Summer Illustration #2
Memoriam
48cm x 61cm Bristol Paper July 2018 Exhibition Text This piece is titled Memoriam, which is Latin for "In memory of". Portrayed in this illustration is a war-torn soldier that is paying respects to his fallen comrade. The goal for this project was to portray a negative aspect of war, the loss of human life throughout the war. |
(Click to enlarge pictures)
Planning
Inspiration
It was very challenging to brainstorm for both pieces of this project. I had a very simplistic idea at first, as I knew that I wanted to do something with the more literal connotation of Conflict, War. I looked to my previous illustrations that I had done first semester for some inspiration. While looking through my previous work, I thought about the concept of relating the two pictures together. The idea of having a positive and negative piece again intrigued me, so I decided to go along with it. Through this research, I also decided on an artist to pursue, Norman Rockwell. I remembered his wartime illustrations and thought that they would fit aptly. For this negative piece, I had decided to look through his World War II and the American Homefront collection. My goal for this project was to portray a negative aspect of war, the loss of human life throughout the war. After spending some time searching through the collection, I found one that intrigued me, titled "World War II poster". I began and finished the sketch that day and went on to find other ideas. The next day, I went back to the collection to look at the picture again to do the next stage in my planning, I was met with errors when I tried to open the page, which I later discovered to be caused by an update to the website (as of 8/12, the website has not changed and I am still unable to access it). I spent hours combing through google trying to find this piece, to no avail. However, during my search, I was taken by a new piece titled "Soldier Kneeling at French Memorial" by Joseph Christian Leyendecker, a German-American illustrator. Unable to find any trace of my previous image, I moved on and used this for my inspiration. Whilst trying to find a way of modernizing/altering this piece, I found a picture of soldiers in front of memorials of their fallen comrades, which I was heavily influenced by.
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(Click to enlarge pictures)
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Planning Sketches
In this first sketch, I was working on getting an idea of how to create my version of Rockwell's "World War II Poster". A few things that had interested me was the positioning of the soldier and the makeshift memorial. Because of my immense love for history, I had also noticed that this might have been based on an island (possibly Iwo Jima), which encouraged me to continue with it. One possibility that I was considering was to change it into a soldier in the middle east, as to modernize it. Alas, I was unable to complete this, as I was sadly unable to access this picture again.
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This next sketch was a semi-detailed recreation of J. C. Leyendecker's "Freedom from Fear". I always do a full sketch of the main inspiration in order to get a better idea of what I am getting into. This allowed me to make a few decisions about what I would end up carrying forward into the next sketch and final product.
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This was my final sketch for this project. I made numerous decisions and changes within this sketch. Firstly, in relation to my previous illustration projects, I liked the idea of modernizing the piece slightly. I then created the grid over it and got to work on sketching. Throughout this, I thought back to my core idea of
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Process
Experimentation
Overall, most of my experimentation occurred during the the final part of the process. Towards the end of this process, I felt that certain areas of it were lacking in visuals, specifically in the top half. I looked through my inspirations to try and find something that might help. While looking through the pictures of the American soldiers, I noticed what I can best describe as perhaps windowsills of some fashion. I realized that those would be the ideal addition to my piece. I mimicked the wooden framing and wiring/cabling and added some damaged windows, so that the frames would actually have a purpose. After adding those, I felt like the center of the piece was lacking something near it. looking back at the same picture, I fashioned a random door and raised entrance behind the shape of the soldier. While they may be minimal in the grand scheme of things, I feel that these experiments helped add a lot of depth to this piece. |
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Process
Sketching: After I had finished my final sketch and planning, I created a grid over the last planning sketch. I created lines every __in(__cm) along the top and __in(__cm) along the sides to create a grid on the Bristol paper. I then began to use the grid method to form the sketch in pencil. I started with some of the simpler aspects of the picture in order to get a feel for it. Firstly, I drew in the slab that the soldier and the memorial would rest on. Secondly, I moved onto the wooden frame that holds the boot and the weapon. Next, I moved onto the rifle being held on the wooden frame. I spent a lot of time on this so I would not have to worry nearly as much when I got around to the ink. I then started on the most important part of the piece, the kneeling soldier. I began with the legs and feet, slightly detailing the boot to save some time later. Next, I worked on his upper body and back pack. I then created the rifle slung on his shoulder again spending lot of time on this so I would save time later. I then formed his arm and hand clutching the dog tag. Finally, I created his head and helmet, including the helmet on the gun.
