Josh atkinson ouil505 studio brief 1 applied illustration project proposal

Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION OUIL505 ILLUSTRATION 2: Applied Illustration

Level

05

Credits 30

Module Brief Title: Product, Range & Distribution

STUDIO BRIEF 1: Project Proposal

Project Rationale

What do you intend to do and why?

I intend to produce a body of physical work of drawing, digital processes and print as well as research that will look into a way of re-appropriating the classical musicians and composers such as Beethoven and Mozart among others and romantic poets such as John Keats, William Blake and placing a modern twist on them and their work through the style of pop culture. Through a comedic possibly satirical approach I will be comparing them to the contemporary counterparts and such images I create will reflect how they were for example the rock stars of their day. This will be done in product terms through prints, album covers, posters i.e. gig posters and t-shirts.

I knew I was going to focus whatever project I devised around the medium of retail and packaging in music merchandise as this is an area I am gaining rapid interest in and I feel this is where my practice could lead me. So therefore to explore the way in which these kind of products are applied will be key to my understanding and development as a practitioner who is interested in exploring the world of music through illustration.

THEMES / SUBJECTS What Themes/Subjects will form the content of your work for this module? This should include theoretical and non-creative based content and concerns. This section should identify your consideration of the social, cultural, ethical and creative concerns of contemporary Illustration practice.

GENERAL THEMES: The aesthetic of music related illustration/design through the context of the classical musicians and poets, reflecting on their music and their words and responding through that.

SPECIFIC SUBJECTS: Obviously I can’t approach this through song lyric for example when thinking about Mozart or Beethoven but I can listen to their music and perhaps interpret that. However, I can take inspiration from the romantic poets and their words and interpret them as I would with a song lyric.

I feel that while the whole idea of classical music is not something I relate to there may be a way through the way in which I produce my work to give it a contemporary twist i.e. making work that reflects an unseen grungy darker side.

PRACTICAL & CONCEPTUAL APPLICATION What areas of Illustration do you intend to investigate in relation to the practical and conceptual, production/ distribution of work in response to selected briefs?

SPECIFIC DISCIPLINARY AREA: Through retail and packaging in the sector of music merchandise, making gig posters, album covers and t-shirts.

AUDIENCE/CONTEXTS: While the subjects themselves may be related to a classical music fan base (something I am really not familiar with) my audience and the context in which the work is situated reflects on exactly how the work is going to produced and its overall aesthetic. For example a punk/rock and roll vibe will not be attractive to traditional and classical music type of audience or perhaps this could be worth considering as a possibility through the project.

PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION METHODS: As my project is focused through music merchandise I will be creating work that is suitable for just that, looking into the application of the work through band and gig posters, clothing/apparel, record/album covers.

So the end product in that sense will be a variety of products such as the said merchandise.

CONTEXTUAL REFERENCES Identify areas of professional/creative practices that will inform the contextualization of the work that you produce. This should include specific illustrators, studios, practitioners and products as well as broader creative disciplines and methods of Production /Distribution.

ILLUSTRATORS / DESIGNERS / STUDIOS: Jimmy Turrell Butcher Billy Chris Simpson Big Active Tom Haugomat Nick Rhodes CREATIVE SKILLS What practical skills do you intend to further develop and apply during your project? What do you intend to use the skills for? Consider extending the use of skills that you already have in order to deliver work of a higher standard as well as identifying new skills that you will need to develop.

Through inspiration of the practitioners I will be looking at I intend to further develop my digital skills with a crossover/combination of using traditional and print methods, such as drawing, combined with Lino and screen print. Screen print is a highly important one for me as I have avoided it but in order to reflect the true aesthetic of the work I intend to produce such as posters and tshirts I believe I need to embrace this process. I also intend through digital and perhaps traditional to explore more with the use of photo-collaging in my work.

KEY TEXTS List a selected number of books, articles and texts that are central to your proposed area of practice. These should include a combination of design and non-practice based books, theoretical texts as well as visual publications.

You should include a list of relevant websites.

http://www.jimmyturrell.com/ http://www.switchopen.com/ http://www.bigactive.com/ http://www.dkngstudios.com/work/gig-posters/ http://www.rsvlts.com/2014/08/12/classical-music-rock-stars/ https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/19/classical-composers-and-rock-stars-whochannel-their-moves-chilly-gonzales-classical-pop-crossover -

A brief history of album covers

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The greatest album covers of all time

OUIL 505 - Project Planner

1

Module Briefing Studio Brief 1 Research & Proposal Proposal Planning & Research

Decide my area of interest and think about what I want my project to be based on

3

Proposal Submission/Studio Development week

Devise project and write project proposal – Initial research into my chosen area/theme and begin initial sketchbook roughs and development.

4

Studio Brief 2 Development & Production

Research further into my chosen area – gathering resources i.e. books, websites – continue sketchbook initial research

2

5 Studio Development week

Think more in depth about my concept/area of interest

Continue sketchbook development think about other processes – print exploration/experimentation.

6

Progress Tutorials

Review project with tutor – reflect on the direction of my project any changes needed – think about more developed outcomes

7

Group Feedback

Begin developing the more finished outcomes.

8

Continue developing outcomes – digital production, printing

9

Studio Brief - 3 Presentation & Evaluation Interim Crit

10

EASTER BREAK

Refinement of my outcomes, responding to feedback

11

EASTER BREAK

Potentially finalized my outcomes. Reflect on the application of my products

12

EASTER BREAK

Produce mockups – developing in depth presentation/design boards.

13

Group Feedback

Finalize mockups/products and overall application of the work. Finish design boards.

14

Assessment Briefing & Final Crit

Review final outcomes and produce suitable presentation methods for submission and packaging terms.

15

Module Submission 09/05/2017

Submit final work.

Respond to feedback from crit and make changes accordingly.