Seanos-ZONE

Online Reflective Journal

[seanos-zone]

DA ZINE :o

I appreciate all the compliments in my previous post on the zine :)

I think im about done with it though, I might or might not send it over to Ben and see what he has to say. I don’t mind if anyone comments anything I should fix or do before submitting.

My last page is a further reading & bibliography page but the hyperlinks only work in the pdf version so no point in uploading that (and no drawings on that page so you didnt miss out on much)

But holy moly what a journey this was. I went ham but I know there are plenty of improvements I could’ve made with the drawings. That’s what I hate about working with three week old drawings, I just dread about the things I could’ve done to make it better, but then again, I don’t want to sink hours fixing things when I could use what I’ve learned in the next drawing or project, allowing me to keep moving forward. I think being a perfectionist can disrupt your momentum and burn your creative thinking which sometimes puts you down into a creative slump. Even though I find perfectionism to suck shit sometimes, it may affect you differently and be a good thing for your creative process.

Anyway I think this might be my last post for this journal, I might keep using this to blog archive cool stuff I’ve found, I’ve never used tumblr until this journal and I’m having a grand time, I hope you guys do the same :)

cya next semester everyone (hopefully not online)

[hamishkingma]

A rad collaboration between surreal 90s television series ‘Twin Peaks’ and skateboard company Habitat. I was lucky enough to score the second board from the left which is now hanging in my room. I really like how the designer has incorporated elements from the television series (e.g. zig zag floor) into the designs themselves. The mixture of simple vectors and photographs work together really well and is successful at achieving that David Lynch feel. 

Image - https://shop.easternskatesupply.com/blog/habitat-x-twin-peaks-decks-now-in/

[seanos-zone]

Zine Progress

I’m showing off a few pages for now, but I will post the entire thing on Tumblr near due date.

Okay so this wasn’t actually what the zine originally looked like. I had all the illustrations setup and applied to digital elements… And it wasn’t good. I was in a slump and pretty frustrated why I couldn’t figure out what I need to do to make this at least somewhat interesting.

I sent it over to Ben and his feedback allowed me to realise why it wasn’t working. He said hand draw some more elements but I knew doing some more just to make it barely functional wasn’t going to cut it. So I hand drew every single element for my zine.

I knew the body text was going to take a million years to hand draw and I only had less than a week. To solve this I traced over body text prints in Neuzeit Grotesk. I couldn’t really get my hands on CBS Bodoni (the font used in all my questions and titles) so I drew that by eye with the Character glyphs for reference.

I like how it turned out into an organic piece, I was tempted to use colour but my constraint was to use only Black and White to reflect the grayscale visuals of television in the 50s and the era the CBS logo was created in.

Some of the drawings were based on Shaker drawings, the shaker drawings featured above were some of the references I used for inspiration.

I’m quite satisfied with the results for my CBS Logo zine. Pretty sad I killed a pen to get it done but I’ll never forget our journey :*)

Rest In Peace, Mitsubishi UB-157 pen no. 4 of 8. May your soul live on in pen no. 5 of 8. God Bless.

Images came from here and here.

[seanos-zone]

Bens resource rec’s and some cool finds

I honestly think this class has been great for resources, I now have like a thousand bookmarked sites I can just draw inspiration from or sink my cob web riddled wallet into. printedmatter.org is definitely the next site I’ll be “investing” hours sifting through their collection. I found a couple of cool things, firstly is a collage book titled ‘Movie Memory’, the book presents movie stills next to ancient tribal statues to present their similarities and how art throughout time has moulded our collective thought. It reminded me of a previous lecture, Karen mentioned that inspiration comes from everything we see and touch. It’s like our creative work is the result of accumulating this seeing and feeling, and ‘Movie Memory’ takes this concept to the next level.

The next book is Picture Sol by Antonie Orand, just straight up cool experimental art in this zine. I love how they’ve played with mechanical and conceptual aircraft, deconstructed it and transformed into insanely beautiful artwork. Orand has also used colour palettes that have a strong association with graffiti which also links with the artwork style.

I got a proposition for anyone whose in Ben’s class:

Drop a comment on any cool finds you’ve found from his resources.

I’m thinking of going back through 50watts when I get the chance because I feel like I missed a lot of cool stuff and would be a good idea to go back with a fresh set of eyes.

