyle Family - forensic recreation of a place, land art
From this video, you can then go to the website and find a range of guides on how to 'give nature a home'. Below is the main guide, avaliable to recieve through the post or as a pdf, but there are also guide for how to make dead wood piles, build a home for bats, and create nature corridors, as well as lots of different activities to help bring nature into your garden (RSPB: GIVING NATURE A HOME, 2014).
Give nature a home Guide - RSPB
(RSPB: GIVING NATURE A HOME, 2014)
One of the thing Tim suggested I do to help my research and development of my concept, was to dissect the guides that are already out there. I am unsure if it is a guide book that I will produce, but getting to grips with what is already available, and finding the problems with it will help me figure out what it is I am wanting to do. I've also ordered a physical copy of this so I can look at it and analyse it properly in my sketch book; I also intend to do this with a couple of other guide books too.
I really like what the RSPB are trying to do with this campaign; by getting everyone to pitch in and create a better habitat for wild life in their own back garden, this helps with conservation on a much wider scale, at a much lower cost for them. Although the RSPB is primarily for birds, by getting people to make a better environment for plants, insects and other wildlife, it creates a better environment for the birds, and makes their survival much easier.
My only problem with it it, is it seems to be aimed towards adults. which is fine, in theory. It provides them with activities to do with their children, but non of the material is aimed at children.
So...for example, I could have been looking at all this, and decide that one Sunday afternoon me and the kids are going to build a wood pile to attract lots of insects; I can download a simple little guide telling me exactly how to do this - this guide is really simple, no images, just the instructions; not appealing to children at all.
If I were to remake this I would have it as something to show the kids, to get them interested too. "If we build a log pile, look at all the cool insects that will come and live in it!" and maybe some kind of treasure hunt list, to keep them coming back to check and see what insects move in.
I think one of biggest parts of conservation should be to educate and build interest in younger people, so that in the future they think of things like our wildlife, and try to help.
And with the main guide that I have shown in this post. It is very simple, and too the point, with lots of good information on what you can do to help, but only focuses on adults.
[This guide also uses, what I thought was one of my ideas, to use the silhouette of the animal with a photograph of it natural habitat...I swear I'm thinking of these things first!]
I have been thinking about focusing on a specific location for my 'guide', as I think this will narrow down what needs to be included. 'Wild life' is just too broad, I need some kind of limit, such as 'red list', 'nature reserve', or even 'garden'. I really like the idea of focusing on your garden, getting every one to do their bit.
RSPB, (2014). [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc-qlIWG_4E [Accessed 15 Jul. 2014].
RSPB: GIVING NATURE A HOME, (2014).RSPB: RSPB Giving nature a home. [online] Available at: http://homes.rspb.org.uk/page/projects [Accessed 15 Jul. 2014].
RSPB: GIVING NATURE A HOME, (2014).RSPB: RSPB Giving nature a home. [online] Available at: http://homes.rspb.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwopOeBRC1ndXgnuvx8JYBEiQAq4RPt2v59IpYPBWklX00z16zgAsLTLJC2887yg0e7PDhRiwaAo5H8P8HAQ [Accessed 15 Jul. 2014].
In my tutorial last week, it became clear that I have been focusing on the wrong thing. I have been making lots of things that will maybe go into my finished 'guide' (or what ever it is I end up making) when I should have been focusing on doing research and figuring out what it is I will make eventually.
The Project Proposal form is due today, and writing this has forced me to think more about what I am doing, and I know I need to do a lot more towards working these things out.
The past couple of days I have been working on and writing this PPF, and at the next concept panel in..15 days(!) I need to have a much clearer idea of what I am doing, as this will be the last chance for feedback before I am left to my own devices over the summer. I also need to get a better grip on my dissertation and spend more time working on that.
The art of the species guide and its role in
conservation.
1b. Dissertation Working Title:
Examining the difference between art and
illustration.
2. Rationale for the project proposed: Provide a concise, logical rationale
for the project, 200 words.
Through this project I will be exploring the subject of species guides
through researching guidebooks and nature reserve signs with the hopes of eventually
producing a modern and more appealing version of this myself.
