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On June 25th and 26th Hannah, Jenny, Tongye, Pei, Pranisha, Sean, and Colette, spent the day making wood engravings and printing from the blocks.
This has been a two-day workshop in the Stage 1 Illustration studio. Jonathan Gibbs demonstrated by engraving a block and making a print. There was discussion about the history and practice of woodblock printmaking with reference to Albrecht Dürer, Thomas Bewick, and Katushika Hokusai.
The group talked about contemporary artists who make prints using wood in a variety of ways. Every student used a small practice block to try out the engraving tools. Then they worked on 55 x 7mm Lemonwood blocks. We also experimented with Trotec, which is a material that engraves well and gives a good impression.
Using this process, birds, people, animals, insects, landscapes, relationships and battles have been excellently illustrated by these Masters students.
As part of a 5 week long storytelling project our first year Illustration students met with 3 practitioners from different fields; Master storyteller David Campbell, Sculptor Duncan Robertson and Scientist Prof Bill Earnshaw. Each gave insight into their professions and the relevance of storytelling within their practice.
The final task took inspiration from scientific methods of research as well as collaborations between artists and scientists. On Day One we were introduced to the ASCUS lab at Summerhall and given basic microscope training, followed by an exercise of how to extract our own cheek cells and stain them so that the cell membrane and nucleus show up clearly. In the afternoon the group then met Bill Earnshaw, Professor of Chromosome Dynamics at the University of Edinburgh, who spoke about his research, ideas on art and science and shared his personal journey of becoming a scientist. Most interestingly, Bill pointed out similarities between Art and Science processes and how he himself was torn between becoming an artist or a Scientist.
In response to the events of Day One our students were then asked to create an illustrated sequential narrative piece containing a minimum of 4 panels. Any discoveries from throughout the day were to serve as a starting point, and a playful approach welcomed, which saw fact and science being turned into imagination and fiction.
On show, during our end of year pop-up exhibition, were a vast collection of different approaches, styles and ideas. From comic books to embroidery hoops, zines and concertina books, there are truly no two works alike. Some students chose a humorous approach to their narrative, whereas other students chose to focus on much more serious topics. Some took inspiration from scientific facts and others discovered the path of science fiction by delving into their imaginations. The narratives you will find on display feature lovable characters and interactions between them.
In addition to the narratives students were asked to create a short frame animated gif, still inspired by cells. Most illustrators had not worked with animation before so this was a new challenge. The outcomes are truly fascinating. There is a range of colour and movement in this collection of gifs.
Our students particularly enjoyed the creative freedom they were given for this project, and the fact that they could revisit and apply a lot of their learning from throughout their first year at ECA. We are really grateful to Bill Earnshaw and the ASCUS lab for making this exciting project happen.
During this year’s end of year pop-up show the first year illustrators at the ECA displayed their collective work from the last semester, and are doing it in style.
As part of task 2 for their project ‘Long Story Short’, they visited the home of the eccentric sculpture and collector, Duncan Robertson. They were asked to explore his Aladdin’s cave of a house and to pick out one object of particular interest each. A plant? An antique vase? Duncan himself? Whatever their heart so pleased.
After discussing the story of the object with Duncan, they each then did some individual research into it, and were then asked to create a Haiku poem that reflected it. What is a Haiku you ask? An old Japanese poem that consists of three lines, in the order of 5, 7, 5 syllables. This had to compliment an illustration of their object in an interesting and personal way, which resulted in an eclectic mirage of wonderful outcomes.
Now, the printing process. They printed their work in a booklet using risograph printing, which is a sustainable way to mass print illustrations for a low budget: perfect for the environmentally conscious, struggling student.
They decided to print their risograph booklets in shades of red and blue. Despite this somewhat limited colour palette, the students each managed to produce pieces that were incredibly unique, reflecting the individuality of the student and their style.
The class took their collective booklets to the Bookmarks fair, where they sold a proud amount. What are they going to get with this money? Food of course. And drinks. So come visit them at their studio in evolution house, room 4.16, for some free tasty treats, as well as a feast for your eyes!