Also stay tuned for zine progress :)

Here is a link to Orand’s ‘Picture Sol’

And a link to ‘Movie Memory’

[seanos-zone]

Eva Galová-Vodrážková

The other Czech Republic who was also active in the late 60s to early 70s. She presents a focus on composition and utilises type in dynamic way that I feel is effective at contributing towards the overall communications emotion.

There is very little information on Eva’s personal life and career in the Czech Republic that surfaces on the internet. I’m making a blog post on her because she was another artist who reminded me of Paolozzi (a previous post on this blog), however her collages are more minimal and intentional rather than Paolozzi’s presentation of numerous materials.

Pictures are from jozefSquare.com but you probs could tell from the watermarks.

[seanos-zone]

Karel Teissig

Painter, Graphic Artist and Illustrator from Czech Republic who did some really cool poster designs in the 60s and 70s. He also published a book, ‘Drawing Techniques’ which I’ll probs add to my library when I get the chance after this semester. I’m showing this because a lot of the collage talk and artists mentioned got me think of a couple artists who have done some really interesting poster designs for their time. These designs also share a bit of that collage quality (mainly the first two designs) that I liked about Paolozzi (from my previous post).

All images are from jozefsquare, a collector of movie posters from 20th Century Czechoslovakia. I have another Czech poster artist who I like that I found on jozefsquare.com that I’ll soon make a post on.

Portrait came from here (refer to bottom right)

[seanos-zone]

Sir Eduardo Paolozzi

Italian collage artist and sculptor (Born in Scotland, Edinburgh. Knighted in 1989 by Queen Elizabeth II) mentioned by Ben a couple weeks ago who I found pretty cool.

Paolozzi excelled in both collaging and sculpting, however this post just focuses on his collage works due to its relevancy with our previous classes. I ended up doing a bit of digging and found some really interesting collage works. I hope the works presented give you good idea of Paolozzi’s variation when it comes to presenting ideas through collage.

Links to things:

- Artworks

Please go exploring his work, there's a lot of it and it’s incredibly fascinating stuff. A lot of the images here come from the link provided above.

- Photo of Paolozzi

[theonlinereflectivejournal]

Collage Activity. 

1st - Using cutouts from 70s Australian home and garden magazines. Focusing on colour combos and perspective. Trying to be clever with my combinations such as cutting a slit in the door. I particularly like the copy, ‘Please send me free coloured literature on cast iron baths’.

2nd - Attempting mixed media with markers. This was the logical conclusion of me agonising over the paper and getting antsy.

3rd - A photo of scrap paper found on the floor (not intentional). Viewed through my magnifying lamp

4th - Décollage of an art forum magazine

[seanos-zone]

The use of old 70s better home and garden magazines remind me of Australian collage artist Karen Lynch. She uses old national geo and Australian beauty mags to craft spectacular surreal landscapes: https://www.instagram.com/leafandpetaldesign/

[seanos-zone]

first image: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/34434

rest of the images are mine

Collage activity

In class we went through some famous collage work and tried to understand the collages significance through the 20th and into the 21st Century. (Refer to the top image) We looked at the early collage artists like Jacques Villeglé who ripped posters advertising posters on the streets to form Décollage art (image being built up by tearing away parts). We also looked at what it means to appropriate work with collages and mediums, what’s effective (makes a difference) and what isn’t.

We were given pretty much an hour for this collage activity while Ben went through some presentations. I had ideas in my head what I wanted to do earlier that morning when I found all these historical photography magazines. There was one particular magazine from this series I found, it’s called ‘Villains throughout the 20th Century’. I would say some these villains are just labels for significant leaders who didn’t cooperate with the U.S. governments economic interests, but a lot of that stuff is pretty debatable. Anyway, the cover had the infamous photo of Hitler with Mussolini doing the nazi salute next to him, a lot of opportunity with this photo. When thinking of ideas I always tend to lean towards absurdism, maybe because I like to play around with satire in my drawings, so my line of thinking is swayed into that area.

I also had some old free skate magazines I was given, a lot of the street photography made some nice backgrounds, I was thinking of doing Hitler and Mussolini at the skate park, maybe Mussolini isn’t saluting but Is actually doing mad tricks. Ended up scrapping Hitler but Mussolini remained and I find the result pretty ridiculous but had a lot of fun.

I scanned everything and put it together in photoshop because gluing took too long and I wanted to complete the activity in class time to challenge myself.

I thought the ideas I came up with for collaging are things that didn’t really make sense to draw (why on earth would I ever draw this?), it’s a different medium I could easily adapt to and has broadened my creative horizons.

