Final Portfolio Layout, Adjusted

This is the final layout view of one of my final portfolios after I used the redesigned image. I feel changing the image was a wise decision as it connects better the other designs and fits to the page properly.

Image Development

                                   

I chose to fully redesign my first image to allow it to connect with the others when it is presentated on the Indesign portfolio. Using the same method of a watercolour based image I will then scan in and convert it to a vector based image. The drawing needed to focus on certain point and have cut off to be able to fit to the page, however I did not want to lose too much of the image as I feel the word 'elegance' connects with the leg lines and costume of the stereo typical ballerina. I settled on this simple drawing of a ballet stance just focusing on the legs and feet which is what my theme follows.

Analysis of Portfolio Layout

I attempted to make the original image match with the others by cropping it down and moving it to the top edge however it did not successfully work as the image doesn't have a suitable point to focus on and there is not enough detail within the foot and leg to stand out on its own.

Development of Portfolio

On the final layout of my portfolio, again I have used a landscape view and set the images one per page as I feel it allows them to still look individual and large enough to see detail. While placing in the images I noticed how it looked effective having them touching the top of the page but with the first ballerina image not having a focal point or cut off it does not work against the other images or allow it to flow as a sequence. 

Further Type Experiment

 

Here are two Indesign documents of further typography development for the three other words I am using: Elegance, Balance and stamina. I do not feel that some of the experiments worked successful enough to use. For the word 'Elegnace' I experimented with curving the text as I feel curves are smooth and elegance is seen to be something quite simple which this effect creates. I achieved that by going onto 'Effect' and into the 'Warp' tools where I chose to use the wave effect. You can also see I have used the warp tool on an experiment for the word 'Stamina' to make the text arch upward as though it is a weight being lifted which can represent strength. I feel the most successful 'stamina' experiment is the last one as I extended the letter 'a' and faded it out by changing the opacity of colour. It's well suited to the word as stamina is a fitness element that is consistent throughout. Finally I  tested various ways to put across the word 'Balance' which I did simply by transforming and rotating some of the letters. I wanted either all or one if the letters to look as though they were balancing on themselves or other letters and I personally think the last one shows this the best even though it is just a very slight adjustment. 

Final type development

These are the quick experiments of type within the sequence of images. I developed the typography for the word 'broken' by splitting the last letters to look as though it is breaking away, however I do not feel I have successfully explored the potential of the other words. Taking on the comment written I will be creating more experiments to try and connect the type more with the imagery.

Porfolio Layout

This is the beginning of my Indesign Portfolio layout presenting an introduction and development page. I chose to place the pages in a landscape layout as I think it can easily show and fit portrait and lanscape images on together in a more professional way. I have also used the Margins and Columns to create 3 columns per page with a space of 5 mm between them as it makes it easier to fit the text around or next to the images.

Ipad Image

                                           

This is a quick experiment of a ballerina that I did using the software Sketchbook Pro on the IPad. It works similar to illustrator in allowing you to use various layers to build up an image and being able to trace over an imported picture with pen tools. Although the drawing and colours have worked well and it is an easy digital software to be able to understand, I do not feel I have enough time to develop my skills on it to create professional standard images for my final pieces. 

Type Experiments

I am experimenting with adding typography alongside my images which can relate to and enhance the message given. I made these quick experiments using Indesign. For the last image I am using the word 'Broken' which is quite harsh and gave me the idea to split the letters or twist them to look broken and distorted. I used various tolls like Curning and line tool to create these effects. I feel the most effective experiment from these seven could be the combination of four and seven together which I will take forward to develop the final typography.

Foot distortion Development

          

This is the last image in my sequence that I live traced in Adobe Illustrator. With this last picture trying to show how ballet can seriously effect the feet I needed to make it look broken or distorted. To achieve this, again I placed it in photoshop and used the liquify tool to create the unusual curves.

Watercolour Images

 

These are my four final water colour images I have created that I will then scan into the computer and digitalise them on Adobe software. I chose to take forward this method as it works quite efficiently and designer Samantha Hahn who I researched into uses a similar method. Also it allows the images to have a simple look and focuses on just a line image.

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.