I'm visiting Graphic Designer/Illustrator Rian Hughes' work for my next set of experiments. His work, it seems, tends to suit one-off designs rather than narratives, such as posters, book/comic covers, postcards, logos etc. I'm looking at his work because it's very different to my style and what I do naturally; this is very out of my comfort zone, but I really feel this different approach will help towards my FMP, perhaps in terms of one-off postcards, posters and covers.
Similarly to Daigo Ikeno's work, Hughes' work is typically promotional rather than narrative. The vibrant, crazy colours and art style give an abstract feel that is very different from the literal narrative-style Comic artists usually use.
Similarly to Daigo Ikeno's work, Hughes' work is typically promotional rather than narrative. The vibrant, crazy colours and art style give an abstract feel that is very different from the literal narrative-style Comic artists usually use.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
The style takes inspiration from vector symbols and logos; minimal, memorable designs. And as you'll see below at some logos, the theme of reduction is here too. For instance, the t in the tumblr logo is cut out of the purple shape, and the same for the f in the Facebook logo.
14
15
A common technique in designs like these is Vector image making. Solid colours, no gradients, so the quality comes from the shapes and the depiction of the message.
Lots of Hughes' designs utilise rather abstract qualities, like no line-work, very different colours to what you'd expect, no context/backgrounds except for appealing designs or textures etc.
The common theme in his work is reduction. What's not there, is often the important part of the design. Hughes accomplishes this by using suggestion in his pieces.
8/6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure Drawing Influences
Burlesque/pin-up
16
17
18
Rian Hughes' figures are heavily inspired by pin-up/burlesque styled women. Beautiful, curvy, sensual, serene, but the main, most notable link to Hughes' work is the tiny waist and wide hips, the purpose of some corsets (an item of clothing very prevalent in Burlesque). Not only is the shape of the women the inspiration for his drawings, it's also the clothing and context.
19
6
6
See above on the left, Dita Von-Teese, famous burlesque dancer in minimal wear, with "nipple tassels", and on the right, Hughes' design of a similar dancer/performer. The shapes of women can be fascinating and very interesting to observe. They can be strong, curvaceous, slender, delicate, busty, cute, etc. There's much potential for artistic licence, and women can be used for any message, like power, sexy, graceful, dominant, delicate, passionate and more, unlike men who are socially limited, due to gender role, to power, control, and dominance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reduction in Figure Drawing
The theme of reduction in Hughes' work can be even linked to the way he draws women. He reduces the waist and natural width to make a more cartoony, delicate, uniquely shaped woman. This reduction makes the woman look bustier too, and consequently more attractive. He also takes away details in clothing, sometimes clothing is unnecessary entirely.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Experiments: Looking at Reduction
20
Here, I've looked at the idea of taking away the subject matter (the woman) leaving a cutout of what was there. I changed this defined photograph into something that can be compared to a symbol; the image is now a symbol of the woman instead of actually the woman. It's a silhouette too. Inspires a feeling of mystique, makes you use your imagination to fill in the missing information, and you can also appreciate the shape the cut out has left
Above are 2 more of my experiments based on Hughes' work. I'm exploring the use of taking away sections to reveal subject matter. See below the analysis of reduction in this context.
Taking the block colour shape, left, and removing/cutting out sections reveals details contributing to the subject matter. It's an abstract concept but a very simple one. This is a very common theme in Hughes' work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rian Hughes has a very Graphic Design style to his work, utilising solid colour and the technique of Reduction to construct his designs. Through analysing, we find that what's not there is just as important as what is. This theme of reduction is what I'd define as Hughes' primary use of Visual Language, and is the trait from his work I'll take on in experimentation. This technique is something that helps set him apart from other Illustrators/Graphic Designers.
References
1. Merchandise Illustration, DC Comics, Hughes
2. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
3. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
4. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
5. Punk Mambo, Comic Cover, Valiant, Hughes
6. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
7. Sing, Playstation game, Sony, Hughes
8. Soho Divas, Book Cover, Hughes
9. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
10. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
11. Shadowman Mask, Comic Cover, Valiant, Hughes
12. Soho Divas Encore, Book Illustration, Image Comics, Hughes
13. Bachelor Pad, Greetings card and limited edition print fromToybox Show, Hughes
14. WWF logo
15. facebook, twitter, tumblr logo sketches
16. Etsy, Corset Advert Photograph, 2015
17. Facebook, Corset Advert photograph, 2015
18. Facebook, The Rebel Pin-up Page, 2015
19. Photo of Dita Von Teese Burlesque act
20. Salonkiompelimo HiroNIA, Facebook page, 2015
Bibliography
(http://www.devicefonts.co.uk/cgi-bin/device3.cgi?action=ill) Device Fonts website, Rian Hughes online portfolio, 2015
(http://www.wwf.org.uk/) World Wide Fund for Nature Website, 2015
(twitter.com)
(facebook.com)
(tumblr.com)
(https://www.etsy.com/listing/97256697/burlesque-ostrich-feather-sweetheart?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share) (Etsy, Corset Advert Photograph, 2015)
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Salonkiompelimo-HiroNIA/240143386009750?sk=photos_stream) Corset Advert photograph, 2015
(https://www.facebook.com/pinup) Facebook, The Rebel Pin-up Page, 2015
(https://www.facebook.com/240143386009750/photos/a.240143846009704.66123.240143386009750/649972135026871/?type=3&theater) Salonkiompelimo HiroNIA, Facebook page, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment