Adobe Illustrator Motifs Design

I have been using Adobe Illustrator to create at least one motif design, I was resisting using any Photoshop to design, because I am rather a handmade person, but it is unavoidable, because nowadays it is an advantage to know how to use Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. When I was at the digital workshop session, I was losing my temper over the learning process, but I have decided to book a one to one support session and continue to work on my technology skills.

My Adobe Illustrator motif design’s inspiration came from a book called The Secret Code by Priya Hemenway (2008).  This talks about ‘the mysterious formula that rules art, nature and science’, which in other words means the proportion of measurements. I thought it would be a good idea to use Adobe Illustrator to create some of the motif designs, because they are difficult to draw by hand, because precise measurement is needed. 

I have experimented with different shapes and positions on the Adobe Illustrator, the more I use it, the more I explore what I can do using this software, for example, changing the line design from thick to thin to create  movement, like a brushstroke effect.

With motif designs it is not about making a picture, but to have different combinations in order to create designs in the future. Therefore, I am using these shapes that I have created through the computer to link my hand made design together, because my handmade designs were more drawing based, where I think these computer designs would fit nicely in the background or maybe overlapping.

Motifs Designs - Drawings

I have always been interested in animals, but I have started to look at them from another perspective. For example, I started looking at the dead pigeons, because this subject was overlooked and I thought of how I can transfer the image into print design.

Sketchbook Drawing - Dead Pigeon

I like to work with fine-liner pens; because it creates a sketching effect, I do not enjoy drawing with pencils, because I hate the idea that it can be corrected by rubbing it off the paper. With a pen, once the mark is made, it cannot be undone. I start off by using continuous line drawing to roughly mark down the proportion with a pencil or a graphite stick, but I never use a rubber.

One issue that I have found with the 0.5mm fine-liner pen is that the line it creates is too fine, which makes it hard or even impossible for the print to be produced. I discovered that the safest way is to use 2.0mm or a bigger number.

I then started to look into pigeons’ skeletons and be experimental with my drawings.

 

Sketchbook Drawing - Pigeon Skeletons

Also, being experimental I have used straight lines only to draw a skeleton of a pigeon.

 

I have used the feathers that I have collected to create mark making on the paper and tea stains and Indian ink to draw them. I thought of developing this kind of work by looking into mark making and combining it with found objects.

Things I might explore: I have liked Jackson Pollock’s work, because it is full of energy.  I have also started to develop an interest in working with hair. Therefore, I plan to experiment with this direction. 

Sampling - Print

The task was to peel off the vinyl and use it to draw a continuous line drawing, in the process the vinyl might snap, it might stick togther taking two lines or more.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=726415747368699&l=4095143104314127170

(See the link for video of the process)

Working in a team of six, we decided to give one another a role to do. So, someone filmed the process and someone did the peeling and we all did something. Working in a team, showed that we all have different ways of thinking. I jumped in and went ahead and started peeling. Thinking about it afterward, I realised I acted without discussion with my team members, which might have made them feel left out. Having roles worked well, once we decided what we were doing. I felt like I learnt how to communicate a bit more clearly with others and to compromise.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=726418410701766&l=489980301429716867

(See the link for video of the process)

For example, I suggested to use the positive space and negative space of the vinyl and wall, then another member of the team was more interested in 3D, and at the end, our ideas combined togther.

 

 

Using Indian Ink with different sized brushes

This is one of the drawing task from the chance cards - use Indian ink with different sized brushes.
I have taken a picture of the Manchester art gallery from the inside, because I thought the building was built with glass roofs and the natural sun light can shine through. I thought that was rather interesting to draw that. I mainly used line drawing to draw the stairwell. Also, watered down the ink to show the see thoroughness of the glass.

This is the actual photograph that I have worked from, it was taken in Manchester Art Gallery.

Drawing from Dust

This is one of the drawing tasks from chance cards - draw from dust.
I have found this task very interesting, because dust, no one ever bother to look at it, never mind touch it.
When I read the chance card, I thought about how I am going to present it.
However, I could not find and dust, therefore, I have used ashes instead. I have first used glue and throw ashes on top. Then I used my glue stick as a paint bush and went over it again.
I thought of this task as using unusually materials. Such as dust. Therefore I kept away from using the usual drawing tools, such as paint brushes.
After I made sure the ashes is staying on the page, I have used a stick to create mark making.
I like this drawing of mine, because it has movement, like the ashes is blowing in the wind.