Frogs

For my Research Methodology project, I chose to study frogs. I found them intriguing in the sense that they were considered either cute pets or horrible creatures - there is no in-between. Aside from their reputation, they are very interesting animals and have so many variations. This post shows a sample of my project and my exploration of frogs.

In my research I investigated the things most commonly associated with frogs. I looked at their patterns, their movements and their noises in an attempt to understand them better to find a way to represent them. First, I looked at the distinctive markings of the common frog, the kind you're likely to find in your garden. I experimented with different mediums to find the best way to represent the texture and patterning of a frogs skin. I found watercolour to work particularly well as it had a softer effect that suited the subject.




I also experimented with etching to create the patterns of frog skin. I tried the standard form of etching and found that the pattern edges were too harsh and bold. In the example shown, I used diluted watercolour paint over the dried ink to add a green tint to the etch, adding a little colour. Despite this, the darker patches of the pattern still look harsh. My second etching attempt was much more successful and had a more natural-looking finish. For this plate, I removed the ground for the patterning with a pencil eraser which removed it unevenly and gave the faded outline to the marks. I then treated and inked up the plate as normal and found that the ink collected in the uneven patterns, then forming darker areas on the print which looked great. The print shown is my favourite of those taken from the second plate as it showcases the pattern brilliantly but still maintains as an overall image of a frog.

This next image is of my piece from the mechanical animals workshop. In this session, we were encouraged to create a representation of our chosen animal created out of mechanical elements. In my piece I really wanted to convey the frogs hopping movement in the springs under its feet and the powerful legs crammed with gears and other machinery. The springs might look comical, but they communicate my message well.

In the last image, you can see my piece from the workshop led by guest lecturer My Dog Sighs, inspired by his Free Art Friday initiative. The workshop encouraged students to find a piece of litter and to rework it as a piece of art. Students used cans, bottle caps and scraps of paper for their work. I found a seed from a sycamore tree and thought it looked a lot like a tadpole. I then used acrylic paints to paint the seed as a tadpole, with the markings and a little eye. I think this piece is very effective, and is a good representation of a tadpole.

Koi fish - Sergi Traverso

For research methodology I chose koi fish due their vibrant colours and patterns and my fascination with the waterfall legend.

Mechanical Animal workshop work - Koi fish

Mechanical Animals

Tasked with creating an illustration of an animal using at least 50% mechanical imagery (cogs, wheels, springs etc.) the students produced some great work this afternoon.

Bats

For my menagerie project I chose to focus on bats.

I wanted to do an animal that I thought most people wouldn't do. Bats are not very popular and even feared but I think they are misunderstood and cute yet elemental. I looked at the different types of bats and where they live. I found that there are two branches of the bat family; Microbats and Megabats. Microbats are nocturnal, have external tails, are carnivores, use echolocation and are smaller than Megabats. Where as Megabats eat fruit and nectar, don't have visible tails, are diurnal so they have good eyesight and have no need for echolocation and are much larger.

I also looked into their behaviour and what their relationship is with people around the world. I used pencils, ink, collage and origami to show different aspects of the bat. The origami was the most challenging and the most rewarding.

Harlyn Blanchflower.

Owl - Research Methodology.

The animal I chose to illustrate for the Research Methodology project was the owl. The reason I wanted to draw this animal is because of their ability to hunt silently and their incredible eyesight.

This piece was made during a cut and paste workshop where we were given scraps of paper with mechanical components printed on them. By using these scraps the animals we created became industrial robots with cogs and flywheels. This made the owl's anatomy and abilities appear superhuman.

This was just a little experiment with more cut and paste, at this point I was still focussing on the owl's eyesight.

These two were part of my final piece for the project. I researched various facts about the owl's anatomy and created collages to illustrate them. I'm pleased with the effect of the white pen on the cardboard and on the black and white image. However there could be improvement on the composition of the typography.

Crocodile

The animal I selected to research and illustrate for the research methodology unit was the Crocodile. This was an easy choice because of my love for reptiles, in particular the Nile Crocodile. 

The opportunity to hold a 'living dinosaur' during my research was an absolute thrill and provided me with an unexpected direction in which I took my project. 

I produced a series of illustrations giving facts and information, with a touch of humour, for children and adults alike. I hoped for these to be used at the Crocodiles Of The World Centre I visited. 

The images were made into six A1 display sheets and also formed a hand printed and bound book. 

The centre has been in contact to express an interest in using the work at their new site. I am in the process of following this up.

Penguin

The mechanical animal penguin; I liked the idea of how you can use technology to overcome something that is naturally impossible. In this case, penguins cannot fly naturally, so like us, they've built machines to help them.

James Nicholls