Dewey Decimal

Dewey decimal is the numerical organisational classification of books in most libraries. For example; Illustration in the UCLAN Library is classification number 741.


In this brief I was given a random Dewey Decimal classification number (808.5) which referenced a book within the university library. I had to select a book from that classification and base a series of images on it, gradually developing to a final idea which can be printed at A1 size. 


My book was 'News Subediting' which describes to a newcomer of newspaper, the process they would have to go through to create the newspaper. After reading through the book, I found a chapter based on typography and punctuation, and I started sketching straight away. After a long winded process within this brief, I finally got to my final idea and printed it professionally. 

As I was playing around with inspiration and typography, I came across a quote by Salvador Dali 'Intelligence without ambition, is a bird without wings'. Initially I started by creating my own type for this quote, then one sketch of a bird, lead to a sketch of a birdcage, to the point where in order to relate the project back to typography, I decided to make the birdcage itself out of the Salvador Dali quote. I created this image by scanning in the best type of the quote, and then duplicating and arranging the layers to create a birdcage in Photoshop. This piece is on plain brown postage paper, however I decided to add to the background by screen printing vintage floral patterns and repeating them alongside each other to create my own wallpaper. 

This is the main focus of the final piece - 

This image is slightly blurred because of my camera, which I had to resort to because the image saved is too big to upload and it won't save on my mac at a smaller resolution. I found due to duplicating the layers and changing the shape of them, the birdcage seems pixelated. If I was to do this project again, I'd aim to make my final piece as hand-made as I could, but at the time of this project, I thought a Photoshop, digital image would be more successful. 

    

Issues And Beliefs

The aim of this brief was to choose our own campaign by researching social, political and environmental issues that already exist and addressing one that we personally feel strongly about.

I decided to choose binge drinking to focus my campaign on, even though it's already been done in various ways before. With being surrounded by a student orientated town with a lot of bars offering the same '2 for 1' drinks, I thought I could create a contemporary campaign to target a younger audience.

After numerous sketches and playing around with the idea of drinking glasses, I found that developing a shot glass idea was probably the best way to go, in reference to all the 'free shot' stickers that are handed out around town.

The final composition was to create 3 image based solutions in an appropriate format;

All in poster format; The composition of each poster is to represent an opticians chart, with the usual lettering being replaced by shots, each poster describing a different characteristic of binge drinking. The writing on each poster is to represent the hours of a night out and the destruction of particular things as the night progresses. The type also relates to what the image is describing. The colour spills in each background are to represent spillages of drinks during a night out/party. I chose particular colours to refer to the colours of alcohol available today eg. apple sours. 

Poster 1; Eyesight

- The shot glasses in this poster are to describe the affects alcohol has on your vision. The shot glasses become faded and harder to see as the night progresses to 3am, to represent how blurred your vision goes as a result of drinking. 

Poster 2; Balance

- The shot glasses in this poster are to describe the affects alcohol has on your balance. As the shot glasses move down the poster they become multiplied and 'off-balance' to represent what happens to the stability of a person after drinking.

Poster 3; Consequences

- The shot glasses in this poster are to represent the destruction of a night out and the consequences drinkers have to face, whether it relates to losing money, breaking relationships, violence and disorderly behaviour. The broken shot glasses represent the later on in the night, the more alcohol as an affect to deliver consequences.

I enjoyed this project, literally because I made it my own, after numerous sketches and ideas I'm happy to have developed this one in particular. I took a step out of my comfort zone by becoming more 'accidental' in my backgrounds however if I was to develop my final pieces, I would create them in a more hand-made process, rather than created and then scanned in and pieced together. 

Preston Vintage & Craft Fair!

Hi all!

So I took some time out yesterday to visit the Preston Vintage & Craft Fair which my friend invited me too!   After endless trekking around an unfamiliar part of Preston, we finally came to the Continental pub, situated on South Meadow Lane. I think we all shared the same thought when we arrived.. we all felt slightly lost, there wasn't much directional help, so only after asking numerous people we found a small room at the back of a pub full of vintage and retro homewares! 


