Ballet Sequence

Taking on the comments provided I developed this sequence further by using the colours and making a gradiant in illustrator to allow them to blend through the image instead of them being set in one image. I also decided to group the images, make a copy and transform it to reflect horizontally to create a shadow effect. The opacity of the reflection was also changed to look subtle. I then transferred the image into Photoshop to allow me to use the liquify tool under 'Filter Gallery' which let me distort the shadow. I chose to experiment with doing that as it again enhances the message I am trying to give showing the deeper reality of ballet dancing. 

Illustrator Ballet sequence

This was a quick experiment and another variation of creating imagery using digital software. I made this image in adobe illustrator by tracing images taken from google of ballet stances with the pen tool and adding a fill colour to each one. The reasoning behind the colouring and stances of this collection of images is to show how the deterioration of dancing occurs with the ballerina collapsing in on herself of colour draining out. Although the image was an experiment I do feel it can be further developed to present as a final design.

Ink images Digitilised

               

These two successful experiments came from developing the ink images by scanning them in and placing into Adobe Photoshop to change image size and put them into grayscale. Then using the Live trace tool in Illustrator I achieved these smoother, digitalised imagery of the inks. The first image I experimentated by placing the same image over top and again live tracing it but adjusted the blur to create a thicker outline and colour to the image. However I do not feel it worked as well and distracts from the simple elegant lines which looks more effective.

Ink Studies

I used ink to create these images relating to ballet dance. Ink allows a more free and loose look to the drawing and I was focusing on trying to achieve that as well as simple, fluent lines.  To develop these further I will experiment with scanning them into the computer and producing them as a digital image in Illustrator.

Samantha Hahn research

 

 

Samantha Hahn who lives in Manhattan is an illustrator who produces advertisement, editorial and branding works for many clients such as: The Cut magazine, Tiffany's, marc Jacobs and Vogue. Samantha creates her unique works using traditional ink and watercolours. Her watercolours are quite loosely used and have great colour contrasts and tones within. Her work is of an interest to me and she also produces digital imagery from watercolour images which is what I am hoping to achieve with my designs transferring traditional images into adobe software.

Olly Moss research

                  

 

 

Olly Moss is a well-known British Graphic designer based in Winchester who works in the fields of Illustration, advertisement and design. He is best known for his reimaging of popular movie posters old and new. However I have looked into both his traditional drawings created using ink and his paper cut silhouettes of characters to gain influence towards my project. I like these two works of his due to the elegant simplicity of them however are still effective. I am using ink in experiments to create my imagery and am trying to focus on using simple lines to make the outline of the image and looking into Olly Moss' work helps me to understand and see how they can be created. 

Typography Experiments

 

Edgar Degas

 

 

Edgar Degas born 19th July 1834 was a well known French artist who specialised in created traditional paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures in the style of impressionism. The subject of his paintings focused most on dancing and capturing the movement or isolation of the body.

I chose to look into the works of Degas due to his subject matter focusing on ballet as so am I. Although his works do not use digital media to produce them I am taking influence from the style and colours of his paintings. I like the gentle brush stroke look and the soft pale colours that easily blend together.

Quick sketches

                           

Theses are five quick studies of feet and body silhouettes that are created using pencil and watercolour. The drawings isolate various areas of the body and show the positioning's and lines that are created. Studies of the feet are important to produce as that is what I am taking a closer look at for my project. These studies can be taken forward as initial ideas that I can reproduce and develop fully in watercolour and detail.

Ballet feet

 

Feet are one the main body parts dancers use to perform and although the pink silk shoes look elegant they hide the truths of dancers feet. These pointe shoes give the illusion of ballerina's dancing on their tip toe however they cause painful deforms of the feet and injuries. Dancers have to bare pain from corns, growths, black nails, purpling flesh and blisters. Leading Podiatrist Peter Norman has treated the Royal Ballet students for over 16 years and has said "I know of dancers who have gone on pointe with broken bones and stress factures"

Feet are a great body part to study and draw, however I have chosen to research into ballerina feet as they are one of the most telling signs of demanding and harsh ballet is that rarely anybody see's to understand.

Bolshio acid attack

 

 

This shocking acid attack shows the amount of stress and conflict that can happen in the world of ballet. A well known soloist dancer part of the Bolshio ballet company was jailed after throwing acid in the face of the ballets artistic director. The attack was provoked after Mr.Filin denied dance roles to Pavel Dmitrichenko and his ballerina girlfriend which angered the dancer.

Josef Muller-Brockmann research

 

                      
                                        
                                                    

Born May 9th 1914 Josef Muller-Brockmann was a Swiss graphic designer and teacher at the Zurich School of Arts. Brockmann can be classified as one of the many designers part of the Swiss International style and he was also influenced buy other art movements such as Bauhaus and Russian Constructivism. I have looked into his work due to the fact that like Scher his work was on advertisement posters one of his most iconic being for Zurich Town Hall. Again I have focused in on the simplistic style of his works and enhancing space on a page. I like the way in which he layed his work out and use of shapes like circles and rectangles which can be seen more on his other works. Josef Muller-Brockmann also uses mostly sans serif fonts adding to the designs looking sharp and clean.

