Tag: 1st year

6th April 2017

Drawing in the Meadows

Last week the first year illustration students set out on a location drawing trip in the Meadows with artist Catharine Davison. Most of the students are familiar with this area of the city and were encouraged to look at this setting in a new way, concentrating on working directly from source.

Catharine encouraged the students to use a variety of materials, including charcoal:

“Drawings with charcoal and a rubber are a perfect introduction to working quickly, enabling the students to adjust to the changing light conditions and on a relatively large scale. The willlow charcoal creates a soft grey mark that is easy to rub away even with a finger and a darker compressed charcoal brings another dimension to the process, also could explore scratching with a rubber and a knife, layering darker lines and marks to reveal shapes of light and dark.”

The group moved to a different location within the Meadows in the afternoon to look at a row of historic and contemporary buildings with a busy pedestrian path way in front. Each student was given a pack of 3 coloured felt tips and a black marker. The colours were arbitrary as the drawing was not about ‘colouring in’ but more about creating a tapestry of marks in response to the location. A black line was then used to pull the composition together and to reveal the focus.

One of the challenges of a location like this is dealing with the public and the group was quite conspicuous, attracting lots of interest from passers by. They were photographed and witnessed some lively conversations, but rather than cause problems for the students it began to add a narrative to their work. The students had a productive day, returning to their studio with a collection of expressive and atmospheric observational drawings.

Apr 6, 2017

30th October 2015

Mapping the City

First year illustration students are really getting to know Edinburgh now, and this week they completed a unique map-making project. They were set the task of creating a map that would communicate their relationship with the city. The maps did not have to be geographically accurate and could depict any area or aspect of Edinburgh as they have experienced or perceived it.

We began by visiting the Central Library on George IV Bridge and were treated to a look at some of the maps in the library collection. We then explored the various passageways and rooms around the library and sketched the views of the city from these vantage points. We also visited the ECA Library to look at the fantastic collection of artists’s books. These gave students inspiration for the physical format their map might take.

The students then developed their research drawings into maps of their own. The class produced a varied body of work, including intricate hand drawn ‘memory’ maps, digitally made board games based on their adventures around the city and fabric collages incorporating hand-stitched routes and motifs.

Oct 30, 2015

22nd October 2015

Pattern making in year 1

A new group of first year illustration students have arrived in Edinburgh and begun to explore the city. Their first project was a pattern making endeavor, and we decided to head to Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens to gather observational drawings and inspiration. We spent the morning drawing flowers, plants and naturalistic forms as well as the architecture and characters populating the gardens. Students also collected leaves and paraphernalia they found along the way.

We returned to the studio and began to research the history of pattern design, looking at motifs, colour palettes and techniques from all over the world. Students gave presentations on their findings before trying out various techniques themselves. We also looked at the ways in which patterns may be applied, including furnishings, textiles and books.

After demonstrations in relief printing and mono printing, we looked at how to make a repeat pattern by hand and using digital methods. The students then developed their drawings and prints into patterns of their own. The students embraced the new techniques with enthusiasm and as a class they produced a varied and impressive range of repeat patterns. This project involved the first of many observational drawing trips and was a great start to the semester.

Oct 22, 2015

12th March 2015

Illustration Meets Comedy

Last night the Illustration staff and students ventured out of the studio and into the wild world of experimental comedy!

As their final major project for the year, our first years have been exploring a broad variety of storytelling techniques. Experiencing everything from traditional scottish tales from kilted storytellers to a chilled afternoon listening for the narratives in a folk music performance. Our budding illustrators are then given free reign to create an illustrated response to the week’s event. The finished pieces have ranged from traditional to conceptual to the completely fantastical, reflecting the vast range of interests and specialisms within the year group.

This week we visited ‘Electric Tales’ at the heart of Edinburgh’s comedy scene, The Stand Comedy Club. Described as ‘a blended mix of comedy and storytelling, a night of funny yarns and verse told by a range of performers, with the sole aim of cheering you up’ we knew we were in for enjoyable evening. The show offered our illustrators a variety of starting points for their individual projects, from risqué tales to fully costumed impersonations of Susan Boyle. Drawing throughout, both staff and students took inspiration from the venues buzzing atmosphere, producing energetic and responsive sketches of the comedians and audience.

We look forward to sharing the students’ developed illustrations, grown from this unique form of storytelling event. A huge thanks to The Stand for allowing us share in your creativity and for the endless amount of cheer and laughs (many at our expense).

Mar 12, 2015

18th February 2015

The Last Great Voyage of Discovery

One hundred years ago, in 1914 Ernest Shackleton set sail with a team on the last Polar expedition of its kind, his aim to cross Antarctica via the Pole. This was the last great adventure of discovery, exploration today is rooted in scientific endeavor, and it is a story littered with intriguing details of reindeer skin sleeping bags, penguins, tinned food and lots of ice.

First year students from the Illustration Programme at Edinburgh College of Art were asked to respond to the story of the Endurance expedition and create an illustrated map of the journey. In addition to this they were asked to construct an artifact that illustrated an element of the narrative.

Maps come in all shapes and sizes. They are made for a specific purpose and include particular information that informs us, or take us on a journey. Students were asked to draw as many ideas as they could from the maps they studied in the immense collection of the National Library of Scotland – this included colour, textures used to mark terrain, timelines, lettering, borders, contour lines, latitude/longitude grids, references, size, shape….and of course the frying pan shape of Antarctica!

The results are currently exhibited in the National Library of Scotland, giving students the opportunity to share there illustrated discoveries with the public. A huge thank you to the National Library of Scotland for collaborating with us on this adventurous, challenging and greatly rewarding project.

Feb 18, 2015

ECA Illustration