I have to say, despite the minor detours to actually find the venue and the confusion when we arrived, the experience paid off! The fair itself consisted of about 14 small stalls full of antiques, vintage and independently designed clothing, handmade jewellery, arts and crafts and my favourite part.. cupcakes! Everything was rare, quirky, affordable and antique! In such a friendly atmosphere, it really added to my day and I'm looking forward to the next fair!


I decided to take some photographs to share with you and give you a taste and here they are..

Not to mention.. my quirky friend Danielle who was right at home!

For anyone whose interested.. 

The Continental Pub holds regular fairs and their website is updated with what's on and when..

http://www.newcontinental.net/

The organisers for the Vintage & Craft Fair can be found on Facebook by joining the group.. Not Just Vintage.. Uk.

Happy browsing! (:

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

- Steve Jobs.

Long time, no blog!

So, the 10th of August was quite a while ago, so I thought my blog has been neglected enough and at least deserves a mini update of what's happening!


So.. the most exciting news at the minute, I am now blogging using my very own MacBook Pro. I've finally been converted and all the saving up as really paid off, money well spent!


I start my Second Year at Uclan officially on tuesday, I'm rather excited to get back into the swing of things, there's only so much time I can have off then safe to say, I do miss my projects. 


Final news.. Currently working on a side project. A lovely lady in Huddersfield has been told about myself, and my work by a friend and she's requested I paint some sketches for her, to be displayed in her Spa. At the moment, I have two sketches drawn out, I need to introduce some watercolour and get the process rolling! And when I've finished, I'll make sure my blog is updated! 

Cup of tea at the ready..

Here's to a productive day!

...

♥

Wish You Were Where?

Manchester Art Gallery.

 

I decided to make use of my time and visited Manchester Art Gallery a couple of weeks ago and saw these pictures on my camera and couldn't resist. So the idea of this collection is visitors to the gallery where asked 'wish you were where?' to which they would write a place on a piece of paper and tie it to one of the suitcases in the collection.  There was something so realistic, yet fragile about this exhibition that I was drawn to it.

I added my own onto the birdcage :)

Plus reading each piece of paper was inspiring; children wishing they were in Neverland, and quirky adults that wished they were with loved ones and places or memories from their past.

Artists and celebrities that contributed were; Badly Drawn Boy, Alan Birch, Pavel Buchler, Margaret Cahill, Ben Cook, Michael Craig-Martin, Nick Crowe, Mike Chavez-Dawson, Matthew Dalziel and Louis Scullion, Phil Diggle, Tim Dunbar, Leo Fitzmaurice, Yuen Fong Ling, Angela Ford, David Gledhill, John Hamilton, David Hancock, Edward Hillel, Peter Hook, Mark Kennard, Laurence Lane, Frank Martin, Susan McCall, Martin Murray, Professor Chris Orr, Helen Palumer, Adele Prince, Sean Scully, Liam Spencer, Martin Vincent, Jonny Vegas, John Walsh, Gina Ward and Tony Wilson.

Wish you were where? Happy browsing!

Nathan Carter.

Manchester Art Gallery.

During 2007, a group of people from Manchester worked with Manchester Art Gallery to create a new display for the Attitude section of the CIS Manchester Gallery. This display examines the city’s involvement to explore the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and the impact it's had on contemporary life.

They commissioned graphic designer Nathan Carter to work with the group to create new artworks for the display and it was his artwork in particular that caught my eye. These digital prints were made as a response to the project.

a picture of the collection.

Nathan Carter.

Carter used the group's work as inspiration, developing a sketchbook of ideas which shows his own process of discovery. Even though his artwork is different in the sense of media when compared to what I like to use, I still find his use of hand-made typography inspiring. I think I'm going to experiment this week; I'm thinking bold coloured backgrounds for a retro effect, lyrical inspiration and black fine liner, maybe introduce myself to stencil work.

Manchester's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade played a significant role in forming the thriving, multi-cultural city in which we live today. The collection also consisted of objects that are linked to slavery. European objects such as sugar nippers, tea wares and historic English pottery from Manchester Art Gallery were compared with African artefacts from Manchester Museum. Members of the group also did their own research, uncovering facts, images, thoughts and feelings.