How do I view the world? What do I hold views on?
Definition of viewpoint = Attitude of mind or a position from which something is observed : a point of view
OR
Place of observation or outlook
Primary brainstorming: I’ve been looking at things/views/objects from different angles and how others see them, thinking how children and insects and birds see things -from a micro/macro point of view. In the garden I picked a few mushrooms, the smell is ambrosial (good word – a ‘mellifluous’ word). I do love etymology and linguistics. (I feel such a nerd sometimes.)
NY Times “Other People’s Views” 6/2/2014 David Brooks – an interesting article about how other people perceive things and whether they are in the right, and is your own perception a good one … their opinion is as valuable to them as yours is to you.
I had a think about how I view the world.
(I’m suffering from massive creative block today after hearing sad news that our elderly neighbour passed away yesterday)
So … I began with researching uncle Google to help stimulate my clogged brain and to define ”viewpoint” in my mind. I did some mind-mapping and brain farts and identified a short-list of two ideas, to be presented in frameworks over a peer-group Zoom session next week.
My chosen project proposal was to create a novelty cocktail book (inspired by being locked down during Covid, and not being able to go on holiday or travel. Cocktails are a special treat which you might have on a holiday somewhere or an evening out. To me they feel decadent and fun – just what’s required for a pick me up at home.
Following the design process framework:
Theme: 6 short recipes, with hand drawn watercoloured sketches, with text trivia about the drink/history about the cocktails. Colourful, fun and informative.
• Form: Booklet or leporello -small, decorative, concertina fold style
•End-user context: For anyone 18+
The artwork style is criteria is bright, fun, mixed media with collage.
My research covered cocktail equipment, the history of cocktails, the various colours and ingredients, the styles of glasses, where they originated, and other cocktails books on the market …. I shortlisted four cocktails from various parts of the world, and I began testing artwork. Initially I wanted to paint the cocktails in glasses with watercolour, but to use a fineliner pen for the outlines. This style is my go-to, so I was advised to try a paler outline, using the watercolour instead. I looked at Heather Gatley (food and drink illustrator) for inspiration. The effect using paler grey watercolour did not show up in photos of my artwork, but the beauty of watercolour is you can go over with a darker colour, which gave a much more pleasing stronger effect. I found used papers and text to add to my images and designed four page layouts so each page is A5 size. (A4 double page).
I reached a point where I was spending so much time choosing fonts and deciding on the text/ image layouts and colour palettes that it became quite confusing. There are so many aspects of book illustration, and I guess in a publishers brief it would be crystal clear as to who was responsible for producing which aspects of the book. It was a thought-provoking process with many decisions to be made. I think if had I been able to bounce ideas off my peers in a normal classroom environment, then the process would certainly have been more straightforward.
