8x8

Here is my final piece for the 8x8 brief.

I started to work on my white elements on the last post but then ruined the whole thing! So it was back to the drawing board and actually, I think that ruining my other work was for the best. I think that the grey background represents a storm and Joy's life (protagonist) is very much a representation of a storm. The yellow elements represent the light in life, such as the liter joy that Joy brings to Franks life and the outcome at the end of the story in a new life.

Digital vs. Manual

I have discovered recently that digital techniques are pushed onto students more in current times rather than just a traditional manual technique. Sure if I do something wrong I have to start from scratch and that is the beauty of digital software, however I can't put my tools back in the wardrobe (I ran out of drawer and desk space!!) it just doesn't seem right. I can use Photoshop to piece my puzzle together, but I don't want to and have no need to start creating elements on Illustrator. Sure it has it place in the industry and a lot of people manipulate it to its full potential but does it need to be forced on me so heavily?

For me it is the personalisation of my work that makes me feel like I've achieved something, that proud moment when I step back from my work and think, you know what I really like that. And I've done it, not a machine. Me, with my own two hands and a bit of will power. It may take longer than necessary, it might not have the crisp perfect lines that a computer can generate, but I like my wonky lines, my tea stained rings and the texture of where I've applied my paint too thickly, please machine, just leave me to my own devices, I know that if I ever do need you you will still be here....

Thankyou :)

Marie O'Connor

I'm struggling to find people who like me are visual 'magpies'. That use a bit of everything in their work. A constant in my work seems to be stitch, apart from that anything else goes; paint, collage, buttons, photography. Jo introduced me to Marie O'Connor who appears to use a bit of everything too, with the additional elements of digital and animation (the latter two are not my cup of tea). She has taught at many institutions on a variety of different subjects covering illustration, textiles and graphic design. Listed on her website are some of her inspirations: 'folk art, painted-on doll shoes, Alexander Girard, talismans, quilts, Eduardo Paolozzi, guatamalen knitted face hats, Umetaro Azechi, the nigerian hippopotamus water spirit mask, Lothar Schreyer, ikat, The Wiener Werkstatte, ceramic+wood+leather+paint+paper combinations, educational toys, Memphis furniture, papier mache, Ballets Russes, woodblock, Nikki de Saint Phalle, Constructivist theatre and the like.'

Looking at some of her images, Marie has outcomes that range from one end of the scale to the next. Although I use a combination of different media, I like to think that my work always looks like my work and not like I flit from one style to the next. Indeed, over the years it probably has, but over the last few briefs, I have a style that is more 'me' starting to emerge.

This image I like, it incorporates collage and what looks like her own photography. I like the idea of using elements that I have created myself, it makes my work more personal and gives me a great sense of achievement. I like the contrast between the collage and the graph paper background and the photograph. It does however lack stitch work. I'm still struggling to find work that 'fits'with my style. I will however, take Marie's inspiration list on board to aid my own resource and learning.

8x8

Here is a rough off my 8x8 junctures design. We have teamed up with the creative writing students of Manchester Metropolitan University to illustrate their work. In a nutshell, the story I have been allocated ('Junctures') is about the infidelity of a woman who subsequently has a child but does not know who is the father. Rather than trying to illustrate the emotions that the story deals with, I have chosen the illustrate the key elements within the text and make an equation. I liked this idea as there could be a variety of different outcomes, just as the word 'juncture' suggests.

It needs a little more work, the white elements need a little 'something' to give them more character, but at this stage am unsure of what. I like the composition and the background, I think that the background in particular illustrates the authors own ideas well (a mixture of Finland and Yorkshire). Yellow is referred to a lot in the story and the author suggested that it is a story of dark and light. My idea was to possibly use the yellow as light and black for the dark aspects such as the noose. I will of course incorporate stitch towards the finished result.