Pushing the Boundaries of Line
Created By:
Emilie Verheyen
Note from the Artist: This process book is a chance for me to explain the back-story of my final designs. Throughout this book you will find detail accounts describing the objectives of each project, the challenges, solutions and insights learned. You will also view both initial designs and final iterations of each work. This class challenged my creative processes by sometimes giving me strict guidelines to follow, and other times giving me full reign to expend my creative outlook. I will take what I have learned from each project and apply it to my upcoming career in Marketing.
Table of Contents: Note from the Artist……………...………….…....Page 2 Table of Contents…………………………….…...Page 3 Dot Line: Initial Designs…………………….….....Page 4-5 Dot Line: Final Designs…………………….…...…Page 6-7 Expressive Text: Initial Designs…………………...Page 8-9
Expressive Text: Concept Development……...Page 10-11 Expressive Text: Final Designs……………………Page 12-13 Object Iterations…………………………………..Page 14-15 Object Iterations: Final Designs………………...Page 16-17 Designer Presentation……………………………Page 18-19 Children’s Book: Initial Designs………………….Page 20-21 Children’s Book: Final Design…………………...Page 22-23
Dot Line: Initial Designs Objectives: The objective for the Dot Line project was to build four abstract compositions with minimal elements, those being either dots, lines or a combination of the two. This project required the understanding and application of value, scale and line while simultaneously portraying excellent craftsmanship.
Rejection Challenges: For the craftsmanship, this project proved to have its challenges. The gluing of the paper was difficult due to the paper then getting wrinkled. Another challenge that I encountered was when cutting the mat board, I found it quite difficult with a normal Exact-o knife.
Solutions: A solution to the rippling of paper was to leave the piece under several large books, for overnight. This helped in the flattening of some of the wrinkles, however if they were too large this did not help completely. Due to this, the next time I would use a different adhesive, one that is not so wet, perhaps rubber cement.
Discipline
Chaos A solution for the difficult cutting was found when I used my industrial Exact-o knife. With the stronger, thicker blade, it was much easier to cut. The mat board.
Dot Line: Final Designs Insights: Through this project, my idea of abstraction was changed. Before the project, I would always look at abstract pieces and never understood the purpose. Honestly I thought them of a lesser art form, than say realism.
Chaos
However, after completing this project, I now know all the different thought processes that it takes to assemble these works of art. I have experienced the meticulous time and planning it takes for this art form to come to life and convey a meaning. Even using simple shapes in this project, the art can convey intense meaning of words such as fear or chaos.
Discipline
Note from the Artist: In these three representations, I wanted my artwork to be especially clean. Not only that but for chaos and rejection, I thought it to be important to have a sense of tension, for it portrays a possible motion in the picture if it was moving.
Rejection
Expressive Text: Initial Designs Objectives: The objective for the Expressive Text project was to experiment with a variety of hand lettering techniques. A person viewing the text should not only be able to read it, but also how the text is written the text itself represents the meaning of the word.
Expressive Text: Concept Development
Challenges: The greatest challenge of this projects was conveying my word through my drawings to the audience. For the eye image of wake, it was a tricky situation to balance both the image of the eye and the placement and type of font. I eventually made the pupil represent the letter “a� in wake, however some of the audience members had a troubled time seeing it.
Solutions: One of the solutions I could implement next time would be making the letters more clear in the eye. One possible solution would be to only incorporate the letters on part of the eye, instead of trying to make the entire eye the word.
Expressive Text: Final Designs Insights: This project has taught me a lesson about the audience. The audience members in this class like to keep things very simple and easy to read. This is a lesson to know for if the goal is to read a word, the artist might want to keep it simple.
Note from the Artist: As an artist, I wanted to push the boundaries of this project. As you can see in the child and eye drawings, they are more abstract. A viewer needs to actually look at the picture to find the words. This is what I wished I would have expanded on for the other two. I find it more interesting that the word is harder to find, then it blaring out at you.
Object Iterations Objectives: The objective of the object iterations project was for the students to experiment with a variety of media to assemble creative representations of a chosen subject. Although the iterations were representations of an object, the student could push the boundary to create an unexpected yet recognizable depiction.
Challenges: The most challenging part of this project for me was the typography. Making a collage of just text was difficult especially for such a simple shape as mine.
Solutions: If I had the chance to redo the iteration to the left, I would first change the shape. I would make the text into a more characteristic form of a lemon, to make it more recognizable. Also I would not put the text in the middle at a horizontal orientation, for it can take away from the image, for people would resort to trying to read it, rather than look at the image.
Object Iterations: Final Designs
Insights: Through this project, I discovered a lemon is not just a simple fruit. By having to break down the lemon in different ways I found that it is made up of multiple textures as well as shapes. Not only that, but if you look close enough there are various shades in it.
Note from the Artist: As you can see in these three final iterations, I consistently incorporated the yellow color. One reason I did this was to continue to push the distinct recognizing characteristic of a lemon. I feel without yellow, the iteration could have been mistaken for something else.
Designer Presentation: Theodor Seuss Giesel Objectives: The objective of the designer presentations was for students to pick a contemporary designer or illustrator and to research their works over the course of their life. They then presented their findings to the class.
Challenges: The most challenging part of this project was presenting in front of my classmates. I get very nervous presenting, and often forget what I was going to say or stumble over my words. Solutions: The solution to this problem I could implement next time would be to have what I am going to say printed out. This way I could glance down if I was to stumble or forget what I was going to say.
Insights:
The most interesting thing I learned by doing this project was Giesel’s secret works. They were dark themed and almost had the portrayal of depressed or conflicted thoughts that Giesel might have had.
Note from the Artist: What initially drew me to Dr. Seuss was him being such an iconic illustrator. However, after finding about the much more extensive work he created, and how different it was than his children’s books, I now have a greater appreciation for him. To me he is no longer a children’s book illustrator, but now he is a true artist.
Children’s Book: Initial Designs Objectives: The objective of this project was to work with a student in the education program to create a children’s book that they had written. This book had to contain a cohesive theme throughout as well as images that made sense to the story.
Challenges: One of the most challenging part of this project was the time management. Starting this project was crucial, for the book was quite long, and each page needed attention to the smallest details. Juggling this project with the other projects due was difficult at times.
Solutions: One solution for managing the constricted time schedule was working on this project bit by bit, especially on my free time on the weekends. I would set myself a goal, such as one weekend I drew all of the characters, and would complete that goal. This method helped me work on the project for most of the semester, but also in the end when it was do I was ahead of schedule.
Children’s Book: Final Design Insights:
The insights that this project gave me was the skills to work with another person to create their vision. My partner was very specific on all details, from the layout of each page, down to the individual placement of the characters. Often we had to compromise on what could be included, otherwise it would have ended up being a 40 page book.
Note from the Artist: Through this project, I tried my best to create the vison of my partner. She was so invested in this project, for it was in dedication of her deceased grandmother. This made me try extra hard on the project so she could show her family what we had made together.
The End Emilie Verheyen St. Norbert College Spring 2016