REALISATION: Blog entry 10

I've been struggling lately to make work, and to make work at all that I don't hate - today I did some stuff that I don't think is completely horrible...

Sketchbook experiment

This first one, I took inspiration from Hella Jongerious' work (Blog entry 4). I didnt like it when I first did it, but now it's growing on me slightly. I think this might work out better if I tried it in photoshop, Im sure, but while I'm experimenting, it might be worth a shot.

Sketchbook experiment

I also tried other ways to incorporate a more fitting pattern into my image..

Sketchbook experiment

These seemed to work quite well, so took it to photoshop to start playing with it there. this is ok..I kind of like the water colour ones better, but it was only my first attempt. I'm also not sure how well this shows that it is a sparrow...with my other older stuff it was easily identifiable (that was the point). I also need to think about how this could work with capercaillie....

Photoshop experiment

I also managed to get little bits of my PPF done; I wanted to get started on this as I think it will help me get my concept pane power point together a little better. It's hard going though, I'm in such a slump with my work, I don't feel like I've made any progress the past few weeks. I have a tutorial Monday, and with how far I've come I'm not sure it's exactly going to be any more help. I have no time next week to do much of anything with my work either, so I need to get the worst of it out of the way this week. Tomorrow I really need to focus on getting my concept panel stuff out of the way and done...

REALISATION: Blog entry 9

Experimentation - Capercaillie

Add captionExperimentation - Capercaillie

Experimentation - Capercaillie

Experimentation - Capercaillie

Experimentation - Capercaillie

Experimentation - Capercaillie

Experimentation - Capercaillie

This is just some brief continuation of my experimentation with this idea. For this one I've been thinking more along the lines of a logo (although this would be something that is also part of the main pattern). I think these work better than those of the sparrows, but mainly because the capercaillie has a more recognisable shape. 

There is still a lot more to experiment with with this idea;

-full pattern overlay

-emulsion printed backgrounds

-other types of printed backgrounds

-working into photos by hand (? sewing, painting, drawing)

-different variations of image

I also still want to continue to experiment with how simple my designs are going to be, and I need to work on refining the birds them selves too.

REALISATION: Blog entry 8

Experimentation photoshop - sparrows

This image is just another little bit of experimentation carried on from before, with spots and dots and just trying little things that I might be able to incorporate into the layers of my pattern. I've also been thinking about how Mel Lim takes small aspects of her patterns and uses it on a range of things..I think this is something that I should be thinking of as, I'm not sure what exactly my outcome will be, but I'm currently thinking that I will be a range of things, all tied together by one pattern. Using small aspects of the design on different things is a good way to connect them all together under one project.

I have been looking into the active projects by the RSPB to get more information on the issues surrounding sparrows, to get a better grasp on what gap my project could fill;

London House Sparrow Parks Project

Recent research has shown house sparrows in urban areas suffer from a lack of invertebrates (insects) to feed their young. This was shown by a study in Leicester, where poor condition and death of young chicks was linked to low numbers of invertebrates in their diet (RSPB and De Montfort University study). A large-scale feeding experiment in London (RSPB study) has demonstrated the importance of invertebrates for the survival of young chicks. Through this project, we tested more natural ways to increase the numbers of invertebrates available to sparrows and other birds in our urban green spaces. 

The London House Sparrow Parks Project tested different habitat management types in London parks with the aim of boosting invertebrate numbers and also seeds during the winter. This could benefit a host of urban birds, insects and other wildlife. 

Project objectives 

• To test which of the following habitat management types benefit house sparrows and other species the most: (1) long grass (left to set seed over winter); (2) native wildflower meadows (with traditional haymeadow management); (3) 'Wildlife seed plots' (based on wild bird cover options of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme for farmland). 
• To provide advice to parks across London and the UK, based on the results 
• To raise awareness of the problems facing urban wildlife and encourage people to consider wildlife in local parks and their own gardens 

Key dates so far 

• 25 trial plots (and corresponding 'control' plots of normal park management) were set up in 20 parks across London 
• Three years of monitoring have been completed (bird, insect and seed numbers) 
• A team of forty dedicated volunteers helped to monitor bird use of the plots during the project
•  Public engagement and educational activities were carried out at and near some of the parks 
• Results have been analysed and papers will be written up to make the results widely available

(The RSPB, 2014) 

However, I still have more research to do;

-More into individual projects and what they actually were! (info on RSPB website is pretty vague)

-Research into invertebrates (suspected main cause for species decline)

-Other sparrow research (history/symbolism/etc..)

