Imagination—An Art Report by cindy wu

Imagination â&#x20AC;Ś Cindy Wu

Imagination An art report

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Contents

Introduction 6 Storyteller 12 Idea 18 Tools 26 Transition 34 The Journey 38

Introduction During pre-school, I remembered clearly that I disliked art class very much. I did not know

would come back to me and many times I

how to draw, or rather I was not happy with my

wanted to give up on drawing. Nevertheless

drawings. Secretly I would always compare my

I kept that little art passion inside me, and I

work with my classmates, and slowly I became

continued to take art classes in school, and

very negative with my art.

joined art club and even private art lesson.

My pessimistic outlook kept me from

Times flies, and in the blink of an eye I am

enjoying art, until a surprising praise I received

now an art student in one of North America’s

for my drawing. It was just another art class in

top art school. Then from an illustrator I

preschool, like usual I was hiding in the corner

also learned become a designer. Everything

drawing on my own. Without noticing, my

happended till now was unexpected and an

teacher was standing behind me watching, and

exciting journey.

then she said, “lovely, you drew well Cindy”.

Although at time I still feel uncertain about

That was the first compliment I ever received

my current standing spot, I never stopped

for my drawing. Suddenly I felt like my drawing

drawing. When creating each project there is

was not as bad as I thought. It is lovely, and I can

always a story behind it.

draw! Thus that simple compliment became the new starting point between art and me. Me that used to dislike art slowly became a visual learner and storyteller. Through simple illustration, I hope to tell stories that move my audiences without needing a lot of written words. Like most people, I daydream all the time and tell people my crazy thoughts through my drawings.

There were times that negative thought

Now I want to share these stories with you. —Cindy Wu

MY WORKING SPACE. IT'S SMALL, BUT IT'S ENOUGH FOR ME TO CREATE.

SPRING COMES COLOURED PENCIL & COLLAGE

A Journey in Art and Design This report is about a brief summary of my art practice, and the status will mainly be focused in the year 2014. The year I had a great experience and the year I started to learn about design at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD).

GRACEFUL GOUACHE

BLUE & RED LADY GOUACHE 11

Storyteller Inspriation There are numerous talented artists that I admire and are great influence to my style. I am always fanaticized with these artists’ abilities to tell amazing stories through simple illustrations, through these illustrative narration I felt closer and more releated to the stories. All of these artists have been my inspiration over the years. I do not have a “top favorite artists” list. All artists are amazing in his or her unique style, and I admire them all. Using illustration that moves one without needing a lot of written words is the goal that I always had in mind when creating. I believe that illustrative narration can particularly open up one’s imagination to infinite possibilities. Currently I am working building on my own art style. Like everyone else I am still learning, and wishing that one day I may be one of the inspiring artists.

Sometimes I feel like the Wreck it Ralph of the art world. I may never be great and that's not bad...

CHILDHOOD CARNIVAL GOUACHE

Being Creative People say that I am creative, but what does being creative mean? Am I creative because I am in art school and I can draw? Being able to draw does not make me creative, it is just my skill set. Then where do I get my inspiration? Like artist Austin Kleon said, the honest answer would be: I steal them. Very rarely would a brilliant idea just pop into one’s mind out of nowhere. I “steal” ideas from everyday life, from a bad joke my friend made, favorite quote from famous writer, and many more.

Rather than steal, a nicer term would be inspiration. Everything around me is my inspiration to learn from. Most people killed their creativeness too fast and too often. Everyone can and is creative. Everyone has unique ideas and can dream big. However, just having an idea is nothing. Idea will only be magic when you put into action. Thus do not ever sc r a

r o u

i de a

d d

A N

B A

D 15

FISH HAIR GOUACHE

Idea Evolution of an Idea One of the most valuable things I learned during my Foundation Year at ECUAD was the magic of storytelling and evolution of ideas. On the first day of class, my professor told us: "Even a “piece of paper” had a history, and so do we…. Often we disposed old pieces of paper, like we do with our ideas…. Things change, some does not last forever… But we still remember… Keep it, and see how it change… Everything is only the beginning… Consider it, let it considers you." It sounded very abstract at first, but once taking the time to really chew on these words, I think everyone can get the message behind it. Idea can change and evolve to any surprising story.