[seanos-zone]

*CATCHUP* Series: Project 3 Subjects part 5/5

Fortune Magazine

The first 10-15 years of Fortune magazines publication in the 1930s was ahead of its time in terms of cover design (not sure about content but they must have done alright if they survived ‘The Great Depression’). The Financial advice magazine had some of the most beautiful covers for such an (at the time) unimportant part of the magazine. The designs were done by Thomas Maitland Cleland (American book, designer, painter, illustrator and type designer).

But if I were to do an interview with fortune magazine covers, I’m not sure how I would personify it. Maybe I could give the magazine an optimistic persona due to the financial magazine being published during the Great Depression.

Most images are scans from a book I’ve been reading to find my subjects: The History of Graphic Design, Vol.1, 1890-1959

Extra readings:

https://www.printmag.com/publication-design/graphics-for-a-fortune/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Maitland_Cleland

[seanos-zone]

*CATCHUP* Series: Project 3 Subjects part 4/5

CBS Logo

A very interesting topic that could lead to an intriguing interview.

The design of the CBS logo is a very successful branding design but has a creepy story behind the influence of the design. The design was created by creative director Bill Golden and graphic artist Kurt Weihs in 1951. It hasn’t been touched since its creation because there hasn’t been any reason to, it’s a perfectly balanced, timeless design and can be easily adaptable to any format (even cake).

Golden was inspired by hex signs which were these circular sign used as wards that would bless the Dutch barns of Pennsylvania and sometimes used to drive away evil spirits. And the eye itself was inspired by Shaker gift drawings (American folk art) which are drawings that are supposed to record spiritual visions, and the CBS logo uses the all seeing eye from these artworks. A very mysterious background could give the CBS logo a very spiritual and ominous persona.

Most images are scans from a book I’ve been reading to find my subjects: The History of Graphic Design, Vol.1, 1890-1959

Extra reading:

https://lancasterpa.com/shopping/hex-signs/

https://shakerml.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/from-a-spirit-communication-an-iconic-logo-emerges-how-a-shaker-gift-drawing-inspired-cbs/

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-evolution-of-the-cbs-eye/

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/cbs-logo/

[seanos-zone]

*CATCHUP* Series: Project 3 Subjects part 3/5 — Hisui Sugiura

Sugiura is one of the first great graphic designers from Japan. A major contrast with Sugiura compared to Takahasi Kono is that he had an obsession for western design. He acquired a reputation from his role as head of design department at Mitsukoshi (traditional kimono merchant). Sugiura is known for his dynamic use of colour, it’s like a mix between that Nihonga style, kimono aesthetic and western colours allowing his poster work to really stand out if were next to typical 1930s Japanese graphic design. His work is also known for its combination of fine arts and commercial art.

Good news is Sugiura has heaps articles of information about him :) This allows him to be an excellent candidate for an interview.

But I’ve this post brief to allow more time for myself to catchup. The next few posts in this series will be just as brief.

Here are some resources you can read that I’ll probs be using for an interview with Hisui Sugiura

Most images are scans from a book I’ve been reading to find my subjects: The History of Graphic Design, Vol.1, 1890-1959

Extra Readings:

http://pie.co.jp/english/search/detail.php?ID=4389

https://www.artelino.com/forum/japanese_artists_show.asp?rp=81

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2000/06/18/arts/japans-premier-graphic-designer-revisited/#.Xq9vfZpS90s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hisui_Sugiura

https://go.distance.ncsu.edu/gd203/?p=50536

[seanos-zone]

Series: Project 3 Subject part 2/5 — Takashi Kono

Most images are scans from a book I’ve been reading to find my subjects: The History of Graphic Design, Vol.1, 1890-1959

Takashi Kono image

More info

here

Takashi Kono (1906-1991) was a founding member of the Japan Advertising Artists Club (JAAC) formed in 1951, which aimed to give more creative freedom and expression in advertising through graphic arts. Kono used this freedom to express his distaste of American influence in Japan after World War 2. Furthermore, he believed American influence was corroding Japanese heritage which was an opinion he would present in work. He incorporated colours, styles, techniques and iconography from traditional Japanese art of the Edo period to portray contemporary subject. His work is like a regional identity fused with Bauhaus. Someone who utilities graphic design to voice controversial opinions challenging Western influence in their work is inspiring, Kono would definitely make an interesting subject to interview.