Hopefully doing more research will give me the fuel I need to become more productive.

I'm having an ideas dry spell, and am not sure what to make or where to go with anything at the moment..I think I've been too focused on having to have my stuff together for the upcoming concept panel, and also trying to figure out what my outcome maybe (which I of course wont know t the moment but I cant help but think about it...) so I decided to just brain storm, and have a couple of days just experimenting and see what come from it.

Photoshop experimentation - Urban Sparrows

This is just a random idea that I thought I'd try. I wanted to experiment with taking elements of my pattern and applying it in different ways, to different things..this was just a quick experiment with that (I intend to do more with this). I also had the idea to try a really simplified version of the style that I have been working with; I wanted to see if it would be possible to reduce it to one colour. I think this may work with a more recognisable bird (such as the capercaillie, which I'm going to try this with next) but with the sparrow, I just don't think that it is recognisable as that...so this kind of flops. The idea of using the photographs works (not my image by the way, just one from google for the sake of experimentation) to give a good idea of the location, and possibly the issue at hand. Overall though i'm not sure this idea works too well..but I will also try this, and some more variations with capercaillie, and the forest to see how that works. I will also try a couple more variations of this idea with sparrow and the city, although I'm not convinced by the idea anymore...

The RSPB, (2014). London House Sparrow Parks Project. [online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/whatwedo/projects/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-235650 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2014]. 

REALISATION: Blog entry 6

Experimentation with photoshop

I didn't try to make this into any kind of pattern, just wanted to experiment with a couple of things. Everything I do at the moment looks bloody horrible...I'm not happy with this, although a couple of things here do seem to work together, but I just cant make the composition look anything like decent today. 

I think what I need is lots more time to experiment and faff around...but I'm having kittens about concept panel in a couple of weeks, and how much I don't want a repeat of the last one. I need to make my idea make sense, but I cant even write down what it is that I'm doing at the minute. 

REALISATION: Blog entry 3

After my tutorial it's become clear that I just need to do lots more research, like so much more research;
-Pattern design/designers/theory (have a look in the library for some books)
-Practitioners - lots more
-William morris
-Timerous beasties

I had been thinking about splitting the RL into smaller groups, to narrow it down a little. After doing lots or research into why each species is endangered, and the current conservation projects the RSPB has embarked upon, I settled into looking at the Farmland initiative (concerning birds such as; skylark, corn bunting, turtle dove, grey partridge, lapwing, yellow wagtail, and tree sparrow), there are also separate projects which focus on birds such as the cappercaillie, the cuckoo, and urban house sparrows. 

By splitting it into groups, I would be able to do something a little different which appealed to different audiences, to aid with the conservation effort of our british birds and red listed species. 

However, Tim mentioned that to start with it might be interesting to just focus in on one bird, and to really get into it, and this would give me an idea of what could be done with this idea and this project.

I think I'm going start with the house sparrow, something so boring and ordinary, but it is the one that I have the most ideas for so far, and the issues surrounding house sparrows aren't just that we might lose house sparrows.

The reason house sparrows have made the RL is because they are struggling to find food. The lack of invertebrates in city centres is something that has a much bigger impact than just the possibility of losing another species of bird (this also affects other types of birds such as starlings). 

However, the other bird that I find really interesting is the cappercaillie...I may focus on two? not sure yet, something that I will decide on later.

I'm also aware that come concept panel, I am probably going to be questioned about the relevance of working with pattern...I need to have a good answer. My main thinking was that, pattern is very fashionable an d appealing right now, and I wanted to use that for good, to appeal to a wider audience, and use it along side conservation efforts that are already in place to make them more appealing.

So, my new action plan is to do lots more research, but also to focus in on one type of bird - the sparrow (for now any way). I hope that in doing my research more ideas will come with regards to the other birds on the RL.

REALISATION: Blog entry 2

Got to talk to about my work and how it might progress a little today...it's been suggested that instead of just focusing on the pattern, that I use this as a theme that runs through and connects lots of different things.

