Mark making and Wolves

I mentioned in my last post I enjoyed using a fine liner and ink, or any loose water colour medium?
That is still true but I'd like to further that statement, I enjoy making marks on the paper, cross hatching or using lots of tiny dots to complete an image. I've been using dots for years, even when studying for my GCSE's in 3-D design. Dot work is particularly popular now, in the world of tattoos, which I am familiar with, having been an apprentice the past three years at Next Victim tattoos in Sunderland. I left that studio, wanting to focus more on my illustrations, knowing I have enough experience handling machines and peoples skin to get myself back into a studio when the time comes, because as much as I love illustrations, I love the sentimentality of what an illustration can mean to someone and what's more personal than etching an illustration into someone's skin? That is why I love mark making, both psychically and spiritually. I have a bond with each person that has tattooed me because they have created something special for me, something that no one can ever take away from me. Even if I lost all the photographs accosiated with that particular memory, I have it poured into my skin, only a horrific accident or by my choice may that be removed. I have three main artists, artists who I will return too time and time again because they never leave a sour taste in my mouth or a bad mark on my skin, considering I only see each one every other month for an hour or two I hold them dear and close to my heart because they cemented memories into my arms and legs. Isn't it nice for someone to be able to do that for you, someone you've just met treating your thoughts, ideas and memories so previously they may as well be their own?

(0.8, 0.6 and 0.2 water proof fine liners)







Further more, I also mentioned in my previous post about the wolf, the great good wolf Kody, who doesn't eat little girls grandmothers for supper, but would rather lay at the grandmas feet recieving a splendid belly rub or running around in the back garden with little red riding her self? I decided to study him over the summer, watching his movements and behaviours, sketching his mostly playful nature. This afternoon he fell asleep on my bed sheets, his beautiful white feathery plume of a tail gently tickling his nose- he started to twitch, a foot jerking out here, a paw splaying to the side there, the odd 'yip' and the occasional 'hmmph' escaping from his throat. He was dreaming. So of course I sketched it, the whole time I was thinking what does a wolf Dream of?  Well I could only think of one thing, like any canine- food and a good cat hunt, but wolves don't have time for cats, they're for amateurs. Kody dreamt of deer and hares!
This is what I created;

I chose a 9B pencil, holding it upright in the fist of my hand, so the lines became thicker as the lead wore away on the paper, and eventually scribbled over 'Kodys tail' to create markings that insinuate he has a father fox like tail.















After the sketch was complete, I brought out some acrylic paints and watered them down quite excessively, as I was running out of water colours and that was the affect I wanted.

The little animals above him are in fine liner, cross hatched and very scribbly, taking no care in how the lines form.

The leaf, paw prints and bones are all prints of smaller sketches I applied thick acrylic too and printed onto the paper as I didn't have any lino at hand.





I'm quite happy with how this turned out, I think I'm going to frame it and put it above his bed.

My Summer with the wolf

For thousands of years the Wolf has captured the imagination of Humankind. Folklore and legend are replete with stories of these mysterious yet magnificent creatures, often twisting and turning them into physically and impossibly grotesque caricatures of their real appearance. In doing so their characteristics of loyalty, fearlessness and astuteness are maligned, marginalized and distorted.
However, in exaggerating the wolf's behavior, people from across the globe recognized something in the wolf, they are the ultimate biological machine, they are to be feared and respected. The Wolf is perfectly built for taking down large prey and intelligent enough to work as a unit. Each member of the pack has a specific role to play in bringing down a Buffalo or Caribou, that is why they are the blueprint for mans best friend, but man didn't want to stop there, man wanted to harness the power of the wolf and tame it, so what happens when Wolf and domestic Dog are combined?

According to Ceaser Milan, the Dog whisperer, when owning a wolf dog, you have to honor its wolf heritage and not its domestic canine counter part- well I was in for an education.
I got the keys to my first property on the 1st May 2015, after spending a week decorating, I moved in, my second day in the property started out as normal, up at 7.30 AM to get to the tattoo studio I worked at in Sunderland.
The Afternoon became a little more exciting, a close family friend presented me with Kody, a 'dog' to keep me company. He is exactly like Ghost from game of thrones, and his behavior mimics Jon Snow's dire wolf as well.

At the size he is I doubted he was a full pedigree Husky, like he was advertised. After speaking to canine officials and vets it was confirmed he is part Wolf dog.

Kody has became my muse during the summer break as his behavior differs from normal domestic canine, I focused on my favorite medium in doing this, the fine liner and my beloved ink and water colors. Kody Wolf is intent on destroying things, so a normal toy doesn't last him five minutes, a tennis ball survives for a mere 30 seconds. Amusing to watch and challenging to draw, as my pet does not sit still. I cheated with this drawing slightly, I managed to photograph him and I worked from that, though I do have a sketch book full of quick drawings of his mannerisms, studying his build and movement. 