Do not forget it… even you can not see it anymore…

ITRUMPT PENCIL SKETCH

My Sketchbook

For example, my professor at ECUAD once

Every artist has his or her own sketchbooks. I

told me to draw a tree in mind. It was a fairly

too have many sketchbooks. I even kept all the

straightforward exercise, but then he asked

scrap pieces of paper that I doodled on and

me how many trees did I have in mind. I was

bind them into a new sketchbook. In 2014, I

confused and answered “one…?”. My professor

have used up three sketchbooks, in total of 526

gave a quite sigh and asked me to draw the

pages. I do not just doodle in my sketchbook,

tree again but added the following questions:

I also write notes in them. Sketchbook is like

“What kind of tree is it? What season is the tree

my personal diary. I write and draw every idea

in? What is the weather like? Think about the

I thought of. Each idea is precious to me. Like

four seasons, twelve months, forty eight weeks,

I mentioned earlier, people scrap their ideas

three hundreds sixty five days, and so on…

too easily. There is no such thing as dumb idea,

how many trees are there now?”

because each idea is unique in its excellence and can open one’s mind to infinity.

The answer was infinite. One simple idea has infinite ways to represent it. Some ideas come and never come back to us, thus it is

important that we capture and make the idea

after all this is the point of this little exercise.

comes true.

Inspiration does not come to me everyday, and

Stream of Consciousness Sometimes I would grab a scrap piece of paper and a pen or pencil and start doodling without having a particular theme in mind. I often start with a long curvy line across the page, I like the feeling when I freely move and drag my hand

it is good to let my mind rest once in awhile. Plus, this can be a way for stress release, just let all your stress out with random scribbles all over the page, because who knows sometimes these random scribbles can turn out into a beautiful drawing too!

across the page. I draw with my conscious, and it is a little fun exercise to do especially during art block. Most of the time the drawing would end up with various patterns or just random scribbles, but I do not think too much of it, because

STREAM PEN & MARKER

INKTOBER INK & PEN

THANK YOU GREETING CARD GOUACHE

Tools Scary Thought Trying out different medium was quite challenging for me at first. I started drawing with coloured pencils, and after awhile I grew very attached to them. I can erase any mistake I made and easily fix colour the colors. I became really good at using coloured pencils but that was all. I was scared to step out of my comfort zone. The thought of using paintbrushes and ink was scary thought to me. What is I can’t control the ink flow? What if I can’t mix the right colour I want? As silly as these questions sound, they were the ‘scary thought’ that had kept me trying out new medium. Nevertheless, in art class I had to step outside my comfort zone and use other medium. It was hard and sort of painful at first, but slowing I started to grow fond of wet medium and collages. Scary thoughts existed because I was scared of new challenges. With encouragement and support, I took my courage and accepted the challenges, and it was probably one of the best experiences and skills I learned in my art practice. From pencil sketching to acrylic painting, all mediums are fun to work with. Although I love the physical gesture when using a brush to paint across the big canvas, I still call myself an illustrator and not a painter. Mostly because I love small details, personally I think every detail in a drawing is important element in my story. I like to draw

with my imagination, kind of like a drawing collage. Even if the drawing ended up as a messy y our i magin a t i on e to let s erci x s e nonsense doodle, it was still a good flow. r t o ta ke om m e e b r em r o i sks, don’t let scary thought eat An advice to remember would be t up

