Experiment Gallery

Below are the experiments I carried out after doing my research and analysis into various artists's visual language.

The first group of ideas I sketched out are based on popular music icons. I figured using subject matter that we're all familiar with would give my experiments/pieces below more quality in terms of selling them. 

 I was mainly looking (above) at the use of colour in prints, and how a character/person can be associated with a certain colour, e.g. Ed Sheeran being associated with green and orange (green because of latest album and orange because of his ginger hair)

My first set of experiments will be based on this drawing of Ed Sheeran. I'll be looking at use of Watercolours (derived from my Dustin Nguyen Research), Reduction (derived from my Rian Hughes Research), and how a print can Represent a person/character through use of colour and gesture (derived from my Daigo Ikeno Research). I'll also include brief experiments into emphasising Depth (derived from my Ashley Wood Research) and Altering the Context of the image using text (derived from my David Foldvari Research).

Watercolour painted circles. Green and orange being the colours that represent Sheeran, literally because of his 2 albums. 

Sheeran's First Album

(http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004XZDT60/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00JKGYV6E&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1BQTQZACXCJY8EGFA6KK) + album, Ed Sheeran, 2011

Sheeran's Second Album

(http://www.amazon.co.uk/x-multiply-Ed-Sheeran/dp/B00JKGYV6E) X album, Ed Sheeran, 2014

However if we look into the implications of the colours, we see that Orange implies that he's scared, confused, anxious, rejected, which I believe represents his teenage audience and musical origin and struggles as a teenager. Angsty Teenagers can relate to his music a lot, songs like "U.N.I" for instance, discusses his relationship ending because the girlfriend went to uni. Something a lot of teenage students can completely understand, and is relevant to their lives.

"So am I close to you anymore, if it's over?
And there's no chance that we'll work it out
That's why you and I ended over U N I
And I said that's fine but you're the only one that knows I lied
You and I ended over U N I
And I said that's fine but you're the only one that knows I lied" - U.N.I, Ed Sheeran, 2011

When we look at Green, we see it implies powerful, appreciated, respected, faithful, important and so on. This shows us a lot. It reflects his rise to success, from orange to green, anxious and scared, to respected and powerful. It also reflects growing up, as I've just discussed, orange represents his teenage angst, and the green in this case reflects adulthood.

(Consult Daigo Ikeno tab, reference #3)

The above experiments have a smaller circle of colour as a background. This shape reminds me of a spotlight, something performers can be associated with, which makes it a very appropriate composition style.

These two experiments above have larger circles, cropping the image as if you're looking through a hole/camera at him. This is a good way to frame the image, and the circle reflects the concept of records and CDs

Upon adding the hair colour and settling on the green background, I also upped the vibrance aswell. Out of the two compositions I prefer the first one, the "spotlight" looking one. It not only has this effect, that it's a spotlight, but it also adds depth, detaching it from the drawing.
The addition of the hair I don't think has worked as well as I'd planned, it's unnecessary, and makes the image look garish and unfinished. The contrast of the orange on the green looks lacking in artistic consideration because they don't go too well together in this context. It's simply a bit hard on the eyes. I increased the vibrance, but I feel this hasn't helped the context, I feel a less saturated, faded circle would emphasise depth and bring the drawing out more.

Above you'll see I've changed the green background to blue, giving a calmer, cooler feeling to the print. This is also a very appropriate colour for Ed Sheeran, reflecting traits of peaceful, relaxed, content, intimate and serene. He has a very cool, calm style to his music, which is something reflected in the gesture aswell; he looks thoughtful, calm, sensitive and peaceful. I think perhaps a very appropriate alteration here.

Here, I swapped around the colours to test a more abstract approach to the design. Still giving the same feeling as the previous design in terms of colours, it just looks a bit silly...

Returning to no hair colour and orange background, I've faded the orange a little to help emphasise the foreground.

Settling on the blue background because it's a soothing colour and goes really well with orange (consult the colour wheel - they're opposite one another on the spectrum), I also brought back the hair colour and added a gradient, then also changed the layer mode to "linear light". This gives an effect of lighting, and also makes the hair a more believable colour. Contrasting the faded blue (which helps push the drawing forward), the dark orange is warm and comforting. The piece however doesn't feel very strong with the blue, I believe green instead of the blue would help seal the image as an illustration.

