In this chapter I worked from B&W photographs, with occasional reference to the colour photographs to look at details.
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In this chapter I worked from B&W photographs, with occasional reference to the colour photographs to look at details.
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My first idea was to draw my walking boots for their shape and details, and somehow the idea stuck. Then a fairy tale with shoes came to mind, and I think I have found my story (if nothing else turns up).
All drawings were done with pencil 3B on various cartridge papers, 180 and 220 g/square meter. Sizes vary, I wrote them on the sheets (in centimeters).
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I found it easier to draw the lines from colour photographs, as I could see the details better. Perhaps the backgrounds play a part in this, too.
Some photographs on the previous blog are rather small. So here are bigger files, hopefully better to look at.
Making of:
The cover | |
The book on an A4 sheet to see the size. |
The book:
Overleaf front | |
Abbeycwmhir | |
Overleaf back | |
Finally I have to apologize that I forgot to add clear explanatory notes to my sketchbook images. I promise to do better next time.
Although it might have been not the best choice from the design point of view I very much wanted my book to be about my walk in Wales last summer. I had collected a wide range of photographs and done little sketches on the way, and the memory of the mood is still quite vivid. While I worked on the book I was often very much in doubt if my choice was appropriate to the assignment, but I decided to go on with it and take my chances.
Something is wrong with my scanner which I have not fixed yet, so the images are all photographs. I hope the quality is ok.
3.10.1. Book-making
I felt I needed sturdy paper to add the extensions, so a firm cover seemed to be appropriate.
3.10.2 Gathering design sources
As I had special “scenes” in mind I made collages in Picasa as “mood boards” for these chapters. I also used sketches I had made during my walk.
For most of the pages I had an idea for the layout beforehand. Very often the ideas changed during work, some I could realize pretty much as planned. I more or less went along from page to page. Often I worked in different sketchbooks just to get going or to try an idea or a colour or whatever. As you can see in the following photographs it is rather a jumble.
As you can see I also tried to copy details of Hundertwasser paintings, found in a library book. I wanted to see “how it works”, and if I could find a way to use it. Same with David Hockney’s paintings, which I found on the internet. I found it difficult to make a connection with what I had already in mind, and decided not to force it, although David Hockney’s use of lines to follow the form of the landscape comes in a little on the last pages of my book.
The book
The pages are in a chronological order, following the course of my walk, again a decision depending on the narrative rather than on design concepts.
Measurements of the book: 16 x 10,5 x 3,5 cm
Estimated cost: around 3 Euro
The most expensive single item is half a bottle of frisket. All else was taken from my stock in small quantities.
Time: Around 28 hours, including design. The designing process was very much connected with the work in the book itself.
Health and safety considerations: Take care when using the cutting knife.
Evaluation:
The book fulfils my expectations, and as a celebration of my walk I feel it is a successful piece. It is a beautiful object and good to open and browse. The choice of a firm cover was a good one. Some pages have surprised me, which is always a good sign. It was a good experience to develop the pages as I went along. It gave me confidence to go and make a start and work with what emerges. Although I had many doubts about my choice of subject I am satisfied that I saw it through.
If I had to do this assignment again I would chose more specific visual features, rather than the narrative point of view. If I had done that here, there would be more emphasis on line. Also I would calculate the number of pages to be worked more carefully. This turned out to be a lot more work than I had planned, and without the free time over Christmas and New Year I would still be at it.
However, this is my work for Chapter 10 in Module 3. I am looking forward to the next Module!