I need to think about my audience, and possibly split the RL into different categories, each with a different outcome and audience..I don't know why I didn't think of this, it already makers more sense, gives me an opportunity to experiment with lots of things, have a wide range of out comes, appeal to a really wide audience, and have my work be able to actually benefit the RSPB with lots of small conservation projects, all linked together by my design - but how to use it.

The point of using pattern, was that it was something fashionable, appealing and current. But it is just used on clothing and nice accessories. I wanted to use it to convey all the information that a traditional bird guide would (location, habitat, food source) but there are somethings that are not so easy to depict in this way (such as reason for decline in species). If I use the pattern to link individual conservation projects, this becomes a little easier.

I'm not sure what the outcomes will be for all of them, but one idea that was said, was for the garden birds, I could have packets of seed, packets of flowers/plant..thing to entice birds to gardens - a range of products, with my patterns on the labels. This also would make less work in some places  as this would require on pattern, instead of say 10.

I have a lot of working out to do for this, my goal at the moment, is to have this idea fully hashed out by the first concept panel in a month. I'm not too focused on making the patterns, and working out how to depict each species (which was my focus before today) I just want to have this while idea sorted before the concept panel.

Today, I'm going to start separating the species into groups (garden birds, sea birds, waders/ducks, birds of prey) and thinking about why they are on the RL, and who I will need to appeal to to make a difference. I need to focus more on the audience, to produce suitable outcomes.

CONCEPT: Blog entry 41

AS part of my research, I decided to look in to what else there is around the red list...books, articles etc. In my previous research I had found a couple of books, one of them being While Flocks Last by Charlie Elder (Elder 2009) which focuses on one mans journey to track down all of the birds on the Red List. Although this book works as a story of Elder's life for the year that he spent finding all of the birds, it does offer a lot of information on each bird, and why they are on the Red List. Also there was the RSPB bird guide itself which highlights which species belong to the red, amber and green categories - I also found this feature in another bird guide; The Kids' Book of Garden Birds (Sahai, 2013). There is also a small book of poetry about the Red List, The Red List: A Poem (Cushman, n.d.), but, apart from these few examples, I haven't found any other books that reference the Red List - never mind a guide book that focuses entirely on the Red list.

Like wise, I wasn't able to find many articles on the subject, just a couple from around the time the RSPB announced the Red List. There is this one (Adam, 2009) on the guardian...but there is very little on the Red list.

This project will serve to fill that gap. It will offer more information on the Red List itself, and also the birds, but not just the information on the species, like most other guides, but why they are featured on the Red List, and why it matters. I want it to spread the word, and make more people bothered about this. I need to find away to give the subject a wide appeal; I'm hoping that I can do this through my style of illustration.

Adam, D. (2009). Cuckoo joins official list of UK's most endangered birds. [online] the Guardian. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/may/28/cuckoo-endangered-bird-species [Accessed 27 Aug. 2014].

Cushman, S. (n.d.). The red list. 1st ed.

Elder, C. (2009). While flocks last. 1st ed. Oxford: ISIS.

Sahai, S. (2013). The Kids' Book of Garden Birds. 1st ed. Square and Circus.

CONCEPT: Blog entry 40

Today I have spent most of my day working on this pattern, with golden orioles all over it. I wanted to use this example of more how I can mix in more information about the bird (although this particular species may have been a poor choice in hindsight) but you get the gist...I have used both the male and female variations of the bird, and the branches it sits upon are those of the tree where it's favourite berries grow. The also eat insects, but I was unsure how/whether to include this (??).

Experimentation in Photoshop, Golden Oriole Pattern

[As you can see here, it doesn't quite seamlessly repeat yet, but it's getting there! - I'll talk about this a little more in a moment]

Experimentation in Photoshop, Golden Oriole Pattern, Detail

Experimentation with pattern - Holes!

As this image shows, although this attempt at a repeating pattern was more successful, I still have noticeable holes! It is only my second attempt using this method, but I wanted to have at least one nicely done example before I hand my work in. sadly though, this has taken me the best part of a day, and it is no where near as nicely polished as I would like it to be...

I may just have a to accept that I haven't got time to be able to nail this technique before assessment..which is pretty pants.

HOWEVER! It does work, I just need to work on it and get better at it; my second attempt is already lots better than my first, I don't think it will take that long for me to get the hang of it. 