The last image, you'll see I've touched up the effects making them more appealing


When considering Sheeran's music style, I feel the blue portrays the feeling much better than green, but due to the link I made earlier, the orange to green being teenager to adult, the use of the orange and green in the image depicts my message much better, while also being the colours that are associated with Ed Sheeran due to his album art graphic design. I also believe that the green helps ground the image a lot more, identifying it as a complete illustration; the blue gave the feeling that it was loose and incomplete. It was too calm.
On this image I've also removed all line art for the hair, letting the colour speak for itself. This gives a sense of detachment and that the hair is important in itself, which it is, Ed Sheeran is known for his hair so I feel detaching it and emphasising on its own merits is a very appropriate technique.

I consider this piece my final experiment for this drawing. In conclusion, the Visual Languages of the artists I've analysed that I've utilised in this piece are as follows:

- Rian Hughes: Reduction in detail, colour and lines; no line art for his hair, not fully coloured, only a very limited palette helping emphasise the message, and no details for backgrounds except a texture. Textures used for solid colour adding to the appealing design and helps contrast the crisp pen drawing.

- Dustin Nguyen: The use of Watercolour paints offer an organic fluidity, especially the brushstrokes following the shape of the circle, which in itself is a reference to records and CDs spinning in the player

- Ashley Wood: The Abstract approach to the outcome is the use of colour and paints. No background besides textured brushstrokes and having coloured hair but nothing else. The Foggy effect I've discussed in my research, isn't used here to the same extent, but I have made sure the background has been composed and coloured in such a way that successfully emphasises and pushes forward the foreground.

- Daigo Ikeno: The illustration of Ed Sheeran in many ways not only shows him, but Represents him and the concept he stands for, like Ikeno's promotional work. The colours, I've discussed during experimentation above, represent Ed Sheeran's journey from ambitious and scared teenager to successful, respected adult. The circle background represents music, such as records and CDs, the texture of the brushstrokes reflect the organic nature of music, and his gesture shows him singing/recording in a very calm, collected way, which are traits that Sheeran can be linked to; he's a chilled out, occasional weed smoking acoustic guitar player.

- David Folvari: I drew a realistic pen drawing of the person, and I've used a very limited palette. I have also explored above the different colours that manipulate the Context of the image.

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 A piece based on Pharrell Williams' song "Happy". He's wearing his memorable attire from the music video and the associated colour is yellow due to the logo and graphic design.

(http://24hoursofhappy.com/) Pharrell Williams, 2014

The piece above depicts the associated colour, memorable pose and outfit of Pharrell, and using the identified visual language of David Foldvari I've included some text that alters the context of the image. The song and illustration is to do with being "Happy", but the text implies he's actually just drunk and the pose is really him trying to balance.

It almost looks like a holiday poster or advert due to the typeface, but include the context and this would make a good 18-30s holiday advertisement. The correct audience for the reference to the song and 18-30s holidays are renown for spending the whole time drinking. But I digress...

I feel that for more ironic effect I should use the same font/a very similar font as the actual typeface used for the graphic design of "Happy".

Above is the altered text. I've identified the typeface as Avenir Next Condensed. 

Above, I've played around with kerning, tracking and leading, adding a more controlled feeling to the writing. The black text looks great on the yellow, adding more emphasis to the value of the yellow. Yellow of course meaning cheerful, hopeful, energetic, excited, joyful, therefore being a no brainer when associating a colour to the song "Happy".

(Consult Daigo Ikeno tab, reference #3)

Another reference to the character being drunk again but in a more cynical, satirical approach, inspired by David Foldvari. Using the angry colour red, it helps reflect the irony of the context, but I think perhaps a black bubble and white writing would suit better considering the use of yellow, a large amount of black would look important and be a good balance to the light yellow. I've also faded the yellow circle background here to push the foreground forward, emphasising depth, a visual language I identified from Ashley Wood.

The white on black thought bubble doesn't stand out too much, which is actually what I intended. It means the viewer will see the illustration first, make their own opinion on the image, likely that the colour and character invokes a feeling of happiness, but then they notice the thought bubble and it alters the context they've assumed it to be. I've also boosted the yellow back up because I feel the vibrance is important to the message.