Inking: After I was satisfied with the final sketching, I began to to finalize the design. I followed the very same pattern for the inking process. Firstly, I drew in the slab, the wooden frame, and the surrounding items. However, for both guns, I only did the basic outline for that time. I then moved onto the the basic shape of the soldier and slowly worked inwards. A few areas that I spent a lot of time on for the soldier were the face (specifically the beard) and the gun slung on his shoulder. At that point, I noticed the empty space throughout the piece and added the wooden framing and wiring/cabling and added some damaged windows. I then formed the door and its raised platform. After I had finished outlining the entire paper, I worked on the shading of all of the objects. For many of the areas, I used the pen to coat my finger in ink and spread it out on the desired area.
Sketching: After I had finished my final sketch and planning, I created a grid over the last planning sketch. I created lines every __in(__cm) along the top and __in(__cm) along the sides to create a grid on the Bristol paper. I then began to use the grid method to form the sketch in pencil. I started with some of the simpler aspects of the picture in order to get a feel for it. Firstly, I drew in the slab that the soldier and the memorial would rest on. Secondly, I moved onto the wooden frame that holds the boot and the weapon. Next, I moved onto the rifle being held on the wooden frame. I spent a lot of time on this so I would not have to worry nearly as much when I got around to the ink. I then started on the most important part of the piece, the kneeling soldier. I began with the legs and feet, slightly detailing the boot to save some time later. Next, I worked on his upper body and back pack. I then created the rifle slung on his shoulder again spending lot of time on this so I would save time later. I then formed his arm and hand clutching the dog tag. Finally, I created his head and helmet, including the helmet on the gun.
Inking: After I was satisfied with the final sketching, I began to to finalize the design. I followed the very same pattern for the inking process. Firstly, I drew in the slab, the wooden frame, and the surrounding items. However, for both guns, I only did the basic outline for that time. I then moved onto the the basic shape of the soldier and slowly worked inwards. A few areas that I spent a lot of time on for the soldier were the face (specifically the beard) and the gun slung on his shoulder. At that point, I noticed the empty space throughout the piece and added the wooden framing and wiring/cabling and added some damaged windows. I then formed the door and its raised platform. After I had finished outlining the entire paper, I worked on the shading of all of the objects. For many of the areas, I used the pen to coat my finger in ink and spread it out on the desired area.
Reflection
Overall, I am much more proud of this piece in comparison to my positive work. I am very pleased with the amount of shading that I accomplished throughout the project and the detail on the two guns. Another thing that I like very much is the grain of the wood that I added onto the wooden pieces in the scene. In hindsight, there are two things that I wish I had done in this piece. The first is in the picture of the american soldiers, there is a plaque leaning against the boot that I would like to add sometime in the future. Another thing I would like to improve upon is perhaps adding more detail and shading to the camouflage in the uniform. However, I am rather satisfied with this work and I think it was a great experimentation with ink.
ACT Responses
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Both Rockwell and Leyendecker's art is rooted in detail and wartime conflict, something that heavily influenced me throughout this process.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Rockwell and Leyendecker noth did many different illustrations over the years, including Conflict related pieces talking about WW2
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout the scope of my research, I learned just how much of an impact that war can have on people.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I have been trying to stay with throughout my work is Conflict.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
In my research, I inferred that war is not as black and white as some people think. There are many different aspects that form the positive and negative parts of war.
Both Rockwell and Leyendecker's art is rooted in detail and wartime conflict, something that heavily influenced me throughout this process.
2. What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Rockwell and Leyendecker noth did many different illustrations over the years, including Conflict related pieces talking about WW2
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout the scope of my research, I learned just how much of an impact that war can have on people.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I have been trying to stay with throughout my work is Conflict.
5. What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
In my research, I inferred that war is not as black and white as some people think. There are many different aspects that form the positive and negative parts of war.
Bibliography
“The Art of Norman Rockwell - Norman Rockwell Museum - The Home for American Illustration.” Norman Rockwell Museum, www.nrm.org/collections-2/art-norman-rockwell/.
http://www.artnet.com/artists/joseph-christian-leyendecker/soldier-kneeling-at-french-memorial-ToWTykYXtATph8QTiFPfHw2
http://www.artnet.com/artists/joseph-christian-leyendecker/soldier-kneeling-at-french-memorial-ToWTykYXtATph8QTiFPfHw2