It does work, it just needs lots more experimentation and polishing, which I will have time for in the next module, I just haven't had time for it in this module because I've been too busy pulling my hair out figuring out what I'm actually going to do.

CONCEPT: Blog entry 39

For this one, I actually found out how to make a proper repeating pattern - as a result, it works much better. It's not as nicely finished as I'd like (I've been at this all day, I'm packing up after this post) the leaves look horrid, I'll have to find a better way to do these next time, but for today I just wanted to see if I could do this.

[This is the tutorial I followed to make my pattern]

Experimentation with pattern in Photoshop - Marsh Tit

Experimentation with pattern in Photoshop - Marsh Tit detail

Another part of the plan, was to make  the pattern relate to the birds habitat, which I haven't done here (time, and I'm just fannying around), I did try to do this more with my previous pattern with the lapwings (showed it's nest, tried to convey the idea of water etc.) with the smaller birds I'm thinking of using the trees that they like to hang out in... and it will generally flow better when I have them all together (it will be more obvious what I'm doing, I hope, anyway) for instance, the wader birds will be around water, on sand, marshes. Game birds (capercallie, grey partridge etc.) will be on the ground, autumnal colours and leaves, and the smaller birds will have their favourite trees (foods, berries etc.) I just think its a more interesting way to show the birds habitat that the traditional images found in these kinds of books.

I really like this idea...but, how is it relevant to the RSPB Red List? Why should it be a pattern?

Well; (a couple of ideas..)

- Patterns are fashionable, a way to appeal to a wider audience 

- Book could link to a website, where can buy things with that print on, with a portion of the proceeds going to the RSPB (I have other ideas for a website too, later though).

(Although these two ideas are making it very female orientated - can you make a butch pattern??)

I'm just thinking of trying to do something different with the illustrations! As my research yesterday proved, there are so many arty bird books, full of very similar looking pretty water colours of birds and animals - I need to find something different to make mine stand out.

___________________________

I've been thinking about what I might put in my PPF...and what I will actually be making. Right now, I'm thinking it will be a book (on the Red List, obvs). I want the book be a combination of the two main types of bird books; the species guide and the arty coffee table book, with a wide audience appeal. I want it to provide information on the Red List and the individual species, like the species guide, but I also want it to have the appeal of the coffee table books. 

I've also been thinking that this book can then link to website; the website will have a couple of features,

- More info on each species (sound clips, photos)

- Sighting maps that can be added too - can see where the birds of the Red List have been spotted

- Shop! for the patterns, proceeds going to the RSPB

There is much more work to be done on this...but my idea is coming together! (Its about bloody time too!)

CONCEPT : Blog entry 37

As well as looking at various books that are knocking around, I've been looking at the Red List  on the RSPB's website (The RSPB, 2014). And I've been thinning about what my book could look like..what to include, how it would work.

I want it to function as a guide, and with the information on the Red List but also to appeal to a wide audience, I think I've given up on appealing to children really, but younger adults, just more people outside of the hardcore twitchers, and I'm thinking of all the ways in which I could do this.

I have been thinking about doing a print/pattern for each bird...this could be something a little different. This idea comes from a love of Cath Kidston, but also thinks like William Morris prints, John Ruskin, and Timerous Besties. This kind of vintage pattern is making a come back and can be utilised to appeal to the wider audience that I am wanting it too...If I really wanted to go made I could have some of my patterns printed to fabric and make some bits an bobs too (just something to think about - materials to go along side a book).

The patterns would include bits of information about each species, like links to their habitat and location in the county.

Cath Kidston - Garden Birds Pattern

Timorous Beasties Pattern 

William Morris pattern

John Ruskin Study of Kingfisher 1871

With my dissertation pretty much finished, I can focus on this idea, and get back to making things, and see what I can make work! I'm excited to get making things again.

The RSPB, (2014). Red, amber and green explained. [online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx [Accessed 18 Aug. 2014].

PP&M: Blog entry  5

After doing some mind maps and thinking around the ideas of natural hexagons...I started thinking about extinction (my actual train of thought went something like natural hexagons>turles> endangered> wwf animal adoption packs) so I've started to do some drawings around this idea.

