Exercise 3.1 Understanding viewpoints

I love photography and consider it one of my main hobbies, if the dream wasn’t to be an illustrator I would have pursued a career in photography.

So I take a lot (and I mean) A LOT of pictures, I also watch and read a lot relating to photography, about a year and half ago I started experimenting with viewpoints and seeing things differently. I think nothing of laying on the floor to get a good shot.

So I was really excited for this exercise even with COVID-19 lock down rules and on-going health issues which means I cannot lay on the floor taking photos at the moment! Plus I did take photos as well for first part due to the rules, I was keen to “see” things differently.
I walked the same path, this time gaining more freedom from the children, however I did have a limited time to get all I needed,
It was a clear sky day, and no high risers so also limited look up shots.

I headed for the church, I ended up taking more from different angles.
It wasn’t inspiring me as much as before, although (above) I tried to see it differently and create using geomatics shapes.

(above) created with oil pastels
I tried different viewpoints of the everyday “landmarks” I passed.

A couple of my look up shots (that wasn’t just blue sky)
Left – Watercolour
Right (and middle bird) – Gouache
I liked this page as after a few “messy” pages this felt clean (due to me using masking type for the edges) I wasn’t aiming perfect, I wanted to treat still like wasn’t working from photo and like I was needing to get detail down quickly.

Ended up having a mini study based on birds and limited line and simple shapes.

I took photos of the post box from different angles, as I felt I could add a bit of colour pop to my studies (as mainly green/blue/yellow)
On the right is a photo where I had the reflection of the high street in a store window, my intention was to feature the high street, however when I came to do it I wanted bold colours to balance the page spread better and ended up having fun with ink, I ended up over working the reflection so it is more of a blur. Never the less I kind of like the result I ended up with.
I also got the angle completely wrong, I tried with all these to draw loose and not to worry to much about perspective, although I acknowledge I think need to find a balance while drawing on in the field

These are similar views, but taken from different angles or peeking though the leaves.
I also wanted to colour these in fun colours and ended up creating the church in different colours.

How would it look if I used some left over gouache and folded the pages ?
This was very random, I painted the church one last time and closed my sketchbook the results…
Random page really.

(below) sample of the photos I took.
I took quite a few – as said above I just love taking photos.
Even took some texture surface photos to make into digital brushes and use as pattern overlay to create texture in my digital work.

*What is the relationship between photos and drawing I made in my sketchbook?
The photos aid my drawings but do not create my drawings.
*Do you see the photographs as a form of reference to possibly help you inform your earlier sketches or do you consider them to be an alternative and separate form of visual art?
I do not see this as black and white, for example I could take a photo as reference as won’t be able to sketch there and then, I see as something could refer back to if wanted to work on an image again, also I think the lines of “visual art” are blurred.
I am very much a believer in making things work for you, why limited yourself when can have the best of both worlds.
*Do they provide visual reference?
Yes, this time I saw new things, I was looking at new angles, I was looking for visual interest though the lens this time, that started me thinking about making the photos visually appealing therefore changed my point of view or “box” if you like which I was fitting my sketches in.
*Did the process of taking the photos make you want to return to any of your sketches and develop them in some way?
Yes, as above you can see I wanted to recreate these images, take more time on them and add more visual elements.

This part wasn’t quite as intended / due to nature I had to do the first exercise. With this in mind I will be ensuring that I carry on with both objectives as well as future exercises.
It is easier to explore and relax with colours when working with photos over that of sketching outside. I would think that is more my lack of experience urban sketching more than anything.