I have always had an interest in birds and animals, and our
relationships to them and have previously worked around this subject. However,
for this project, I wanted focus on issues surrounding our British wildlife and
conservation; things such as the RSPB Red list, badger culling and issues
surrounding foxes. Through my research and experimentation so far, I have
decided to focus on addressing these issues through a location, such as a local
nature reserve.
I want to use simple and easy to understand imagery to make
identification easier more appealing to wider audience to create a greater interest
in our wildlife and the conservation efforts surrounding it.
By looking at the traditional format of the ‘guide’ I hope to be able to
simplify and improve upon it, and create something different, which combines
the traditional aspects of a guide with modern technology and contemporary imagery,
which will serve the nature reserve by drawing more interest in it’s
inhabitants and it’s conservation efforts.
3. Audience:Describe the audience that the project is aimed at. Ask yourself, who
will benefit from the process or outcome of the project proposed, whose needs
will you meet, who are you communicating with, who are you seeking to persuade
or inform?
With this project I am wanting to create an interest in wildlife within
a younger audience, by using a modern aesthetic, and possibly incorporating
modern technology through the use of technology. I would also like to use this
as an opportunity to educate children, so my project will also need to appeal
to them as well. I have thought about creating a treasure hunt or game like
structure to appeal to this type of audience. The outcome would likely serve a
nature reserve by creating more interest in the wildlife and conservation
efforts surrounding it.
4. Theoretical Framework:Summarise the theoretical framework of your practice enquiry.
Semiotics;
One of the things I have been working on so far is the use of simple and
more modern imagery, hoping that this would appeal to a wider audience more
than the traditional style of illustration that is more commonly found, and also
make identification easier by picking out and focusing on the key
characteristics of the creature.
One example that I will be using in my work, can be found in This means this, this means that a user’s
guide to semiotics by Sean Hall; here, a simple image of Elvis’ hair is
used to represent Elvis himself, a synecdoche, where a part of something
represent the whole thing (Hall, 2007). In my work I have been using shapes and
key colours to create simple images to represent the creature.
I’m hoping that by learning more about semiotics, I will find more ways
to use it in my practice to make my ‘guide’ more usable and appealing.
Readings:
This means this, this means
that a user’s guide to semiotics by Sean Hall
Semiotics the basics by Daniel Chandler
5. Methodology: Set out the visual methodology you will employ in researching the
question you have set yourself. Construct a time-based structure for your
visual research and practice.
I will be spending most of time researching what is currently available
around my subject, so that I can try to improve on it. I will also be visiting
nature reserves to see what techniques are already employed with regards to
appealing to children, and researching the signs around the nature reserve and
how they work so I will know what I will need to include in my own work.
I will also be researching artists that work in a similar style to that
which I have in mind; such as Matt Sewell, who has recently publish a couple of
guides to our native birds, Our song
birds and Our Woodland birds. His
style of illustration is very simple and makes identification easy, while also
being more contemporary and non traditional, and also using humorous
descriptions of each birds, appealing to a wider audience.
My research will consist of information found on the internet (National
trust, RSPB, and nature reserve websites, as well as blogs and articles)
journals and books, also television programmes such as Spring Watch and
Unsprung.
6. Deliverables: Please list the outcomes that you envisage resulting from the project.
App
Guidebook/map
Nature trail/ species
treasure hunt
Nature reserve signs and
guide
How these things could link together to create an interactive and
appealing species guide.
7. Identify any exceptional practical requirements
that the project will necessitate: Please list anything beyond the usual provisions of the programme.
8. Bibliography:
Hall, S. (2007).This means this, this means that. 1st ed.
London: L. King Pub.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
CONCEPT : Blog entry 26 Something that I may have to include in this project is maps. I started this Pinboardfor some ideas. At the minute I'm just thinking of using some of the techniques and ideas that I already have; mainly cutting out the shapes from photos (of both feathers and environment) possibly come up with a non traditional way of incorporating the map in my designs..?
Today I have been looking into nature reserve signs, to see what has already been done, and also to get an idea of what I should be working towards; to see what works and what doesn't.
