Appropration. 'Where Are All The Real Man Gone?'.

One of projects I'm working on from printmaking. It was supposed to be a triptyc with a title 'Where Are All The Real Man Gone?' I had it in my mind for ages and now came the opportunity to take it out on paper. The inspiration came from personal experience and film industry of 50s - 70s Hollywood, the classic archetypes of what male and female were back in the day. Photos of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart acted as my image sources to create the designs and final prints.
The series divide threefold. First is a sunset, second - full moon night and third a sunrise ( the last one still in production). 

Here are some experimental images plus the first print.

 'Where are all the real man gone? Sunset'  Monoprint, Copy transfer, Mix-Media

'Where are all the real man gone? Night' Monoprint, copy transfer, mix media

 

Deadlines.

I found today these two maps I made year 2 for a 'Map a Week' project. Every week last year we were asked to produce a little booklet recording our creative journeys...physical or mental....these two must have come from my stressful moments dealing with not only Uni but personal pressures....as always with irony. Enjoy...
...ah..they come with my stream of consciousness...

'I was suppose to get creative or creative-wise with all that studying. I was suppose to schedule myself to achieve. I was suppose to organise my life to success....................* (*continue with 'suppose to' of your choice). The 'Map a Week' becomes my personal therapy journal for artistic incompetence or impotence* (*circle preferable). Every following week I see myself less and less capable at all. The 'Dark Corner' has arrived, Ladies and Gantelmen run for your lifes...!    Out of this whole misery I've produced myself a horrific migraine- very earthy problem. If anyone would be kind enough to shoot me I'd be endlessly grateful for the act of compassion. Thank you.

'Imaginary scenario: I walk down the Oxford Street from Totthenham Road Station towards Bond Street....takes 10 minutes in my fast pace....Never going to happen....In this realm it takes 30 minutes minimum, depending on the hour of the day. Lunch time? Forget about it. Sometimes I believe that at around 12-1pm everyone goeas to Oxford St just to annoy everyone else....so I walk down the street and around Oxford Circus all of the sudden I see a machine gun...in my hands I hold Kalashnicov( or something like that)....30 seconds later Everyone is gone and I'm breathing heavyly.....I'm lost. I go back home exhusted, switch my mobile off....waiting for the next day.'

Personal Project. Replica

So it came to be I'm at the end of my wonderful journey with UEL. As I graduating student I have to develop a personal project. I’d like to create a Graphic Novel which will take on problems of being burned out, life crisis. The script is written by a film director Martyn Holemes student of MA Creative Writing course. Since childhood I loved comic books and on the first year of my study I have made my first graphic novel. It was a challenge which has awaken a real passion for creative storytelling and it has been influencing my University experience ever since.

The story Martyn has been developing for this project fits closely with my own interest of spirituality, life choices and their consequences, and rediscovering oneself. The visual inspiration is deeply submerged in works of Amano and Shaun Tan, illustrators I admire for their unique and surreal style delivered to the highest standard. For the images inspiration I want to explore the National Gallery and its vast collection of symbolic and archetypal painting from various centuries. I also want to extract certain qualities from Gauguin, Klimt and ukiyo-e printmaker Utamaro masterpieces. 

Here you can have a first glimpse of my mood boards and some character development. I won't share the story just yet....and let you, my Dear Reader to imagine, think, guess and get curious.

Hmmm...after this you probablt think...it might be anything, right? Lets see if this helps....

Cycling for London

Some initial ideas for a poster competition project sponsored by London Transport Museum and Transport for London..I'll add some more in the next few days. Promise.

'..We are the birds of fire..'

...After some time, after a long struggle I deliver the final seconds of the Altered Book Project. Photo documentation to follow.

Watercolour. Tate britain

I woke up yesterday to a beautiful sun and decided I won't spend another day glued into my desk working on 100th version of my project. No, I need to smell the Spring (well the London version at least). With a rough idea of a few exhibitions in town I've decided the Watercolour at Tate Britain will be nice and useful in context of my final uni project - Graphic Novel.

It's an extensive presentation, telling the story of watercolour throughout the ages. When did it start, how it developed, what are the basic materials and tools, and what is the modern take on it? The little booklet which comes with the ticket have a useful glossary where you can encrypt the watercolour medium yourself.
I always liked using this medium but after this show I've got better recognition that I do need a course which would let me take the whole advantage of it. Such a workshops are provided by Chelsea College of Art during summer period, but it comes with a cost around £400/4days.

Watercolour is simple to apply if you need fast colouring, shadow or 3D effect. It's easy to handle even ifyou haven't done it before.
Here are some of the artworks on the display in Tate: 

John Frederic Lewis ' Hhareem Life, Constantinople 1857'

Anish Kapoor 'Untitled 1990'

Plus some of mine own watercolours.

Animal theme

Freedom is an award for the eternal vigilance.

'I was looking for the bigger noise to deafen myself, my fear and anxieties. At some point two of me started to yell over each other'

Dinner for champions

Hm...not sure this one fits into my comic making scheme but this is still my quick comment for the day I lived through...so...it is what it is anyway.

The future is bright....