Final Major Project

This is it, my final project of my course and I want to go out with a bang. Here's the brief for my project. The brief basically explains we need to make our own brief, so I've posted my proposal as well.

All in all, I want to created a 3-D pop-up book that illustrates the changing architecture in London over the years. I will focus on three areas, past, present a future. As this is a graphics project, the main part will be the creating of my imagery. I want this to be illustration based rather than photography based as it gives me the chance to show my interest in buildings and my skills on the computer. 

A couple of artists who have hugely inspired this project are Indonesian born Angga Tantama, and Quentin Blake. 

Whilst watching some of Tantama's time lapse videos on youtube, I noticed that he uses the pen tool on Adobe Illustrator to create his image. I've never used this before but always wondered how to use it.  It allows you to easily create custom shapes but what comes in really handy with this tool is a graphics pen and tablet. It's pretty hard to use the tool without this as it includes a lot of movement and precision that a laptops trackpad or mouse wouldn't be able to achieve.

I've emulated these artists work using tradition methods, sketching and water colours, and vector imagery on Illustrator.

I'm aiming this project towards secondary school children so the imagery has to relate to that age range. Blake's imagery is so recognisable and loved my millions but it is related mainly to children's books but the image in the style of Tantama is much fresher, cleaner and something that a lot of teenagers are used to and prefer in illustration. 

So, in my sketchbook I created a timeline of notable events in London that affected of involved architecture. One notable event that changed the face of architecture in London was the Great Fire in 1666. a widespread fire wiped out thousands of homes across the city living it in a state of smoke and beds of debris. The reasons behind the large spread was that homes were built with wood, and obviously back then wood wasn't fire protected the way it is now. 

To create my imagery I need to get a feel of the sort of architectural style of that era. There's plenty examples around Exeter so I want out and took some photos. Some are form Canterbury where I went on an open day to the uni. 

All of my design work was done by hand in my sketchbook which I currently don't have so I'm going to have to skip right to my final designs.

This is my Fire of London spread.

The concept of the image is to have it flat rather than pop-up but it has layers giving it a 3-D look. there are 4 layers, of which the frame is the one furthest out from the page and the fourth layer is closest to the page. 

My intention for this spread was to capture the intensity of the fire and how it 'destroyed' hundreds communities in its path, it was totally out of control. 

My next image focuses on Brutalism. Along with this project we have to do a relatable essay and the topic I chose to focus on was Brutalism. I thought it would be a good idea to do a spread on it since I now understand quite a bit about the movement. Brutalism is basically architects' solution to the housing crisis that followed on from the Second World War. I've chosen to created images based on the Alexandra Road estate in London which is perhaps one of London's finest examples of Brutalist architecture. 

Right now, its is appearing a bit too grey so they next stage is to add some greenery and colours form plants and flowers.

My final image is based on London's current landmarks. I've decided not to go ahead with a  spread based on the future as I'd rather concentrate on architecture of present and the time I have to created my spread is limited. 

On this spread, I will pick out some of London's most iconic buildings and structures. I was originally going to do a skyline spread but I decided against it as getting the scale right was difficult to produce a 3-D image without it looking pretty silly. 

These are the images I created.

I am so pleased to how these images have turned out. Im am particularly happy with the Tower Bridge design as I feel out of all my images, this one resembles its real form the most. I like the Big Ben design too, interestingly and not so happy with the models of modern architecture. I like them too but I don't find their appearance as exciting as the more traditional, feature heavy architecture.

Anyway, the next stage is to print my images out and begin constructing my pop-up book in time for my end of year exhibition.