Amsterdam Reflection

Although my project has now evolved into just exploring Scandinavian lifestyle, I still feel my trip to Amsterdam was an important part of my journey towards this point. 

What I learned...

• What I liked to draw.
• What actually interested me about 'lifestyle' as this is a very broad topic. 
• Recognising the differences between their culture and my own, and what can be learned from them in order to improve our own lives. 

I still feel like the way of life in Amsterdam would be quite similar to in Copenhagen/Stockholm but obviously this is just from reading about them as I haven't visited these places so I can't say for sure. 

Below are some photographs I took in Amsterdam which I feel are still relevant to the themes I am working with in relation to Scandinavia...

Geometry, shape, minimal colour. 

Structured, limited colour. 

Food, cooking, healthy living. 

Quiet spaces, time to think. 

Style, sophistication.  

Awareness of wellbeing.

Revised FMP Brief

Scandinavian Fashion and Textiles Research

I wanted to explore the broader visual style in Scandinavia to try and gain a better overall understanding. I got some books from the library about fashion and textiles and looked through these to find trends and common themes that could influence my drawings. 

Weave - texture, geometry. 

Stripes - simplicity, varied weight. 

Line - thin, delicate, simple, varied weight.

Structure - bold and confident use of shape, angular, curved.  

Nature - textures, materials, grain. 

Monochrome - simple, contrast, sophisticated. 

A lot of the points I have identified from this research I feel already relate to the way I draw and I feel I can take advantage of this to form a way of working that suits me but also the subject. 

I really enjoy working in monochrome so this suits me well, especially in the experimental phase. Exploring the shapes and textures of the imagery I have collected has clarified for me that the main theme running through them is a sense of ‘effortlessness’.   

Not going overboard on detail while still providing enough to give he viewer all the information they need is going to be the key to this. This fits with the Swedish lifestyle principle of ‘Lagom’ which means ‘just the right amount’. 

I am quite confident using line as this forms the basis of most of my work, but I think it might be interesting to combine shape into my drawings because this seems to be a key feature in Scandinavian design and it could add depth to my imagery. I have started to explore this with my blue and gold drawings but would like to explore this with other subject matter. Maybe I could do the linework by hand and experiment with shape digitally. 

TALK ABOUT CONTROL

Scandinavian Houses Print

I have the chance to exhibit some work at an exhibition in town and I am setting myself the challenge to link this to my final major project to get the ball rolling with my productivity! The title of the exhibition is ‘Framework’ so I have decided to focus on Scandinavian architecture as this is very structured and shape based. I had already done a few drawings from a book about Scandinavian houses and interiors which inspired this. 

After sketching out my house shapes and deciding on layout I got to work with ink. 

I hoped that my drawings would appear a little looser but my use of a dip pen and a brush with ink was far neater than I expected. When this was scaled down it lost all evidence of being hand drawn. My aim was to capture the difference between the geometrical structure and shape of the houses but also the handmade aesthetic, and the latter wasn’t coming through.

I went over some of the lines again slightly looser to soften it and add more variation in line weight. This made it a little better but I realised I needed to add some tone to make this whole image appear less flat and lifeless. I tested this out on Photoshop by adding grey and some basic texture. I then created my own textures with ink and water and then dug up some monoprints I had made in the past and applied them to windows and wood panels, etc. 

I framed the final outcome in a grey frame with a white mount to match the greyscale theme of the image itself. I feel like the overall image is successful for the purpose it was made for and it does fit the exhibition name ‘Framework’. However, its success in relation to the aims of my final major project is not so positive. I feel like I am only just scratching the surface of Scandinavian living and as a result the aesthetic of the image is quite generic and there isn't much (if any) depth to its meaning or what it represents. To me it’s very ‘IKEA’. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing considering… I don’t know! 

It has become clear to me that I need to set my aims straight. My plans have moved on since the initial statement of intent I wrote so the next logical step for me is to revisit this and make the necessary changes. Then I will be in a position where I can progress with the project with clear aims and intentions. 

