Getting together work for a competition got me lost in research, and there was a lot, so for 'research' read procrastination. I could not settle on style or medium and in dithering ran down the clock and so lessened the choices. No lino prints for me!
The remit was to produce three illustrations and a design for the binding for 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. Despite being set in the future it is very much about the 1920s and 1930s. My thoughts turned to Metropolis by Fritz Lang.
I really like the travel posters of the same period they have such wonderfully strong designs and colours. They are outrageously optimistic, and like all advertising selling the lifestyle and dream of health, wealth and beauty.
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| I find the Art Deco designs so very attractive |
I really like the travel posters of the same period they have such wonderfully strong designs and colours. They are outrageously optimistic, and like all advertising selling the lifestyle and dream of health, wealth and beauty.
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| So many to choose from, they are appealing for their nostalgia and their artistry. |
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| Steve Thomas's fantastic retro future Posters. He has captured the quality of them perfectly. |
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| The finished Malpais image. |
Huxley's descriptions of London, the surrounding countryside and Malpais, which are very attractive and he takes great pleasure in its portrayal. As you can see I was getting completely diverted by this and while I had many ideas they were not appearing on paper.
In the end however, my designs were very different as I focused onto the human moments that had a very strong cinematic feel to them. But lessons to be learnt...work faster...and don't get distracted...learn more Photoshop sometime soon! I was pleased with my ideas, but really unhappy with the results.
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| Some early design thoughts for the cover. Based on the colour strata of the different social castes. |
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| Different ideas for Malpais, starting with a sweeping view of the mesa and then focusing in on the ritual. |
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| John the Savage's point of view - seeing the gawking child twins, staring at this mother. |
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| Rough of the cover. The finish would have all the figures coloured. |
In the end however, my designs were very different as I focused onto the human moments that had a very strong cinematic feel to them. But lessons to be learnt...work faster...and don't get distracted...learn more Photoshop sometime soon! I was pleased with my ideas, but really unhappy with the results.