See you there!
As a group we visited the house of the story teller David Campbell. Here, he introduced us to his story telling traditions and his dedication to the craft of his ritual, everything from our folk sing-along to the outfit he was wearing encapsulated Scottish tradition. David told 3 stories as well as taking breaks, telling jokes and directly interacting with us to ensure our engagement, involvement and enjoyment.
The First story, The Tale of Carnaby Dick, told a story of a horse dealer’s strange encounter with a mysterious man from the mountains, which resulted in a life threatening choice that lead to his death.
The Second Story, set in Shetland, followed Ranald the fiddle player in his journey to a mysterious land of mythical ‘Trowie’ creatures, however unaware of the accelerated time in this land, Ranald is away for far longer than to his knowledge, too late even to make it home for his wife’s homemade leak and tatty soup.
In the third Story, Ranald an attractive man, catches the attention of a pesky ‘Shei’ fairy who follows and pesters him day and night. Ranald accidentally falls under her spell with a look into her eyes and both of them disappear to the Land of the Shei. Finally, when returning home to his wife, with a look in the mirror Ranald realizes that he is now an old man.
Our Brief was to create a 3D response to one of the 3 stories of our choosing. Our responses range from Paper models to Pottery and communicate our personal take on each tale, our favourite aspects and the parts in which stood out visually in our imaginations. Some of us chose to cover whole summaries of the story or defining parts, for example books with series of events, and some of us focusing on details, like the leak and tatty soup or Ranalds gaze in the mirror.
Muriel Spark 100 – student work exhibited at the National Library of Scotland.
This collaborative project between Edinburgh College of Art first year Illustration and Graphic Design students was inspired by the current exhibition ‘The International Style of Muriel Spark’, which celebrates the life and work of Muriel Spark one hundred years after she was born in Edinburgh.
Small groups of students formed a collective and worked on a series of tasks including creating a collective archive box inspired by Muriel Spark’s personal collections, the development of one character at different stages of their lives, a tunnel book in response to a piece Muriel Spark’s writing and a piece to help promote her work to a new, young audience.
Throughout the collaboration, the collectives were asked to research into the life and times of Muriel Spark, and to create different responses to their findings. The collaborative nature of the project meant that students had to find a common ground and identify common values to work with one another while delegating various tasks amongst the group.
The students attended a series of workshops and crits led by author Vivian French and artists / designers Brigid Collins, Mary Asiedu and Astrid Jaekel, which has influenced the work they have created. We are delighted to see the work displayed in the foyer of the National Library, where it will be on show until 29th May.
Today, the 26th of April, 1st year Illustration students are celebrating the end of their final project, Long Story Short (where they expanded on their story-telling skills and met various professionals), by hosting a pop-up show. Each student has extended their skills and knowledge throughout the course of the year and the results of this are evident in this exhibition.
Science to Fiction was the final part of the 5 week long project. Students were asked to create a visual narrative with a minimum of 4 panels, inspired by their visit to ASCUS lab, where they looked at their own cheek cells under the microscope, and a meeting/discussion with scientist Bill Earnshaw.
On show today there is a vast collection of different approaches, styles and ideas. From comic books to embroidery hoops, zines and concertina books, there are truly no two works alike. Some students chose a humorous approach to their narrative, whereas other students chose to focus on much more serious topics. Some took inspiration from scientific facts and others discovered the path of science fiction by delving into their imaginations. The narratives you will find on display feature lovable characters and interactions between them.
In addition to the narratives students were asked to create a short frame animated gif, still inspired by cells. Most illustrators had not worked with animation before so this was a new challenge. The outcomes are truly fascinating. There is a range of colour and movement in this collection of gifs.
The show is taking place from 2 to 3pm at Evolution House, 4th floor, room 417. Professionals, who inspired the narratives created by the students, have also been invited to attend the exhibition. Support the young illustrators and come see it too!
This post is a catch up of the various trips, workshops and exhibitions our wonderful head of course.
