What's in your sketchbook?

I have joined our program's sketchbook club and we had our first meeting last week. We were asked to bring in our sketchbooks as well as some work by our favourite designers. Prior to this course I had never bothered to keep an sb but thought I might get a head start on mine before the meeting. This is something I have been working on on top of the Hugo Boss competition and Pick + Mix project mentioned in the previous post.

The meeting was fantastic. I thought there was a definitive line between good and bad drawers but the meeting absolutely changed my point of view. Art is completely subjective. Not everyone will appreciate your work, but that doesn't mean it stinks. It also changed my perception on what a sketchbook is. I always considered it was just a bunch of pencil/charcoal drawn images. Our tutor, Rachel really encouraged us to let go and get personal in our sketchbook.

Rachel also mentioned trying to organize some industry members to come in and speak to us as well as some field trips and nights out. She talked about giving us a brief for an album design and having the gallery show in a record shop. I'm quite excited!

Anyway, my mum wanted to see what I've been working manically on, so I decided to post some pages from my sketchbook. I was inspired by this book that Emilia brought back from Finland containing excerpts out of students sb's at an art college in Helsinki.

Project Workshop

Emilia and I had a very productive day. There is nothing more fun and inspiring than doing homework with others. I finally got a handle on my design book brief and came up with the layout for my stationary. My concept is a series of envelopes containing letters/poems documenting the course of a relationship from the beginning to the demise.

As the letters/poems progress, the flower illustration will slowly wilt. Illustration is certainly not my strong point, so I'm sort of biting the bullet and giving it a go.


Another drawing I was considering for stationary.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVE

Whilst working on the photo brief for my hero/heroine I have taken many photos. I am not sure which I prefer so I was hoping maybe you have an opinion. My concept is basically an amalgamation of vegan chef Sarah Kramer (http://govegan.net/splash.html) and my mum. I also did a few shots that I wasn't overly pleased with as the musical genius that is Jenny Lewis (http://www.jennylewis.com/). My motto is generally silly over serious. But please, send me some feedback!!!

See comment option below post.


I really dig this one (below), but I forgot to change the ISO and therefore enlarged it's rather grainy. I tried to recreate it, but it's impossible to replicate that face!!

The one below is from the second round of shots.. much better quality, no grain... but crap faces!


Round 3 may be the charm ?? Are any of these (below) better? HELP!

DESIGN MUSEUM

On a misty London morning we ambled to the Design Museum to see the Alan Aldridge exhibition. It was organized through our school, but not mandatory.
I knew I needed to familiarize myself more with graphic artists, so I thought this would be a good way to do so.



I think I may have a bit of a fascination with London's popular attractions...

Some route scenery - the fake tree amongst real ones that Emilia pointed out..

From the Ex: Alan Aldridges... he did a lot of work for the Beatles and some book covers for penguin.


The man himself (below) .. I'm guessing this is a pretty outdated photo... but it was the only one on display.



Can't say I was attracted to his work, he did some pretty mean sketches.. but the children's book type illustration is not my cup of tea.

More visions of my surroundings during the stroll to the London Bridge tube station along the Thames.

Aaron + I (accidentally) get political

After a wonderful day of trolling about Portobello Market with my favourite housemates, Aaron and I went to Kensington High Street to look for luggage at TK Maxx (a British designer version of Winners) and Whole Foods. We were curious as to why there were police officers filling the underground station when we emerged, but didn't think too much of it.

We didn't realize until we had walked onto the blocked off protest grounds that we had just entered a political demonstration to stop the violence in Gaza. It was pretty surreal walking around while police lined up with their riot shields ready.




It was just beginning when we arrived, luckily we didn't stay too long, I read online today it turned violent and an officer was knocked unconscious and windows were smashed.

Follow the link for a bit more on the worldwide protests.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/10/world/main4712112.shtml