I consider the above piece to be my final experiment for this illustration. In conclusion, the Visual Languages of the artists I've analysed that I've utilised in this piece are as follows:

- Rian Hughes: Reduction in background; only a watercolour painted circle to help emphasise the message of the piece, while it also being an interesting texture.

- Dustin Nguyen: The use of Watercolour paints offer an organic fluidity, especially the brushstrokes following the shape of the circle, which in itself is a reference to records and CDs spinning in the player.

- Ashley Wood: The Abstract approach to the outcome is the use of colour and paint. No background besides textured brushstrokes and an interactive effect of the character protruding from the design (legs obstructed but upper body not restricted).

- Daigo Ikeno: This illustration at first glance makes an appropriate representation of Pharrell Williams' song "Happy". This links to the idea of not only representing the person, but also a concept (the song).

- David Folvari: I have explored the use of text to alter the context of an illustration in a satirical, ironic, sarcastic fashion. I looked at the use of colour to further enhance this property.

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The next piece will be based on Taylor Swift and her latest big hit single, "Blank Space".

The line drawing for the image. I want to emphasise her red lips and finger nail. She's also crying as you'll see below when colour is added.

The limited palette here looks great, like matching your tie to your shoes and belt. The theme of red and black is quite aggressive and violent which also makes the thought bubble fit in, as if it's supposed to be there, which will make the message within have a more shocking effect.

The last iteration above uses a version of the text I've done in my artist research already as a specific experiment, see below.

This I think is my favourite ironic message out of the ones listed, a play on the phrase "Do it for the music", inferring that she sleeps with men just to write a song about the breakup I believe is quite a funny statement. It's satirical and it shows that she's aware of her intentions, supporting the fact that this persona she plays is fake. This is a trait that supports this satirical approach to the illustration even further.

My intention with this drawing is to add a version of taylor to the background over her shoulder, reflecting her career and the fact she's a performer, dramatic and passionate in many ways.

I've used a foggy layer to push the background back and highlight the focal point here. There are a few things the viewer can take away from this - the composition of her over her shoulder, near her head while she looks rather manic, could imply she has multiple personalities (an association by stereotype to "crazy"). It can say that she's passionate in many ways, in professionalism, in relationships, sensuality, music etc.

I consider the above two pieces to be my final experiments for this illustration. In conclusion, the Visual Languages of the artists I've analysed that I've utilised in these pieces are as follows:

- Rian Hughes: Reduction in background and colour palette. The vibrant red for the lips reflects her singing and sensuality, while also implying pain and anger; perhaps poisonous lips if I were to be poetic. A pattern drawn on her garment to form an interesting texture. It being a leopard/cheetah print, associating with the stereotype linked to this print (that women who wear it are very sexual) emphasised the sexual context of the piece.

- Dustin Nguyen: I used watercolour paints for the tears, dress, lips and thought bubble. This adds a hand-touched feeling to the piece.

- Ashley Wood: The Abstract approach to the outcome is the use of colour, which is very different from what the person would actually look like. In the right illustration, you'll see I've used a foggy layer to emphasise distance and depth, further separating the background from the foreground, making the reader focus more on the focal point, while the faded background serves more as a compliment to the foreground.

- Daigo Ikeno: This illustration focuses on Taylor Swift herself, but more specifically her song "Blank Space", which talks about her having many lovers, and how this makes her "insane". The use of colour reflects passion, anger, pain, aggression, while her gesture (she's crying with a sociopathic stare) represents how "insane" she is. In the right image, the relationship between the 2 gestures (background, foreground) implies perhaps a split personality, or an emotional roller-coaster. It represents that she's been through good and the bad, but when she's going through the bad, she perhaps only has to remember the good, and what it's all for.

- David Folvari: I have explored the use of text to alter the context of an illustration in a satirical, ironic, sarcastic fashion. I looked at the use of colour to further enhance this property. The red matches the same red in the illustration, and again, the red is an angry and cynical colour. The message "I do them for the music" is a play on the phrase "I do it for the music, not for the money". It reflects her being known for having a lot of lovers and writing songs that typically relate to her relationships and breakups. The message implied that she has many relationships and lovers just so she can write a song about them.


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Experiment Gallery