On Ninja Rabbits and Pilot Dogs
The two practical subjects in Information Design are Information Design (Design) and Imaging and Visualisation (Illustration). Pursuing this career was always going to be problmatic for me. At highschool I studied Accounting, Computer Science, Maths, Science and the languages. All this at Pro Arte Alphen Park - "the arts school" of Pretoria. At the entrance exam (for a highschool?) I thought that I was going to study art.
It came to me late in my highschool career that there were actually people that created CD sleeves and movie posters. It wasn't too difficult to see that I wasn't happy with the business route - the fact that I was the laziest student that got by purely by natural ability might have been a clue. I took a gap year and prepared myself for the task of creating a "portfolio" to hand in at my Information Design entrance exam. Second choice was Architecture (missed the M-score by 2 points - laziness) and third was Journalism (with a heavy leaning towards Photo
Journalism).
Creativity was the most important thing in the course. Nevertheless technical ability was what was preached for the entire first year. I was always on my backfoot in every Illustration class although I felt as though I caught up pretty well. Second year turned things mostly in my favour and I forgot about any inferiority complexes I had developed. Until character design that is.
Chenette Swart was our lecturer for the last three character projects. It started off well when we had to do self-characterisation - the fruits of which grace the page to your right. Afterwards it was all down hill. She is constantly pushing for honesty in our work (which is a very good thing for us to have), but she makes assumptions about the types of people we are and what it is that we need to be honest to. It was exactly this that brought back those doubts in technical ability.
Thankfully the current character development project greeted me with the absence of Ms Swart. I have so much less to worry about, and so much less to freeze up over. I would even venture to say that it's fun.
It came to me late in my highschool career that there were actually people that created CD sleeves and movie posters. It wasn't too difficult to see that I wasn't happy with the business route - the fact that I was the laziest student that got by purely by natural ability might have been a clue. I took a gap year and prepared myself for the task of creating a "portfolio" to hand in at my Information Design entrance exam. Second choice was Architecture (missed the M-score by 2 points - laziness) and third was Journalism (with a heavy leaning towards Photo
Journalism).Creativity was the most important thing in the course. Nevertheless technical ability was what was preached for the entire first year. I was always on my backfoot in every Illustration class although I felt as though I caught up pretty well. Second year turned things mostly in my favour and I forgot about any inferiority complexes I had developed. Until character design that is.
Chenette Swart was our lecturer for the last three character projects. It started off well when we had to do self-characterisation - the fruits of which grace the page to your right. Afterwards it was all down hill. She is constantly pushing for honesty in our work (which is a very good thing for us to have), but she makes assumptions about the types of people we are and what it is that we need to be honest to. It was exactly this that brought back those doubts in technical ability.Thankfully the current character development project greeted me with the absence of Ms Swart. I have so much less to worry about, and so much less to freeze up over. I would even venture to say that it's fun.
At 00:09 Debaser mumbled incoherently.
14 Comments:
Cool. So, if you enjoy the course more... it means you'll stress less... so you'll have more time on your hands... so you'll post more?
:)
Stop fishing Mike
i have a huge problem with proportions when i draw.. is that where "technical ability" comes in?
your work is amazing.. i wouldnt stress too much about what the lecturers say, in the end, its all just opinions flying around.
That's part of it. It also has to do with use of the medium, types of lines, sensitivity and decisions about what to include in the image. A talented person might get to a point where all of this is intuitive, otherwise, you need to concentrate on it.
Thanks for the compliment.
wow, i love your new blog layout! Q: why do artists have so much appeal? (as opposed to like...scientists...)
Thanks Annikins.
I don't know. Leon, would you like to take this one :op
I think it has to do with the myths surrounding "the artist". In the Renaissance, the myth was of the artist as genius. The artist took up a role similar to God in his - artistic genius was exclusively male - creation of art. The inspiration was always divine (probably because it usually dealt with biblical themes) and the talent was a God-given gift.
In the Romantic era, "the artist" became the sensitive, misunderstood, dark character that was boiling over with emotion. At the first sign of rejection or unrequited love, they were prone to committing suicide.
In reality, "the artist" does not embody all of these traits. I, however, do...
*swoon*
^_^
so modest!
Yeah, you're pretty full of it...
I do like the Pilot, though. Thought of a name for him yet? Or is "Pilot" his name?
Sies, Anni. *lower lip quivers"
the bunny reminds me of donny darko..
where does your inspiration usually jump at you from?
Hey how have i offended the electric orchid hunter? ??
Being in language n all its both a science and an art...so i can make fun of both :)
anni, i think its coz you said artists have so much appeal, versus scientists...
isnt the eoh some sort of scientist?
please correct me if im wrong here
i think appeal depends on the individual.
and *confidence*
Leon is a scientist. And while I know he was mostly joking, I know his heart blackens at the idea that to some people, making things "look pretty" holds more appeal than mixing flasks of Creme Soda and Sparberry :oD
Gee, thanks a lot. I believe society has room for both scientists and artists. Nay, society needs both. This could be a post on it's own, though.
PS: most of the flasks contain colourless liquids, actually. And only ammonium persulphate fizzes when you make it up.
8*<
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