POSTCARD LAYOUTS

When designing the reverse layout for my Postcards I have decided to keep them very simple. From research I have found that most design cards are left blank to keep the focus on the main design on the front. The only information that I have found necessary to include is the name of the collection, and contact information for the viewer to find more of my work. This is found in the bottom right hand corner under the address bars, resulting in the left hand side of the Postcard left free for a message.

LABELS

Now that I have selected a logo to represent my image, I have been able to progress forward with designing the labels for my t-shirts which will have my illustrations printed on them. As well as printing on white card I have also experimented using older and recycled cards to reflect the vintage, re-used theme within my working. These are a few experimental designs that I have come up with so far.

LOGO DESIGNS

This is the development leading up to my final logo design (image just above) which will be used as the identity for my merchandise. It will been visible on all pieces of my Collection, Zine and Website. I have kept the intricate line illustrations in single colour so that it will be easy for it to be used on all types of media.

PAPER SAMPLES

I have collected these paper samples for my Zine. I have chosen them carefully to reflect the different stages of the journey of my memories, wheras some of the sheets are glossy which will reflect more recent memories, there is also recycled, old paper that will reflect old, and distant memories. The different textures, translucence and recycled natures of the papers will also allow me to portray the idea of memories being swirling and intertwined, along with layering and stenciling.

BELLE AND BOO BY MANDY SUTCLIFF

Researching Postcards I came across this collection in Paperchase by illustrator Mandy Sutcliff.

Looking on her website which was available on the cards it describes her work as " deceptively simple and stylish images that capture vividly those precious moments in time enjoyed by children....her illustrations are full of dreamy colours that invoke memories of childhood and nostalgia. "

I went on to discover she has placed her illustrations on a wide range of media as I plan to do so. Looking through her website there is a lot of inspiration for when designing my own. Mandy is a excellent example of how creating a collection and variety of merchandise can make a very successful illustrator. Her merchandise consists of Prints, Cards, Postcards, Clothing, Cushions, Badges, Fabric character figurines, Childrens Books and Gift Tags... the possibilities of creating a collection is endless.

This is a screen shot of the layout on her website for future reference when designing my site:

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Here are examples of existing Art Prints, Postcard collections and Zines from different designers/illustrators and creatives being displayed within Urban Outfitter stores.

AUDIENCE

Following my last post I have been brainstorming possible outcomes and places to exhibit my work.

As well as having a selection of art prints of my illustrations, I want to create a Zine that will show a personal journey of my memories, I want place my illustrations on different supporting mediums creating a collection of work, that will further to promote me as an illustrator and reflect my interests for when I graduate. Other mediums I have thought of are postcard/gift card sets all of which including my Zine can be distributed to Art and Design haunts. Thinking of shops has also made me think of the possibilities of printing onto clothing reflecting my interest in fashion.

Exhibiting my work to an audience has led me to research stores such as Topshop and Urban Outfitters because they are renowned with collaborating with other designers. Topshop have previously hired Julie Verhoeven to produce a collection of christmas cards and have sold limited edition t-shirts with her illustrations printed on. However as Topshop are strictly a fashion based store I have been swayed more to Urban Outfitters who as well as fashion, sell homeware, stationary and art and photography related pieces. They are described as being quirky, vintage, bohemian, retro, hipster, and ironically humorous - their main audience is 18 - 30 year old who share a love of these styles. This is store that I feel defiantly shares and reflects my interests and style of working. Exhibiting within Urban Outfitters would broaden my possibilities of showing my illustrations on an extended range of mediums resulting in a collection of many outcomes appealing to a wider audience. All of which could also be available on a website.

PATHWAYS

After a group presentation with a different group of students than normal I have gained some quite different feedback from having fresh eyes look at my work and hear my ideas.

Showing 10 of my recent illustrations of my memories it was agreed that they are really quirky and work really well as a set. Although they are simple there is good use of negative space which keeps them simple but effective within my style.

The main questions in focus were how I was going to present them and who am I aiming them at by means of a target market. After showing images of my paper stencils cut out from the patterns that I use in my illustrations and my plans of making a big installation out of them it was suggested that they could be used with in my actual 2D work more so especially as the studio space that I have been trying to book is becoming more and more unreliable.

From this I have been thinking of an original question that was asked at the beginning of the project which was: What do you want to achieve and how?

I want to produce a body of work that will show me a professional illustrator and that is personal to me, I like quirky, vintage, old, worn, inky, 'collagy' things, I like textiles, patterns and fashion - I am aiming to sell myself based on this statement. I would like my outcomes to promote me to my target audience, which would mean them being professional and widely available.

I discussed the idea of creating a book/zine which would show a journey of memories from old to recent as I have grown up over the years and having these individual illustrations available to purchase as art prints, which at this point seems alot more promising outcome than a paper installation and just as effective if not more professional.

Questions that were raised that relate to determining a target market from this were:

Where would the Zine be placed? Reflect your style? Where would you sell art prints? Zine would help advertise and support Art Prints.

Think of shops, public places, bars etc that you could exhibit your work and would reflect your style and interests.

MEMORIES 3

CREATING A 3D PAPER BRAIN?

Following feedback from the last tutorial I have been looking back at my research to imagery of the brain, being the place memory is contained for new ideas.

There is something about these images of CAT scans that keep drawing my thoughts back to them.

Continuing to use paper and pattern to create an installation, instead of having my work suspended in no particular order I am going to experiment creating the work in the spherical, globe shape of our brain. Resulting in a clearer reflection of stored memory. Looking at these images, and how they are negatives, I can imagine this big sphere of floating memories, to be in a dark room and lit up, so only the sphere is visible alike the scans above. Instead of projecting light through it as I have been doing already in my experimentations, I might need to look at having just one light in the centre of the sphere so that the light is filtered outwards from the centre instead.

COLLECTION

By placing all my images on a smaller scale next to one another, I have created a collage like collection of my imagery. This has allowed me to see visually that these illustrations work with one another. The work is similar in that it works as a set, but at the same time each piece is illustrating some thing very different to any of the others. When creating an installation this is a layout that I would look to use, especially through projection so that I can project every illustration at once. I am trying to find ways of showing memory as a mass of floating, intertwining, images stored in our heads.

MEMORIES 2

CHILDHOOD PHOTOS

My parents have got hundreds of photo's that have been taken over the past 25 years, and many of them are images showing glimpses of my childhood. Looking through these brought back many memories I have of growing up. Some of these photographs are quite old and I love the retro, matte look that they have. These are a selection that I have pulled out that document memories that I have recorded. 

SUSPENDED

Focusing on the patterns I use on my illustrations I have been playing with layering to make my work more interesting and dynamic, from creating work on paper and then showing it in a 3 dimensional form makes for more interesting and conceptual outcomes. This is what I can imagine memories looking like when stored in our heads - a swirling mass of thoughts. I have light to reflect through the patterns creating even more shapes and across the plainer paper cut outs. By placing my illustrations amongst the stenciled patterns I have been able to scatter the floaty, dreamlike patterns across my work all in all creating that mass of memory's imagery. Using a mirror I have been able to reflect the work, which when setting an installation up like this in a proper studio, exhibition space where there is limited space, will create more impact as the size of the piece can be double visually when reflected.

EXPERIMENTS WITH PAPER,PATTERN AND SHADOW