I found few companies online that make these things, the first makes the designs them selves (this is mainly what I would be interested in redesigning)
(Nature Signs, 2014)
These are very similar to the the signs that I photographed at Attenborough Nature reserve, (Blog entry 50) and most signs that you will see around these locations. They all look very similar; a mix of photographs and traditional, painted identification images, all very green, using bits of natural textures, but in a very unimaginative way.
This site says that the designer understands "the need for designs to be colourful, informative, clean, and easily understandable". These are things that I need to take into consideration when making my own designs, however I just think the current signs are so boring! I never read the whole thing, the fact that these signs are practically the same all over the place just makes them more boring. I want to make them more appealing to everyone, although I think with a focus on children and younger people, which is why I've also been thinking about making a game (treasure hunt?) around them? I'm not sure yet..
The Osprey company makes the surrounds for the signs. This isn't something I am not particularly interested in making, but they have an interesting, sometimes more modern design that reflects the environment. Although you can see from these images, that the signs themselves are still the traditional type found in most nature reserves and sites.
(Ospreyco.com, 2014)
These boards were done for a commission by Sally Lackaff. Although these are different to what is around nature reserves now, it still relies on a traditional style of illustration. Despite them looking more interesting and beautiful, I think they are too over crowded and complex, and again I'm not sure if I would try and read the whole thing; I am imediatly put off trying to read the whole thing because of how busy it seems.
"Every one of the signs showcases the pencil-and-watercolor handiwork of Astoria-based artist Sally Lackaff, and eight of them feature her artwork alone.
“I was really given a lot of free rein,” Lackaff said. “I just got to do whatever I wanted, basically. I could have done oil paintings if I’d chosen.”
Her task was simple if not exactly easy: create a series of panels that illustrate the natural elements, both flora and fauna, in and around the Little Pompey Wetlands, the treatment plant, the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve and elsewhere along the trail.
Lackaff tried to fill the frames of her canvases with as many species of native birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, insects and plants as possible without making the signs too “busy.”
Two of the panels — titled “An Ecola Creek Forest” and “The Native Wetlands” — depict the land’s indigenous history, how the local tribes once lived in the marshes and woodlands, and what their daily habits may have been.
One panel explains how the treatment plant works, and another tells the history of the tide gate near Second Street. Lackaff and public works employee Tracy Sund collaborated on the latter, which incorporates computer generated graphics alongside Lackaff’s work.
In addition, her artwork is laced with text, penned in black ink, about the wildlife on display. On the finished signs, the paintings will hover above extended information boxes that explain the pictured content in greater depth. "
(www.dailyastorian.com, 2014)
These images below are from Redtail Interpretive nature signs...these are on a similar level to Matt Sewell for making me want to kill myself for having the most original ideas!
(Facebook, 2014)
His simplified images are like mine but with more detail...
I can't see all of his work, these images are just taken from his Facebook page, and I cant seem to find a website, but these images have a lot of the same elements to them that mine do, from the silhouettes of the birds in flight to the patterns of the eggs. Although I don't like his coloured backgrounds; I think these don't make the images seem as clean and contemporary but maybe my images would benefit from the addition of the shadow?
CONCEPT : Blog entry 24 I applied some of the things that I had been working on today to the stuff I was working on yesterday; this looks much better!
CONCEPT : Blog entry 23
This is just about everything that I have done today; I began initially experimenting with the level of detail that I would include (see previous post) after a couple of images, I had worked it out, so I started just making things. Now I feel like I have it figured out, I might go back and redo some of my earlier images ( the stoat and weasel image in particular I feel could be much better).
Experimentation - Green Woodpecker
Experimentation - Barn Owl
Experimentation - Blue Tit
Experimentation - Heron
Experimentation - Grey Squirrel
Experimentation - Hare
Experimentation - Kingfisher
CONCEPT : Blog entry 22
Have been continuing to experiment with the level of detail;
It seems like the simpler the better; I need to use more subtle colours to just imply the shapes, not show them. The eyes need as many different and similar layers as possible, to make them work.
Here I tried to use very minimal detail, but the image on the left shows how just tiny bit of very subtle detail can make the image work better.
Does the highlight in the eye make it look like a cartoon? I think it works, it makes it look bit better, but I'm not sure if I like it..?
