Week 2 - Presentation of our Collections, Research and a visiting Illustrator

After researching into some artists and their collections from the previous week, I chose to take onboard some of the weird, but wonderful collections they had. 

I mind mapped out my thought process of some of the things I collect.

I used Quinell for inspiration, he had an interview into the thought process behind his illustrations, he was asked 'Why he uses nostalgia, and other things to create his work, is it deliberate or is it something thats available to you?' his response was...

'Well using found objects tends to be the way I work. For the collage work, old stuff works much better commercially because there’s no copyright on it.'

This made me think about what kind of things I could use for my collection, as I wanted it to be something I like and something that I can use without even realising I collect it. The closest thing I could get to Quinnell's response was my chokers. I wear them everyday without realising it, I also have a lot of different ones, so I guess you could say I've been collecting for years without realising it. I don't really have a reason for wearing or collecting them other than the fact I have a visual interest in them, some with lace, others with other items on them, I just find them visually pleasing.

After a group discussion my tutor really liked the idea behind my collection, he said to use the way the chokers themselves are made, eg. He was very keen on the one with lace. From this feedback I have decided to find more chokers that have more around them, rather than the actual items attached to it. 

How do they in corporate into illustration?

I was thinking about using them to create the Illustration itself, for example. On the back of on of my chokers has a Japanese dragon, I was thinking about forming a dragon Illustration from the chokers.

After having a final collection chosen we had a visiting lecture today, Andrew Foster, he showed us some of his works (well most of them.) He described his work to be abstract and figurative, with a commercial side to it, he also mentioned that he changed formats so he didn't get bored of his work. One thing that really interested me was that he said he had a fascination with 'lacy panties,' I thought he'd be a good influence in my work because of the way he'd use the lace in his illustrations, he'd cover the 'object' or something within the illustration in lace, very faintly. I feel I could use this because my chokers have lace around the neck and that the inspiration to cover things in lace could be used in my work.

He has 2 websites the first is a more personal one to him and the second one relates more to marketing.

http://www.andrewfosterdesign.com/about.html

http://mrandrewfoster.com/

Week 1 - Briefing for new module Collections

Today we got out briefing for a new module, titled 'Collections.'

We have been asked to start thinking about ideas for our own Collections. We had a presentation from our lecturer to get some ideas for a starting point, some ideas that might inspire us. We were shown collections from a numerous amount of different artists such as Joseph Cornell, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Peter Blake, Eduardo Paollozi and Gregory Blackstock.

We were also shown Picasso's African Collection, where during this time he developed an inspiration from African art during this period , it was known as the 'Black Period' that had lasted from 1907-1909. His interest was first sparked by Henri Matisse who had showed him a mask from Africa. After painting Les Demoiselles d'Avigon, Picasso began painting in an influenced style by the two figures on the right side of the paintings, which were based of African Art. This painting is often said to be cubist work, before the Cubist phase Picasso spend several years exploring African Art. During this time the French empire were expanding to Africa, the African artefacts were being brought back to the French museums. The press exaggerated stories about cannibalism and exotic tales about a kingdom (African kingdom of Dahomey.) It was therefore natural for Picasso to look towards African artefacts and use it as inspiration in his work. Later in life, Picasso denied being inspired by African Art, but his art work and Collection says otherwise.

I too am against everything. I too believe that everything is unknown, that everything is an enemy! Everything! - Pablo Picasso

(Our lecturer for this term is an Illustrator called Nicolas Stevenson)

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-cornell-joseph.htm

http://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net/period-african.php