bitsofbob
bitsofbob
Ewan MacNeil
19 posts
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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Narrative Rotation (ooops I forgot)
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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ASSEMBLY FINAL!!
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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Orientation Day Out!  Our group was sent to sunny North London (Kings Cross to be precise).  Our first stop was the Kings Cross Tunnel.
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Whilst there I took a moment to enjoy the water fountain...
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...And a strange birdcage installation - or is it a remnant from the past...
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The next stop on our tour was the Gagosian, where there is currently an exhibition called 'Douglas Gordon: I had nowhere to go: Portrait of a displaced person'. We stayed for the screening of 'I had nowhere to go' a film about Jonas Mekas, the poet, film critic and Godfather of American avant-garde cinema.
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There were also some interesting (if sparse) pieces on display.
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Along the way to our next stop we passed by the St Pancras Church, which had some fun and interesting statues...
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It was a beautiful day and everyone was in good cheer. 
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Finally our last stop was the Wellcome Collection, which has an excellent and fascinating exhibition on called 'Can Graphic Design Save Your Life?'. This was a great series of examples of how graphic design has shaped and played a part in our health and well-being throughout the years, from designs for cigarette packaging, pharmacy signs and how people throughout the world have used illustration to highlight health issues and warning (the Ebola crisis in Liberia being a particularly haunting photo). We weren’t allowed to take photos inside but I managed to take some before going in.
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This was our last stop but we managed to cover and explore a variety of very different and exciting locations. The Gagosian was mellow and relaxed, you could almost fall asleep on the beanbags while waiting for the film to start, They had plenty of free handouts and magazines that we all got copies of. The Wellcome Collection was the highlight of the day, with some really funny, disturbing and enlightening examples of the subject we’re all currently embarking upon studying. I found it really inspiring!
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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Introduction:
Firstly, I'd like to say that I've had a lot of fun with this exercise and being truthful it was quite hard, it forced me to look further afield than the narrow tastes that I have grown used to (not that I feel this is a flaw in anyway.) I can't admit to knowing much about British artists or designers off the top of my head, I like numerous artists and pieces but this has always been by random encounters, something has caught my eye or imagination and it's generally only one piece or certain aspects of a style that I pick up on. Through the course of thinking about and looking at British artists and designers I stumbled across names and connections to things that were quite personal to me, things from my past, things that have had an impact on me and inspired me in many ways. I've chosen a few examples of these, I feel they might be a little left of field but for me these artists and designers are intriguing and have left their mark.
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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John Barry - Set designer (A Clockwork Orange, Star Wars and Superman 1 & 2)
In November 1993 I had just turned 16 and I was watching the news when they announced that Anthony Burgess had passed away. I was ignorant of who he was until I saw the cascade of stills from 'A Clockwork Orange' hit the screen (it felt like a cascade at the time - there were four or five from recollection) but the imagery struck the cord of excitement in me. The first was a still from the Korova Milk bar (Alex and his droogs drinking milk), the famous silhouette of the gang moving towards a tramp, a shot of Alex pressing his walking stick into the tramps stomach and finally a still of Alex and the gang in their (newly stolen) Durango 95. I have always been a film buff and I was aware of the film and had seen some poor stills before but it felt like a light had gone on. That Christmas I asked for a copy of the book and the soundtrack. The images I saw inspired me to read the book (which was no mean feat as I could barely read at the time) and I was also introduced by proxy to Beethoven and Rossini to name a few. I bought the poster and managed to get hold of a copy of the film (on pirate VHS). The first ten to fifteen minutes really left their mark, the look and feel of this introduction to the world of Alex was startling. When I started thinking about this mini assignment I started with the usual set of British Artists and designers but although I have a profound respect for their work I feel any real emotional connection to them, so I started to think outside the obvious choices and John Barry came to mind but not only because of his work on 'A Clockwork Orange' but he also contributed towards the first two 'Star Wars' films (dying during the production of 'The Empire Strikes Back') and both Superman films (starring Christopher Reeves). I hadn't realised what an affect his work had been on me and unbeknownst (only after checking his CV did I realise) with 'Star Wars' & 'Superman' being films I grew up on as a child. I have used him as an example here because I feel that 'Set Design' isn't at the forefront of people's minds when they watch a film, TV series, or go to the Theatre unless you have an interest in production or want to work in these fields and criminal of all these people seem to go mainly unnoticed.
