My aim for this project is to focus on the art of illustration, specifically the illustration of books. Being someone who uses a tablet regularly to create artwork, I feel I have enough existing knowledge to incorporate this aspect into my A2 project. Last year I was able to create an animation using digital drawing and further editing on Adobe Photoshop software which allowed me to establish a set of basic skills. I favour the idea of illustrating a gothic novel as their deep plots and mysterious characters could prove interesting to create.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between stories, images and specifically the characters in a book. Characters are vessels through which the story is told and their design and presentation is crucial, particularly in children’s literature where images are presented alongside the text rather than novels aimed at an older audience in which the reader’s imagination is required. By taking children’s novels and looking at the illustrative styles I hope gain an understanding of the concept and do the same with a novel of my choice. Character design is something I could investigate because often a single character is able to convey the meaning in a book and by presenting them in a certain way; I am effectively able to present the story itself. By looking at books such as Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter collection in which a whole book revolves around the life of a single character, depicting them in a certain way is sure to reflect the meaning of the book as a whole. This means that I will not be focusing on the settings and landscapes described in the texts but the semantics and characters within those settings.
I will start my research by looking at the history of illustration and how book have been represented through the centuries. From prayer books, illuminated manuscripts and the bible, to poems and classics such as Alice in Wonderland right up to modern illustrative techniques as it is evident this is an art form that has a deep history waiting to be explored. By then selecting specific illustrators and studying their work in depth I am able to answer my proposed question whilst gaining an understanding of this discipline.