Paula Scher research

   

 
                                           

Paul Scher born October 6th 1948 is an American graphic designer, illustrator and painter. Scher began her career in the 70's and 80's due to her typography being a big influence and by 1984 she co-founded the Koppel & Scher with fellow designer Terry Koppel. Over the six years she produced identities, packaging and advertisement for wide range of clients. However in 1991 she became Principal at the international Design consultancy, Pentagram.
I have looked into her works she produced for the Public Theatre and the New York city ballet. I love the way in which she places type against an imagine always using large or bold sans serif fonts. Her advertisement for the Ballet sticks to having a lack of colour by using tonal black, white and grey making it look simple and almost elegant. In my posters I will create I may take influence from the way she uses typography to enhance an imagine or how it is placed sometimes even diagonally.

Billy Elliot research

                                  

Billy Elliot is a well known British film from 2000 starring Jamie Bell as the lead character 11 year old Billy. The film is about one boys dream to become a professional ballet dancer that secretly attends ballet classes. However he has to deal heavily with the negative stereotype of male ballet dancers from his farther and misses his first audition for the Royel Ballet School.  After all the trouble Billy is finally accepted in to the school and fourteen years later performs lead role in Swan Lake.  

This wonderful film, although it touches on the harsh stereotype of male dancers it is opposite to how  Black Swan perceives ballet dancing. Billy Elliot shows a more far fetched dream and perfect view on dancing that would make a lot aspire to it thinking it is a beautiful thing. Although it is true that the dance is pure and uplifting it does not take a closer look to explore the harsh truths. 

Black Swan research

 

The well known American thriller movie Black Swan starring Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman is based on the world of ballet dancing and explores the life of one dancers dream to be perfect. However as the dancer becomes under more intense pressure and having to compete against rival dancer for the part of the black swan she cracks and loses grip on reality.
Although this movie is exaggerated I do think it allows a slight insight into the reality of ballet dancing and that it isn't always perfect. A lot of ballet dancers are under pressure to produce a performance that is faultless and they do have to compete to either be in the best ballet companies or be a lead role.

Statement of Intent

The project brief is Take a Closer Look wanting us to explore a subject that has two opposite sides that may not always be accepted or seen. I have chosen to take forward the subject of Ballet Dancing, not only is it a passion of my own but I think its not something that many would see as possibly being controversial and having two sides. One being the pure beauty of ballet dancing and that a lot aspire to be a dancer but secondly that in reality it is both physically and mentally demanding due to the pressure and how perfect it has to be. I aim to produce a general piece of graphic design, either an advertisement/campaigne style poster using typography and illustrated imagery or a serious of simple images evolving showing the opposing sides. I will be using Adobe Photoshop software editing and adjusting imagery which is a building on my digital skills as I have only used it once before. I will also be taking my illustrator skills to a higher level.

So far I have took influences from designers Josef Muller-Brockmann and Paula Scher looking into their layouts and styles of their advertisement and posters they created. Brockmann's Swiss international style is simple and uses light tones of colours. Researching into Schers Public Theatre and New York City ballet advertisement I like the strong bold type she uses which is mainly sans serif fonts and how she places them against images. Also I researched into the new Black Swan movie and the way in which they perceived the ballet world and it does show the side that I am taking a closer look into, being that it is not all beauty. However I still do need to further my research into designers who use both Photoshop and illustrator and how they use them to manipulate images or to create their own imagery. I may explore dance photography and how a simple captured image can make an impact. Opinions are the strongest thing when looking into controversial subjects, I could gain these by going to talk to a dance school or dancers that have trained from being young, this allows me to have a real point of view to work with.

For this Project I intend to produce my designs using Photoshop and Illustrator. However I hope to combine them with traditional made images using watercolours, sketches and stitch work. Stitch work I feel would be appropriate to use as it often looks elegant like ballet dancing and using ribbon relates to the dance shoes they use. If I was to change and produce hand made work I would photograph the work displayed either in frames or on the wall to upload to the computer.
I have a vague idea of how I will manage my time. I need to dedicate my time most to the development of ideas and producing my final pieces as they are time consuming and need to be of a professional and presentable standard. I will divide my time into weeks, dedication either one or two weeks to each element of design. For the next 2 weeks I hope to develop my imagery and typography that I will put in my final pieces. Experiments will be the main part of this stage.

Cosmetic surgery

 

 

 

My second subject I am looking into that is controversial  is cosmetic and plastic surgery. the two differ. This cosmetic surgery is an optional procedure which is done on normal parts of the body to improve the appearance which over a million every year choose to have done. Some of these procedures are: Breast argumentation, liposuction and eyelid surgery. However plastic surgery is more for the correction or restoration of a body part. Most of those procedures are known as reconstructive surgery.

I think there are two sides to this, one being that having cosmetic surgery for some will improve their confidence about part of the body they dislike instead of feeling insecure although many people including celebrities take advantage of this surgery option when infact they do not need these procedures whereas their are genuine people with problems that need plastic surgery to help. Should surgeons time be taken by people wanting cosmetic surgery?