Picture 1: http://a-clockwork-orange.wikia.com/wiki/Korova_Milkbar
Picture 2: http://www.milenio.com/hey/cine/muerte-bill_butler-naranja_mecanica-stanley_kubrick-milenio-noticias_0_976102635.html
Picture 3: http://markwestwriter.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/star-wars-at-40-part-6-production-design.html
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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Lady (Marguerite) Frieda Harris - Artist (Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck)
I'm currently re-writing a book I wrote a very long time ago and really wanted to include art to go along with it. I find that drawing the characters I've created in words helps to bring them to life, adding details and essence that wasn't there before. I had been struggling with a way to place the pieces within the structure of the story without it being too jarring (which can sometimes be the case with illustrated books), interrupt the flow of the story and have a children's book feel to it. By chance I stumbled across some really nice abstract designs for Tarot cards, I've only ever given Tarot cards a passing glance, most of the ones I had seen in the past weren't very eye catching, so I had dismissed them in my mind. The designs I saw inspired me to look further and after consideration I decide that I would incorporate my art via chapter pages designed (loosely) as Tarot cards. I started researching other designs (other than the bland cheap ones) and discovered Lady Frieda Harris's beautifully designed cards for Aleister Crowley. These are mesmerising to look at, full of hidden meanings (not sure I'm spiritually equipped enough to discern exactly what they are!) They are beautiful pieces of art in their own right and this was the launch pad for wanting to do my own, which aren't in the same league or style but the fire they lit helped solve the blockage in my imagination and gave me another set of challenges that have been fun to work through.
Picture 1: http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=69010 (Posted by Sammaster on 25th August 2014)
Picture 2: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/376965431288857298/ (Posted by Alastair Gilfillan date unknown)
Picture 3: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/338332990738472835/ (Posted by taken from obsessedwithskulls.com date unknown)
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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Jonathan Ive - Industrial Engineer (Chief Design Officer at Apple)
This is an interesting one for me, an odd one to put in here as I really, really, really do not like 'Apple' but I love the feel and ease of their products and this is all down to Jonathan Ive. I thought this was an interesting one to add mainly as like most people I feel the pull every time I see an iPhone, MacBook or any of their products on the shelf - until I realise I don't like using them or want to replace connectors and chargers every year when they upgrade their hardware - but they are sleek, they feel good to touch and this is something to be admired. I think that Mr. Ive must be the true genius (not Mr. Jobs) behind Apple's real success, without his designs and what must be a supernatural understanding of human senses, I do believe they wouldn't be in the position they are today. This is a testament to art and design at its most supreme. I have an iPhone for work purposes and despite the agony of setting it up etc. it really does feel amazing to handle and use.
Picture 1: https://www.cultofmac.com/303396/design-studio-behind-iron-curtain/
Picture 2: http://www.maclife.de/news/apple-gibt-einblicke-jony-ives-design-labor-10073297.html
Picture 3: https://dustinjansick.com/category/technology/
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I love Kim Jung Gi's line work and his twisted imagination (his sketchbooks are amazing to look at). Everything he does has an energy and fun vibe about it - even is slightly more fetishistic work. I chose this example as it's one of my favorites (I own a signed print). I love the fact that there's nothing pretty about any of the characters except the Mermaid but as a whole the piece is stunning to look at. The detail to everything is amazing, the faces of the chefs, their expressions, the whole thing makes you believe it’s a real kitchen and that there could very well be a Mermaid on the Sushi Chef's table being prepared for a meal. I like the fact that makes you wonder about the story beyond it, who are the people he is preparing this for? Who would order such a thing? Where is she from?
