Monday, 17 January 2011

existing guardian illustrations

i have been looking at some existing guardian illustrations to try and get an idea of the kind of material that has been used in the past. I was particularly inspired by the variety of media that has been used... I think it is very easy to only limit your inspiration to hand drawn illustration and photogrpahy when thinking about illustrating for this kind of print.... this has made me want to perhaps take this oppertunity to experiment with some other media. Another element that I noticed was the generally quite muted colour palette.... this could be down to a number of reasons..
1) the target audience; these colours seem more suitable for the 
mature content of the articles

2) the stock... newsprint type stocks tend not to support bright and 
vibrant colours due to the absorbency

3) bright colours are often spot colours out of cmyk,
 so perhaps it's a cost restriction?



ideas for 'Doctor doctor' article

due to the fact that there is already a large image on this page, I think that my image should not be too outrageous in an effort to grab the attention of the reader. I want to use colours that either compliment the existing palette used or actually use colours already in the other image. I think that due to the fact that this image is photographic, a hand rendered image would suit best, potentially something textured like a paint surface....


The idea I have decided on is to create some kind of illustration of a viral bacteria seeing as the subject of the article is illness. The subject matter is fairly sincere, enough so that I think a humor based image would not be suitable.





Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Old nursery rhyme illustrations


NURSERY RHYMES, HIDDEN MEANINGS....


As my target audience is probably going to be adults rather than children, I would like my animation to have a slightly black humoured undertone.....
One way that I could do this could be to play on the original meanings of nursery rhymes...
TitleSupposed originEarliest date knownMeaning supported by evidence
Baa, Baa, Black SheepThe slave trade; medieval wool taxc. 1744 (Britain)Medieval taxes were much lower than two thirds. There is no evidence of a connection with slavery.
Doctor FosterEdward I of England1844 (Britain)Given the recent recording the medieval meaning is unlikely.
Grand old Duke of YorkRichard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York in the Wars of the Roses;James II of England, or Prince Frederick, Duke of York and AlbanyFlanders campaign of 1794–5.1913 (Britain)The more recent campaign is more likely, but first record is very late. The song may be based on a song about the king of France.
Humpty DumptyRichard III of EnglandCardinal Wolsey and a cannon from the English Civil War1797 (Britain)No evidence that it refers to any historical character and is originally a riddle found in many European cultures. The story about the cannon is based on a spoof verse written in 1956.
Jack and JillNorse mythologyLouis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette1765 (Britain)No evidence that it stretches back to early medieval era and poem predates theFrench Revolution.
Little Boy BlueThomas Wolseyc. 1760 (Britain)Unknown, the identification is speculative.
Little Jack HornerDissolution of the Monasteries1725 (Britain) but story known from c. 1520The rhyme may have been adapted to satirise Thomas Horner who benefited from the Dissolution, but the connection is speculative.
London Bridge is falling downBurial of children in foundations; burning of wooden bridge by Vikings1659 (Britain)Unknown, but verse exists in many cultures and may have been adapted to London when it reached England.
Mary, Mary, quite contraryMary, Queen of Scots, or Mary I of Englandc. 1744 (Britain)Unknown, all identifications are speculative.
Old King ColeVarious early medieval kings and Richard Cole-brook a Reading clothier1708-9 (Britain)Richard Cole-brook was widely known as King Cole in the seventeenth century.
Ring a Ring o' RosesBlack Death (1348) or The Great Plague (1665)1790 (USA)No evidence that the poem has any relation to the plague. The 'plague' references are not present in the earliest versions.
Rock-a-bye BabyThe Egyptian god Horus; Native American childcare; anti-Jacobitesatirec. 1765 (Britain)Unknown, all identifications are speculative.
There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a ShoeQueen Caroline of Ansbach; Elizabeth Vergoose of Boston.1784 (Britain)Unknown, all identifications are speculative.
Three Blind MiceMary I of Englandc. 1609 (Britain)Unknown, the identification is speculative.
Who Killed Cock Robin?Norse mythologyRobin HoodWilliam RufusRobert Walpole; Ritual bird sacrificec. 1744 (Britain)The story, and perhaps rhyme, dates from at least the later medieval era, but all identifications are speculative.

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

WHITE STRIPES - WE'RE GONNA BE FRIENDS


This song is on the opening credits of the film 'Napoleon Dynamite'.... I think this kind of song, or even this song itself could be really appropriate for my animations....

'JUNO' TITLE SEQUENCE

This animated title sequence takes the viewer on a journey, with the subject. I've been thinking about how this would be done on AE and I think its not as hard as I would have first thought.... I'd like to create this sense of guiding the watcher on a route or a journey....

'BIG FISH' TITLE SEQUENCE


I like the hand drawn element of this animation, and the use of multiple layers to create depth and textures, particularly the ocean waves moving and bobbing in different directions which I think is really succesful. I also love the simple but effective use of curtains and gates, which works really well.