o u

2014 MEDIUM USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE WORK

The Digital World I got my first drawing tablet from an online friend. I was very fortune enough to befriend such great friend and supporter online, who wanted me to expand my art experience, thus he gave me his old drawing tablet. It was a very surprising gift that I was truly appreciated of. I started practicing using the tablet as my mouse, while watching numerous Photoshop tutorials. Slowly I started creating small digital drawings, and felt more comfortable using the tablet. Although I treasured this gift that my friend kindly gave me, the old tablet was having some glitches, so in summer of 2014 I got myself a new drawing tablet. After getting the new tablet, I went crazy drawing digitally. For two months straight, I rarely touch my sketchbook, and would only doodle in Photoshop. I was productive during those two months, but of course my eyes could not handle the intense screen staring any longer. Therefore I turned back drawing traditionally again. Now I often combine traditional and digital work together, creating unique visual effects in my illustrations.

Take risks. Explore and experiment!

SPARROW DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION 30

39 DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

GRACEFUL DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

Transition Art + Design

family and academic advisor, in 2014 I chose

When I applied for art school, I was aiming for

design major as my final decision.

the animation program. I was fairly determined

Maybe because I started late in design, I

with my decision back then, but after the

am not that sensitive when it comes to design

foundation year I changed my mind and found

rules and elements. Unlike most of my design

that animation was not the exact route I wanted

friends, I am not crazy about typography, or

to pursuit. Although I had no experience and

easily annoyed by big leading gaps.

knowledge in design, after talking to friends,

JAN

DEC

2014 ART VS. DESIGN ART

DESIGN

Artist + Designer

have a little break from my design project, I do

Even now I would call myself more as a visual

little illustration on the side.

artist than a designer. Nevertheless, I am not

Even though I was not much productive

the only one who is still learning, and I do

with my illustrative work, I did try to incorporate

appreciate every mistakes and new outcomes I

my illustration into my design work. Then

learnt from my design and research. Combining

slowly I felt more confident doing design, and I

with my fine art skill, I like to use illustrations

was able to manage my production time more

as visual communication to convey specific

efficiently. Thus there was a better balance

message or story to my audiences.

between design and illustration in November

Although I did not have proper design

and December.

knowledge before entering to Design Major, I did have some experiences before in designing events posters, and business cards for friends. So I guess you can say I do have some design experiences a long time ago. Nevertheless, those experiences were not enough. Before I mainly focused on doing illustrative work, but in September 2014 when I officially enrolled into the design program, I mainly do design work due to school projects. It was a harsh rough start during the first two months in Design Major. Especially when I was falling behind from my colleagues. Thus during September and October, I barely had times to do my favorite illustrative work. Still whenever I

PRINGLES PACKAGE REDESIGN DESIGN

The Journey Showcasing My do not know how "good" I am right now with my art practice, but for sure I have come a long way and have enjoyed very moment of it. I am a shy person, and often I lack confidence with myself. It took me a long time to have the courage to share my art with others around me. Luckily, I got a lot of encouragement from family and friends, thus I was able to continue to pursuit my passion in art. In the winter of 2010, for the first time I posted my art online to share publicly on the Internet and around the world. It was decision made on a whim, but that was another millstone for me. Slowly more and more people visited my gallery and I received numerous great compliments from different by-passed artists. I have gained a few followers too in the past two years. Even just having three to five followers only I am very grateful and appreciate each of their support. I make art not only for myself but I want others to enjoy the stories behind my art as well. My art journey continues, I don't know how great I could be one day, but it'll be another exciting adventure for sure!

Ever wonder what the outside world is like? It is terrifying to go out... but I heard it is a beautiful world out there.

42 DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

With an old backpack and simple luggage, I decided to go for a trip... to start an adventure. I don’t know how far I can go, but it’s a start.

STOP N START DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

Feeling lost and tired on the way... I did not know which path to go... But I know to follow my heart. It my be shy but my heart will always tell me what I want.

I know what I want, where I want to be. Pick a path, and keep walking. Keep walking forward.

FORWARD DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION

Thank you! Many thanks for reading this report! If you like my work, please take a look and visit my gallery at

http://www.cwuad.weebly.com

CALM HEART DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION