Portsmouth Uni - Illustration: 'Letter/Form Identity' (2010)

First project given at uni, the aim was to identify and explore different aspects of our identity through the use of image and letter form. Typography was a key part of my research and I explored different methods of combining text and image.

From my research I quickly moved onto looking at my own identity and seeing how people would describe my. I then created images reflecting the words they used.#

'Im so animated'

'Im so animated' #2

I starting looking into identity as a word and what its meaning and came across the idea of split personality which straight away grabbed my attention. The story of Dr jekyll and Mr Hyde immediately came to mind.

From here I moved onto researching and illustrating split personalities as well as conflicting personalities withing myself.

'Who I am hates who I've been'

'Who I was and who I am, merge'

'Sorrowful'

'Joyful'

After looking deeper into split personalities, I started to consider two aspects of my personality that contradict each other or conflict. I finally settled on 'imaginative' and 'inarticulate'. Im always imagining and daydreaming and theres a lot going on in my head but I can find it very hard to express my thoughts to others or even in my art. I think these are two of the most prominant aspects of my identity and very fitting for my project. For the next few images I looked at Tim Burton for inspiration.

The bubble around the head reflects my inability to release my imagination

Its small but the branches of the tree spell out 'Inarticulate'. I thought it interesting to combine that word with something as creative and iconic as a tree.

Again this shows how i find it hard to express my imagination or to put my thoughts on paper.

Final Outcome.

I really liked my illustration of the tree and so decided to use it for my final outcome. For me, nature represents creativity perfectly. Im very influenced by what I see in the everyday world and the environment around me, the shapes and forms of trees and plants can be so creativily influential. Having the word 'Inarticulate' mixed in with this idea perfectly reflects my identity and the aim of my project.

Groovy Baby!

Random doodle

da na na na na BATMAN!

Doodle book stuff.

I really love the low key black and white visual style of certain film noir cinema and its certainly made an impression on my art. I think there is something very powerful about using black and white, especially the use of shadow to simply suggest shape and form. For me this is far more striking than when colour is used.

UCA Foundation Year. Random pieces from throughout the year.



UCA Foundation year. 'Hidden Thoughts' (2009/10)

For me this project was based around places and parts of the body that tell a story and perhaps reflect my own thoughts or fears.

'Sanctuary for my thoughts'

'Let my eyes tell this story'

'I don't dare walk away'

'Always tongue tied'

'I can hear you whisper'

UCA Foundation Year. 'Fragments of Identity' project. (2009/10)

The idea behind this project was to explore the essence of identity, both my own and others, and all its many different characteristics that make us unique. These four drawings of my friends were my starting point, I wanted to explore the idea that who we are and become can very much be a reflection of those around us.

Further on in the project I looked more at hidden identity and the use of shadows to hide the identity but have enough detail to get an emotion and personality across.

From here I moved on to actually looking at fragments of identity rather than just one aspect of it or a single being. I started to experiment with combining images and faces together.

These led onto my final idea which was to have a series of photos with the features of my subjects face being slowly replaced as the photos progress, ending with a face very different to that with which we started.

Those last four images were used as my final piece. I chose not to use photoshop so as to keep all the imperfections, there is almost a Frankensteins Monster feel to them which I really enjoy. I think they create a very striking series of images and reflect perfectly what my project was all about, as well as this idea that we change and are transformed by things and people around us.