Drawings taken from sketchbook

I had been looking at Alan Bakers work (below); showing the animal in the foreground and then a depiction of the animals habitat. I wanted to take this idea and use it to show the reasons for the animals endangered status (the panda is endangered because of deforestation, the background image would represent this).

I have only done these few quick sketches, the idea obviously needs more work.

Alan Baker - Swallows in Retro design

Alan Baker - Kingfisher at the Seaside

Another of the ideas that I've had from the initial idea of extinction, is to recreate the RSPB bird guide focusing on the red list; the red list is the UK's top birds of conservation concern. The red list is something that I looked at before, but I couldn't really come up with a good idea then. However now I think I might have something.

The current guide is mainly for identification; it includes very traditional images, some information on the type of bird, and a little bit about the endangered species. What I would like to create is a book solely focused on those red listed species; with better pictures, and more information. This book would be less of an identification guide for twitchers, more something to raise awareness of the red listed birds, to try and get more people aware of what is happening, by appearing to a wider audience.

So far i have had a couple of ideas for how things might look. everything needs refining, and much more work, but below are my first few rough ideas and sketch book experimentation.

Experimentation with text

Above: An idea I had for the main text in the book. On the right is the entire list of species, and the right, the books title. The pattern on the text is taken from feathers of different birds on the list. I really like this idea, but it definitely needs more work.

Sketchbook work 

Above: Initial doodles in sketchbook, I haven't drawn for a while, so they're a little rough in places. I need to do lots of these to get my drawings up to scratch again. I also need to think about adding colour.

Andrew Beckett

Thinking of adding color, I found a couple of images by Andrew Beckett. I really like this image, the use of shading and just one bold color is something that I can really identify within my own work. 

I have always tended to work in black and white, even when doing color photography, I seem to choose a film that produces a dull muted color. In the past, I did a whole series of photographs of pigeons using a dull film, but the film also picked out the iridescent colors of the birds plumage, and random bold colors, such as red.

Sketchbook work 

 Above: I started to work in colour. Although I like my little pencil sketches, if I'm going to follow through with this idea, I really should work out how to work with colour. I do like this image, but it still feels very traditional. I wanted to create something more interesting, and vibrant. 

Ralph Steadman - Dodo

I really like the works of Ralph Steadman, he does this really well. I think I need to do lots more experimentation, to help me to find my own style.
I also did a quick sample of the text and image together, which i think works quite well. I do like this idea for the text, but I possibly need to work on exactly what font I would use...
Right now, I like the contrast of the harsh bold text with the soft colours of my drawings. The font also allows for the use of the feathers to show quite well. The font used, I think, will also depend on the style of image that I eventually decide on.

Bull finches aren't actually on the red list, I just quite like them.

Above: more experimentation with using colour this way, but this time using ink. this works really well with this type of bird, but I'm not sure would work with others. Also, is still really quite traditional. This is just something that I need to spend lots more time on before I get it right.

You can view information, and an explanation of the RSPB's red, amber and green lists here: click

And here is a PDF containing the lists of all the birds that are currently on our red, amber and green lists: click

Both of these ideas need more thought and development...to be honest I am  little unsure if I have strayed too far from the original brief..? I possibly need to talk to a couple of people about where my work is going.

Baker, A. n.d. Kingfisher by the Seaside. http://www.childrensillustrators.com/portfolioIllustrations/65295.jpg [Accessed 7th Feb 2014]

Baker, A. n.d. Swallows in Retro Design. http://www.illustrationweb.com/image.aspx?sz=760&image_id=77647&fitw=y&src=hires&name=image_52285.jpg [Accessed 7th Feb 2014]

Becket. A. n.d <http://www.illustrationweb.com/image.aspx?sz=760&image_id=82310&fitw=y&src=hires&name=image_57323.jpg> [Accessed 11th February2014]

Birds of Conservation Concern. n.d. [PDF] http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/BoCC_tcm9-217852.pdf [Accessed 31st Jan 2014] 

Newscientist.com. 2014. CultureLab: Exhibiting lost birds to preserve those in danger. [online] Available at: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/11/exhibiting-lost-birds-to-preserve-those-in-danger.html [Accessed: 11 Feb 2014].

The RSPB. 2014. Red, amber and green explained. [online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx [Accessed: 7 Feb 2014].