In continuation of this project, I began to create patterns using the simple shapes that I used to represent the bow and arrows. I wanted to create these quickly and without fuss, so I simply used a biro to make these line drawings which I drew in a random pattern. It was very satisfying as due to the majority of the shapes involved being the same size, I could easily position and rotate each one with out it causing gaps with in the pattern. I tried to keep it as simple as possible but I did, however, use what I thought of bows and arrows being in my head as I felt most comfortable drawing my interpretation of it.
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I also wanted to experiment with other materials as I wanted to see how I could add colour without adding unnecessary detail to an image. in the example shown to the right, I used block colours and minimal outlining to create depictions of arrows. I enjoyed drawing these as they were larger than the first patterns that I had drawn for this project but I feel like if I was to expand it the composition would work just as well. Whilst generally I want to work in colour pencil, I feel that for illustrations such as this, they don't generally give such a good colour coverage and maybe a material such as ink, acrylic paint or creating this as a digital piece would have been more suitable.
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This is an illustration by Alice Provensen; an American illustrator, Provensen again has a simplicity to her work that I really admire. Her style reflects the medieval scene which she is depicting in this image but I also like how you get a sense of texture through the materials used when creating the block colours that make up the majority of the image.
Again, focusing on the presence of the bow and arrows, you can immediately tell what they are and how they are being used with just one glance of the image. This is a sense of clarity that I feel I often miss in my own work as I tend to over complicate things as the reach a final outcome. |
I found that I spent the next few weeks of this project stuck in a bit of a rut. I kept of making patterns, but I soon felt as if I had lost the original meaning of the project and that it was no longer answering the question. So, I decided to really understand the answer by doing the only thing I could think of. By making my own bow and arrows.
I went on a hunt to find some suitable materials so I took the opportunity whist I was at Butchers Wood, Sussex to find some suitable sticks to involve in the project. Unfortunately at this point on the summer I had broken my right wrist which, being right handed, made everything more of a challenge. Luckily I was able to bring the interviewee himself to help me and consequently teach me how to create my own 'weapons'. I picked up a sticks of various sizes and also got told numerous times that they were too small, too big, too brittle and too bendy. I realised at this point especially for a young child that making bows and arrows that actually worked would have been a challenge...especially without the help of an adult! Eventually some suitable sticks were found and I took them home to begin construction! |