Part 1 Getting started

Exercise 1

The history of illustration

Edward Bawden 1903-1989

I was very happy to have Edward Bawden on the list of illustrators for this task.  I went to see his work in the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden a while ago.

Edward Bawden had very difficult life as he survived I World War and II World War although he did not give up his dream about becoming an illustrator.  Edward took a diploma in illustration at the Royal College of Art.  Another step in his career was to create illustrations for London Transport or Shell- Mex, he was working also for Stuart Advertising Agency. Edward was one of the official war artists during the II World War .  

http://www.fryartgallery.org/the-collection/search-results/artist/6/Edward%20Bawden




Dave McKean 1963

 Dave’s life was so much different to Edward’s Bawden life. Dave got on the career ladder very quickly with a big success; he did not have to worry about political situation in his country as Edward did.

                             This is a leaflet that I got from Dave's ticher from his college.

http://www.mckean-art.co.uk/

http://www.graphicustouring.com/exhibition-retrospective.html

 Quastion 1 :

  Did the work of the illustrator that you chose from the list seem old-fashioned? If so what was it that made it seem so?

There is always a risk of becoming an old-fashion no matter what art you do. Edward used a technique current for his time but unfortunately less popular now when the computer took over the vast majority of art.  In hand- made prints many times there is a limitation in numbers of colours to use, that is the biggest reason why his work may look old-fashioned.

 
Question 2 :

  What was it about the work of the contemporary artist that attracted you to their work?

Dave’s artwork is always precise and well made.  He has a genius for getting a message across to the audience. His work is always vibrant, innovative with very characteristic way of drawing.   

Question 3 :

  How did each artist produce their illustrations , what tools and materials did they use?

Edward used mostly hand-made prints and watercolours while Dave creates his drawings on a paper than working on them in computer.  He uses pastels, acrylics, pencil, ink, photographs to create his work.

Now draw an illustration in tyle of each artist, Selecting similar subject matter and using similar media.

My first illustration has been inspired by Dave’s McKean work from a children book called: “The day I swapped my dad for two goldfish”.

 I did a collage on a paper and used it as the background than I draw a girl’s face and two fish on separate paper.  My last stage was to put all together on a computer and make a nice and colourful illustration.

My second illustration has been inspired by Edward Bawden work but with a modern twist.

I took my old drawing of flowers in the vase than I scanned it into a computer and worked on it to create a nice illustration in a style of old hand-made print.  I have to say that was not an easy task.