1

I was supposed to begin this blog a while ago, so that I could document the progression of my project. However, due to lack of organisation skills it has begun now- 5 weeks from deadline.
 I moved from the Midlands to London to actually do my course - BA Fashion Illustration at London College of Fashion (dream city, dream course) and I blame my lack of work on being distracted by this incredible place. When you come from a small and inbred town to the only place you've ever wanted to be, the only place you feel at home despite the fact you've never lived here before, its easy to get preoccupied.

I'm hoping this blog- something I'm reluctantly indulging in as a unit for passing my course- will be the motivation to  do more work too- recording the abysmal amount I actually have to show for the past four weeks will hopefully be a kick up the ass to get stuck in.

Right.

The first project is a group project- a good idea in forcing everyone to talk and get to know each other, but it's proving difficult for me- the solitary man (well woman) whom is not only socially awkward but is not used to having to collaborate.
 However I do think I got lucky, everyone in my group is lovely, easy to get on with and we seem to have the same sort of ideas... Hello Lovely people :

I'm the second one from the left with the bad comb over. There's one camera shy group member missing from  this picture :P

The project is based on areas around London, each group was given a different place- we got stuck with Carnaby Street (somewhere closer like Hoxton or Brick Lane would have been more convienient for lazy me)
We have to individually explore trends and styles, past present and future of the area and then come together to produce a source book.

Every project starts off with a ludicrous amount of research, here's one of my research pages....

This is a vintage postcard of the street I brought off Ebay- I'm actually investing in this project aha.

I'm actually attempting some illustrations now. I recently acquired the free trail of Photoshop CS5 - if anyone would like to donate their code I'd very much appreciate it! And because I have absolutely no photoshop skills I spent a few hours messing about with it. I began by a quick pencil drawn image of Twiggy (my thoughts were... Carnaby Street... 60's... Twiggy... lots of depth there)

  

Then I messed about with contrast in Microsoft Pictures Manager thing, also cropped it:

Then I messed about on CS5 with layers and used images I had taken of Carnaby Street and inserted them into areas of the picture, also used the burn and dodge tool- the only tools I really know of, to highlight and darken areas:

The end result is really rough, but through doing this piece I learnt a lot about using selection and layering in CS5.

I doubt it will end up in the final book as it's pretty poor.

Since starting my course, I've felt like my drawing skills in general are not upto scratch. I guess that's what happens when you start a degree. Especially in a place as prestigious as LCF. Everyone on my course has been selected because they're good. Suddenly your surrounded by people that can draw too, really draw and it makes you feel a little inferior!

Anyway this entry is long enough. Until later, when there's more work aha

N