Primary Research - Wellbeing

I had previously spoken to Katie Hughes about my plans for my final major project at the virgin media box artwork exhibition. I got talking to her through being part of this project. Katie lives in Headingley and works in welfare at Leeds University so has a good knowledge of living well and healthy lifestyles. I contacted her for some information. 

I specified for Katie to focus her response around female students because I see my work for this project being aimed at a female audience and I know that her work focusses on students. 

This was her response…

Main points

Problems

• Pressures of adult life and academic expectations. 
• A fear of missing out. 
• Feeling like a failure for not enjoying yourself all the time. 
• Doubts about the future. 

Calming

• Being creative. 
• Physical activity.
• Meditation. 
• Making real life connections/relationships. 
• Bonding - common interests, food. 

Feeling in control

• I like what Katie said here about wellbeing not being about ‘clean eating’ because this makes additional pressures and expectations. 
• Socialising, talking, bonding, sharing experiences. 
• ‘Eating food you like with friends is known to benefit mental health.’ 

My plans for this project moved on a lot between the time when I initially mentioned it to her and when I actually sent the email. I didn’t know whether the information she could give me wold still be relevant because I had moved away from the idea of mental health and just wanted to focus on lifestyle themes. However, this information that Katie has shared with me has made me realise that there is still a strong connection between the two topics. I don’t have to make my project all about mental health for it to have a positive impact. Focussing on lifestyle, things like encouraging people to cook group meals, is all little steps to help improve people’s happiness and outlook on life. I can bring in elements of the principles I am learning from different countries to inspire this. 

Scandinavian Design Research - Interiors

Lars Bolander’s Scandinavian Design

Themes

• Wood 
• Clashing angles
• Symmetry 
• Simplicity
• Natural surroundings
• Contrast of straight and curved
• Warm colours
• Shape based design
• Blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors 
• Geometry
• Earthy colours
• Fresh and clean 
• Sometimes more busy and full
• Efficient use of space
• Strong shades of colour
• Soft hues of colour

It is becoming clear that there seems to be a lot of contrasts in Scandinavian design, some rooms are decorated with strong colours, others are very soft. Some spaces are very angular and structured while others' main features are curves. I am starting to understand the overall aesthetic more I think. This research can also help me when it comes to mocking up my designs onto products, as these products should fit within these interior environments for them to be successful I think. 

FMP Drawing From Lifestyle Magazines

This sketchbook contains drawings I have done in response to flicking through some lifestyle magazines. I realised early on that a lot of lifestyle related articles talk about theoretical things which obviously creates an extra challenge for creating images in response to them. I felt like most of these initial drawings were quite generic but there were a few things I liked such as the tick boxes transitioning into flying birds. 

I moved on to recipes which I found really enjoyable. Sketching ingredients and starting to consider layout really appealed to me. Food illustration is something I definitely want to explore as part of this project.

The ‘gin and slim’ drawings were from an article about gin having health benefits. I quite liked developing the concept with this while still drawing subject matter that I liked. 

The next piece was about enjoying the outdoors and I chose to relate this to springtime with this lady smelling fresh flowers. The image was initially meant to be a lady and a tree/bush with flowers but I like how the final compositions blurs the boundaries of whether the tree actually exists or whether this imagery purely represents the smell of fresh air in spring. This is also a new way for me to draw people, I normally produce something much more representational but I think this style serves its purpose on this occasion. 

The drawings about sewing and embroidery were unsuccessful in my opinion. It is not clear that the way I have drawn these is to represent stitches. 

I reached the beauty section of a magazine and got hooked on drawing all the products that were featured. I felt like the beauty section is very photography based and it doesn’t need to be because the information on the packaging can be shown equally clearly through a drawing. I think adding a hand-drawn element to these pages would make them feel much more artistic and personal - which is what people want when they are thinking about their own appearance. I am really starting to like the more detailed dip pend drawings of these products, I feel they have quite a sophisticated aesthetic which could be very appropriate for certain magazines. 

