COVID-19 (July – 2020)
For this a “landmark” I had to stay local still. So, I returned to Mosborough high street, which are a row of shops. I’ve been wanted to do this for a while, as is more of a “landmark” in my own memory.
It is the place I grew up, generations of my family lived in the village and on this very high street.
With this in mind I had a collection of words building.
*memory.
*change.
*echo.
These are all emotional responses to my attachment to the high street.
I had to trust my gut with exercise as I do face limited options, after all I can always do this project again beyond the slope of this exercise and include all these objectives in the assignment.
My intention in the photos is the small details I may miss/forget or if want to add elements I didn’t sketch.
Personal sketchbook (above) – Ink sketches and notes
Taking photos of each shop and making notes as I walked.
Upon my return to the house (I had set up my ink pens and watercolours)
First started to tackle some visual elements how I can work this.
Using the photo references and sketches I placed together a working draft for piece.
The snapshots along completed a row, I missed out some houses from the row and changed elements I felt would suit the vibe of the image better.
One example of this is the church is much closer, and I moved some poles to avoid some lines over lapping.
I had a lot of fun doing this, maybe getting lost in my own vision.
I had maybe lost my “word” narrative, but I was honestly feeling something I cannot find the words to express.
What do the viewer see when looking at this ?
Would they be able to get this unknown feeling?
After the shop front, I wanted to create another more centred around my words, I wanted a faded piece like the memory of my childhood in this current shop front of 2020.
My intention with this illustration is have a “fish eye view” to bring attention to the middle where the children run and have the street to fade out, to help give that impression by losing colour and detail.
I maybe should have loosen the details and lines end of the street even more. But, overall while I love the first long street, this one is a better representation of my words and original intention.
I would love to do this again and use “words” to help me create a better narrative for places such such as a busy street how I could use the crowd to create the impression of busy and lots of movement and maybe a a haunted church, with loose dark values/wash.
I took a risk with my subject and word as it was emotive to me, and it’s if I can show that without explaining. I feel it, can others?
This being said, I shared to a local Facebook group my work, As wanted to say if saw me out and wondered what I was doing. I got such amazing feedback. Including someone wanting me to show case my work at their local history meetings and even a couple of people wanting updates and prints, Not something I expected at all!
Also it made others “remember” and “miss” this place… So I ended up getting the emotional response from others after all.
I like what I created both times, I cannot lie I’m a little worried I didn’t fully carry out the objectives of this exercise as I lost myself in the emotional attachment to piece.
Did it stop me being objective or did I do the right thing with allowing myself to feel and let my emotions take lead in my work?
I know I’m in danger of second guessing everything, this unit the limitations of what we face during COVID-19, means I’m not doing any of this unit, as I would have pictured.
But at the same time these limitations may also can be a good things, I’m having to do this more creatively to make use the things and places around me.
I have never been so inspired as I have of late, actually finding hard to find the right balance between wanting to sketch non-stop in my sketchbook to write my thoughts in this learning log.
Maybe the limitations of these days make me also value my creative time!
I’m seeing things afresh as the world start to open its doors again to me!
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 