SUMMER
The 2017 MA illustration students excelled in an August wood engraving workshop, with fine prints made quickly, using very small woodblocks.
This was a table-top two-day workshop, held on the third floor of Evolution House.
Students worked from drawings, from which they engraved images into the end-grain surface of Lemonwood. T. N. Lawrence Carbon Black Letterpress ink was rolled onto a great big sheet of glass, thence on to the blocks.
All impressions were made by hand-burnishing onto a cheap Chinese rice paper. We also used a more expensive Japanese paper, Arakaji Natural, for final quality prints. These were displayed and discussed.
AUTUMN
Jonathan travelled to Sussex for a similar weekend workshop at the Moncrieff-Bray Gallery with a room of twelve students, & a most productive day. The workshop was connected to Abstracted Landscapes, a group exhibition in which Jonathan showed some recent works.
In November, Jonathan took part in the Illustrating Identites symposium, at the Université de Lorraine, an Illustration Research event, where he presented Drawing Book & Picture Hooks. His paper concerned collaborative projects between writers, illustrators, agents, publishers, ECA students & staff and primary schools in Scotland. In Nancy, fellow illustrator Jonny Hannah also presented a paper about Identity. The two Jonnys wore illustrated masks and performed Quel Temps Fait Il A Paris by Jaques Trenet. They played it again at Airs, Reels, & Ballads, Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, in the month of November, and one more time, encore, with some other tunes at the Darktown Valentine’s Cabaret, Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
WINTER
This February 2018, an MFA wood engraving class was held Evolution House Boardroom. With small woodblocks, the students produced excellent results throughout a day of intensive printmaking.
During the same month, Jonathan Gibbs exhibited eighty-seven works at the Open Eye Gallery. These were paintings, drawings and wood engravings. Included was a set of four illustrations commissioned by Dr Davide Messina for a one-day symposium, Europa’s Long Renaissance: Myth, Metamorphoses, Migrations. Also shown were illustrations for Penguin, Goodwood Magazine, Alexanders, and Canongate.
SPRING
He has been working on pieces of Baltic Fir timber, requisitioned book-shelves from the Advocate’s Library in the University of Edinburgh. Jonathan also uses, Pine, Whitebeam, Lemonwood, Box, and Holly. This month, he is a visiting artist in the Independent Artist Programme at the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou.
The 2017 MA illustration students excelled in an August wood engraving workshop, with fine prints made quickly, using very small woodblocks.
This was a table-top two-day workshop, held on the third floor of Evolution House.
Students worked from drawings, from which they engraved images into the end-grain surface of Lemonwood. T. N. Lawrence Carbon Black Letterpress ink was rolled onto a great big sheet of glass, thence on to the blocks.
All impressions were made by hand-burnishing onto a cheap Chinese rice paper. We also used a more expensive Japanese paper, Arakaji Natural, for final quality prints. These were displayed and discussed.
Another year another fantastic fair. We were absolutely thrilled with how this year went. The fire station was crammed with creatives and attendees every moment. So thank you to all who participated and attended, it was wonderful seeing you all engage with the fair this year in such enthusiastic droves.
We had 58 tables with over 100 individual artists and countless pieces of work, all within our delightful new venue of the Fire station at the ECA.
On top of the wealth of stalls we had a diverse range of talks and workshops. It was inspiring to get a group of extremely talented individuals to share those talents with us.
Our fourth years provided a bountiful supply of cake and tea to fund their upcoming drip to the annual D&AD New Blood Festival.
A highlight of this year was “The BOOKMARKS Bumper Zine”. Our amazing print technician Mina and Emily from Crisp Shop managed the incredible feat of creating a zine in a day, that had a contribution from every stall. A mammoth undertaking that culminated in an edition of 60 beautifully printed Risograph zines.
It all wouldn’t be possible with out our own Lucy Roscoe and Jane Hyslop. 4 years on, they have worked so hard to make every year an undoubtably excellent event. They have exceeded themselves this year in making the best yet. So a huge congratulations to them.
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