I like the way fine liners work with water colour, even thin lines look bold and stand out on top of water colors and ink, I also like the way the paper crinkles while drying, giving the work some movement and character, like it really is Kody messing up my purple bed sheets. 

Plagiarism

Within my plagiarism report I have looked at a famous illustrator; Jenny Parks, who's illustrations where stolen and put on to phone cases, and sold on Amazon, this shows just how easy it is to get away with plagiarism until you get caught, selling your stolen items on a world wide internet shop. How daring!
With the internet today it is so much easier to get away with stealing artwork, but its also so much easier to get caught- before the internet art thieves relied on getting away with the theft by people keeping their mouths shut and the lack of news coverage, but today everything is accessible from anywhere in the world, with the help of the internet on mobile phones and tablets.
In my report I will be looking into Jenny's stolen work and what people had to say about it.

http://www.jennyparks.com

http://www.amazon.com/Vazza-Apple-Touch-Black-White/dp/B00C9VBY76

It appears that even though Vazza case is a less than honest organisation, Amazon still support the company after their phone cases having already been caught once. So who is too blame here? Amazon or the phone case company, as amazon represents this business?

Plagiarism Report

We were given a brief on how to do a report, and had to choose a subject, I chose to write about plagiarism, though it was supposed to be within the subject of Illustration I went further and looked at tattoos, because what can be more hurtful than having a piece of art on your skin, that is only meant for you skin, stolen and placed on someone else's?
It isn't like having a print copied, as their are many prints of it. Its a very personal issue that I am involved with, as an apprentice to a tattoo studio- my work is custom and for one customer only.

In my report I speak to a tattooist- a dear friend from London and a self admitted plagiariser, on their views on art theft. I also look into massive companies stealing art work, and the laws and loop holes around plagiarism. I also handed out a questionnaire and speak to those involved in the illustration and tattoo industry, to see how many people know how to avoid plagiarism and what their rights are.

My evaluation and thoughts

At the end of my project, I looked back through my book with fresh eyes, I have enjoyed challenging my self and letting my self become stressed. I believe it was a good choice, as I have tested my limits and pushed boundaries, forcing myself out of my comfort zone.

I think I tackled the book in an interesting way, that has paid off, not strictly focusing on the pornographic side of things, having looked at scenes that weren't just about the sex, which is the sole reason why people read the book. I think I have illustrated it in a competent manor and my illustrations work well beside and with the book. Not focusing on faces was a good choice in my opinion because it has reverted the book to its original state, full of mystery,letting people imagine mr grey in their own mind, without this image of Jamie Dorman hanging over their heads, or Dakota Johnson. Because of focusing on hands I have been able to show both sides of the book effectively, letting people make  their own mind up about the story. I have sat on the fence- is it a raunchy love story or is it a harrowing tale of sexual and domestic abuse? You decide.


I am glad I strayed away from what I know and tackled an adult book, I feel like I could do this again now I have found my footing within adult illustration.

Cover and Typeography

For my cover, I wanted to attempt something different, something that the potential reader could interpret in their own mind, after all your perception is your reality.
I had ideas, that I mention earlier on in my sketch book, of Mr. Grey clutching Ana's breasts, i took a time lapse video of the process.
https://instagram.com/p/zx2Q_gP7_1/?taken-by=tattooilgan
https://instagram.com/p/zx2cwBP7wE/?taken-by=tattooilgan

Even though that was a rough sketch and completely out of proportion I enjoyed experimenting with lipstick, and how showed the grains in the water color paper.
I started drawing hands in chains, as then you could decide as a potential buyer of the book if it represents slavery or a kinky sexual fetish, like BDSM.

After drawing up sketches, and coloring them in loosely, I began experimenting with typography which really isn't my strong point, however I tried my hardest but ended up settling for goudy stout in white, sizes 60 and 36.

I played around with thick bold markers in my sketch books, staying away from dainty text that is favored by Romance novels as Fifty Shades is far from romantic.


The hand on the cover is shackled, on the red leather mattress as described in the red room of pain. I asked my peers what they thought of my final cover idea and most thought it was bright and caught the eye, standing out against already existing covers for fifty shades of grey that sport dark grays and blacks.

Bleeds

When working on illustrations you must provide a bleed, a bleed is the edge of the paper to be trimmed off. I have provided a minimum of a 3mm bleed to a five on all of my illustrations within the book. A bleed ensures that there are no untrimmed prints on the final piece.