[seanos-zone]

Series: Project 3 Subjects part 1/5 — Fortunato Depero

Info about The Bolted Book found

here

and

here

Images are scans from a book I’ve been reading to find my subjects: The History of Graphic Design, Vol.1, 1890-1959

When I started this blog my first post was an appreciation post on Fortunato Depero, Italian Futurist artist and graphic designer. Now that our project has changed I now get the chance to show off why he is such historically significant figure in Graphic Design (and there’s a chance he could be my interview subject however I’m still undecided). Depero is famous for his publication ‘Depero Futurista’ also known as ‘The Bolted Book’ (the book is literally bound by aluminium bolts). The book is Depero’s portfolio showcasing his achievements, but also presents his ground breaking futurist ideas in art and design. The book’s ideas are still relevant today and is a reference for advertisers, designers and editorials. The book was unconventional for its time, the typography is presented on each page was like a technical Avant-garde design all while outlining his ideas on re-shaping the world.

It doesn’t have to be an interview with Depero, the nice thing about this project is the freedom we have with the subjects. I could interview ‘Depero Futurista’ because of its importance in the Futurism movement.

[seanos-zone]

My submission for “Hello, my question is...” assignment

I would talk more about what I’ve done but I think my reflection summary I submitted with my work summarises everything pretty well:

“I made coffee stains on a white shirt with the letterforms in mind while making the stains. I then lasso’d the letterforms and placed them on a scanned in white t-shirt background. I originally wasn’t sure if I had done too much editing with the lassoing. But I also thought it was a bit of a collage allowing me to get away with that.

I believe the choice of material and liquid is more playing with the wording of the question than relating to what the question is asking. The question was inspired from illustrators I admire, they talk about how important it is to find a style because it becomes what you’re known for. Furthermore, the style you go with can be a constraint in how creative your work can be, some artists have a style that can fail to leave much time for creativity (with tight deadlines). It’s also a question that can be applied to more than just design. I’ve heard of musicians that are unsatisfied with their work, because they’ve used sounds that they’re known for, and lack the confidence to explore new sounds their audience can appreciate. But some designers see the constraints of their style to be a platform for their creativity, e.g. experimenting in their own time and then applying it to their client work while maintaining that consistency. The two perspectives of a consistent style is what allows this question to be open.”

[hamishkingma]

Silent Army Storeroom Stall (Michael Fikaris pictured)

[seanos-zone]

Online

Class this week was the first online class for Comm Design Studies with Ben (class tutor) and my first online class ever. I’m glad the class was organised and wasn’t as chaotic as I expected. We went through elements & principles, something we all most likely did in vce, however it was the question Ben made after presenting each design that created interesting conversation, “Is this design good, or bad?” This led me to think after class about what design I like, currently I’m more attracted to design that is colourful, detailed, noisy and sometimes obtrusive. But what I like is constantly evolving which is also what this blog documents, which brings me to next part of our online class.

http://50watts.com/Kits-Sarapikus

We looked at 50watts.com a blog dedicated to archiving interesting and historical illustration and design. We were told to look through 50watts and find something to share to the online class chat and talk a bit about why we like it. I never got a turn (my mic doesn’t work anyway so it’s not like I would’ve had a chance), however I found these illustrations by Jaan Tammsaar from Estonia, published in 1984. It’s exactly what I love, the bold line work and how it’s used to create form, the interesting vibrant colour palette, and the overall composition of each illustration is incredibly captivating and well balanced against the type. Most of his work isn’t like the illustrations featured here, because these illustrations are inspired from Russian Lubok, a style used in mid the 17th century and remained to be relevant for centuries as new technologies in printing, such as lithography, were being discovered.

Here are some links about Lubok if you’re interested: 

https://russia.rin.ru/guides_e/7309.html 

http://russia-ic.com/culture_art/visual_arts/491/#.XoAKQW5xWqA

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/d-a-rovinskiis-collection-of-russian-lubki-18th%E2%80%9319th-century

Lubok has been around for a long time so there’s a lot of rich history about its importance during times such as the Napoleonic era and Russo-Japanese War. Here are some pieces of Lubok I find interesting that share similarities to Tammsaars’ work.

Reference:

1. "Gromadnyi kot." [Big Cat], 1881 Anonymous (A lot of these works don’t have the source on the artists, due to a lack of preserving the artists name throughout history)

2. An Animal Found in Spain Anonymous, January 27th 1775

3. The Book of Divination  Anonymous, 1881