Continuing our series of posts previewing the contributors to THE STATE OF US, a new pop-up exhibition from Illustrators Ireland opening this Friday, Facebook details here.
Dara Ní Bheachain – Graphic Designer.
“Our Tunes” Poster design for The Contemporary Music Centre
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
As I’m not an illustrator and can’t draw too well, I wanted to create an impression of Holly through a series of layered images. I suppose I was more concerned about capturing her personality and the many varied sides to her. I am conscious of her liking it as I really like her own work and feel we have somewhat of a shared aesthetic.
Sneak Peak from Dara’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
No, but I’m really looking forward to meeting her. Her work is beautiful.
Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” 1948
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
This is a painting by Andrew Wyeth that I’ve always loved since I first saw it in New York years back. I could stare at it for hours and often do as it’s in my sitting room. My kids think it looks like me. I saw a documentary about Wyeth’s work recently and it told the story of the painting. Wyeth was inspired to create the painting when he saw Christina, a young woman with a disability, crawling across a field while he was watching from a window in the house.
Noelle Cooper – Unthink, Graphic Design
“Crafted Report” for Design and Crafts Council, 2016
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
I’m not an illustrator so I decided to approach it from a more typographic abstract angle, so I wasn’t really concerned with accurately representing the person, but in the end it coincidentally bears a likeness! I took the artist’s description and designed the piece to infer the creative process of an artist/designer.
Sneak Peak of Noelle’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
No, I hadn’t come across his work before, so taking part in this project has been good for making connections, hopefully 🙂
Oliver Jeffers “Without A Doubt Pt 2” Dipped Portrait series
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
Dipped Portraits by Oliver Jeffers – I’m drawn to their abrupt and striking composition – how the vivid block of colour engulfs the portrait itself. I’m also compelled by the central theme of loss and how the series is interlinked by this common experience among the sitters.
Sample of design work
How did you approach the brief? Were you more concerned with likeness or trying to capture essence/personality? Are you conscious of the “sitter” response?
For me the starting point was the description given by Phil. His love of forrests, Blytons Enchanted Wood and of his three daughters really struct a cord with me. I kept thinking of how Phil is creating a magical world for his daughters to grow up in. I have never met Phil – so I hope he likes what I’ve done! My own work, as a graphic designer not illustrator, is usually very low-fi (cut card, lino, pencil with ink) and somewhat typographic with a restrained palette. Everything begins with a simple sketch that is added to onscreen and colour is usually applied flat without texture.
Sneak Peak of Danielle’s piece for THE STATE OF US
Do you know the sitter personally?
No.
Miro’s “People and Dog on the Sea” 1949
Can you share a portrait by another artist you admire and explain why?
One of the first portraits I saw when I was young was Miro’s People and Dog on the Sea. I think it was the simple use of line and the fact that you could rotate the image that I like the most. Even though it has quite a child-like quality, with its bold use of flat colour, I still really love this portrait today.
We will be continuing to add more interviews and sneak peaks over the next few days.
We sat down with one of the co-organisers, illustrator and artist Steve Doogan, last month
THE STATE OF US
Presentated by Illustrators Ireland in asscociation with OFFSET.
Friday 16th June, 7:30PM
The Chocolate Factory