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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This is pretty simple – I was walking along the backstreets of Manchester looking for a comic book shop and spotted this. I took a photo as it was a) really funny and b) really simple in that all someone had really done was add a Hitler ‘tache and completely changed the nature of the image from a boring portrait photo into something a clear message. The slang at the bottom was probably there first, then someone came along and added the ‘tache and finally someone drew a wonky swastika and so on. I sometimes wonder if anyone has added anything else to it. What has Nigel become!
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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John Carpenter's The Thing is one of my all-time favorite films. John Carpenter himself is one of my favorite directors and composers. He did a tour last year around the world, playing new music and old themes. I bought my ticket and was looking for something special for him to sign. I came across the poster Greg Ruth did for The Thing and immediately fell in love with it. It encapsulates everything about the story and the nature of the film with a simple but beautifully rendered design. The Husky that is The Thing or at least in the image being taken over by it and the shadow of MacReady falling over it. I have this hanging on my wall. I love the way that the dog has been drawn, its agony and fright (or surprise) and the use of textures, the snow falling, the tendrils of red and white wrapped around its leg, across its body and spilling out to feed the title. Everything about it is spot on in my opinion.
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I thought this was a brilliant example of creating art from waste with a sly sense of humor. I strolled past this and couldn't help but chuckle. It could mean anything or nothing but I felt there was a tale to tell behind it. It's such a droll thing to write on an old mattress. There's a suggestion that a new one has taken its place but because it's been dumped there's also a sadder alternative that there's not. To me it's one of the great things that you randomly stumble across wherever you travel, a starting point for a story, which you're free to make up for yourself.
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I’ve been a fan of Simon Bisley’s work since I was a teenager and read 2000 AD religiously. Slaine was always one of my favorite characters and his work on the ‘The Horned God’ left its mark on my imagination. I actually did a pencil sketch and sent it off to Tharg the Mighty (editor) hoping it would be printed in the readers section but never was. From memory it was actually a pretty good picture and one of the few that I did in my early teens that I was pleased with. I’ve included this as I remember being captivated by the images and it was (along with The Punisher) one of the sparks for my own imagination, I could literally see the panels jump to life in my mind and move. I love the messy nature of the paint (I now know that Bisley uses all manner of inks, paint and materials to get the look of his pieces).
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I was with my friend in Chicago and visited 'The Bean'. It was an amazing piece and I saw the opportunity to duck beneath to take this photo. Because of the way it's been designed and the way it distorts the reflections of everything around it, it was a brilliant canvass for taking photos. We took numerous ones but this was my favorite and was fun to play with. It’s almost like I'm about to stomp on myself, not sure Adidas would use it as an advertising opportunity.
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I am a huge fan of Wu Cheng’un’s 'Journey to the West' which as a kid was made into a Japanese TV series called 'Monkey' and there have been tons of other adaptions since. I've read the novel and then quite a number of years ago I stumbled across Katsuya Terada's adaptation of the saga. I absolutely fell in love with his interpretation of the source material and his art. I'm now one of his biggest fans. I've chosen this example as it's just beautiful (to me) and inspires me to do better. I've tried to draw this in the same way but none of my attempts have worked out well. I realised that my style doesn't match no matter how hard I try. So rather than copy his work, I now just admire it. I now try hard to incorporate the same level of detail and care which I had been quite lazy about or stumped when it came to it. It made me think about the overall design of a character, the different textures and details that elevate an illustration and make it stand out.
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bitsofbob · 7 years ago
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I spotted this and quickly snapped it. It's a sign that's been made from a dead tree. I loved the mix of silhouette and grey skies and then you have the sun rising and cutting through the darkness. I haven't quite figured out how I might replicate the image using inks but it's an image I'm keeping in my library for later use. There’s not much more to say about it, it was another photo where I was looking up and had to take the shot.
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