This sketchbook has allowed me to explore different subject matter and concepts and get me thinking about what I actually want to draw. I want to continue with the beauty products and food illustration but maybe steer away from drawing people. I will need to eventually see how these preferences fit in with the European / Scandinavian themes I am exploring. 

FMP Research

My final major project research so far has been a bit all over the place. I have been reading magazines, books and articles and not really recording a lot because I felt like I didn’t have a clear idea of what I was actually researching. This presentation is a summary of my research so far. 

Looking around bookshops and the book sections of shops, Hygge seems to be a really strong theme this year, although the other principles I have been thinking about are not so common. I suppose this is a good sign as I am looking into less explored territories and not just regurgitating what already exists. I also noticed a huge amount of books about lifestyle in general, this seems to be a real big thing at the moment - healthy living and healthy eating.

I skimmed a couple of books from the library about the japanese principle of wabi sabi. Although this is a lifestyle principle and I did find the content interesting, I’m not sure it fits with the rest of my research as this is mainly European based. I also looked at some books by Marie Kondo who is a japanese expert on being organised. I read about her online and I found her work really interesting, although I’m not sure this is the kind of thing I want to draw. 

I was browsing Colours May Vary and found these illustrated travel guides and thought how I could maybe do a similar kind of thing but with content about lifestyle rather than content for tourists. This might be taking my project down a route that is a bit too limiting and specific though. 

I went to a new Scandinavian inspired café in town called Fettle to have a drink and do some work. The whole atmosphere of the place was very relaxed and quiet. Everything was spotlessly clean and the decor was fresh and light. Maybe the way forward for this project it to try and capture this feeling through drawing and relate it to relevant themes like lifestyle, food, etc. In hindsight I should have done some drawing while I was there. 

I looked in the library for some books on Scandinavian art, fashion, design, etc. I feel like I am moving away from the individual lifestyle principles that different countries have and am narrowing this down to a more specific area of Europe. I feel like Scandinavia has a distinctive visual style so I would like to explore how this connects with their way of life. 

Furthur research to do…

Explore Scandincavian art, textiles, fashion, architecture, etc. 

Draw around these themes. 

Recognise themes running through visual content. 

Research Scandinavian lifestyle as a whole, pull information from each country together. Build up a full image. 

Artist Research from Amsterdam

These are two illustrators whose work I came across while in Amsterdam. They are both dutch and both work in ink which is relevant to my practice. I am looking at their work to consider how maybe the Dutch lifestyle has influenced their drawings. 

'inkylines'

• Detailed drawings in black and white, can't see any evidence of colour being used in her work. 
• Very fine and delicate line work. 
• Simple layouts and presentation. 
• Appreciation of natural subject matter with a focus on plants and animals. 
• Mainly spot illustrations, not scenes. 

Maartje van den Noort

• Predominantly working in greyscale with a few hints of colour in certain drawings. 
• Uses ink but in more than one way, some work is detailed and intricate, others are more fluid and minimal. 
• Small scale work in sketchbook and large scale work for murals. 
• Subject matter includes natural and man made forms. 

The Dutch nave an ecomomical/efficient way of thinking. There is a general sense of quality and fairness and that everyone should have the same. Extravagance is restricted by this attitude.

'Really enjoying the drink, forgetting about the world for a few moments and paying full attention to the person with whom one is drinking a cup of coffee brings people close in a pleasant, “gezellig” atmosphere.' Taking pleasure in the small things in life. 

The points made here are relevant to the way these two illustrators draw. The idea that extravagance is restricted is clear in these drawings, they are kept simple and although some of them are detailed, they are not elaborate or fancy. The detail is balanced with minimalist presentation. This also allows you to appreciate the drawing more as there are no distractions from it, this links to the idea of taking the time to properly pay attention and enjoy something.