I started, as I do with most design projects, making a mood board on Pinterest. I think the most difficult part of the project will be the execution of the illustration using the sand. After looking through videos and photos of other artists I think a gesture or lose line drawing will be the best way. Here is my Pinterest link to my research:
I then began doing some sketches of what I want the subject to be. I took some photos of my boyfriend and drew from those.
They are a little more stylized than I was originally intended, but I think I have a direction to start.
The two artists I found used two different ways to present their drawings. The one uses a sticky surface to capture the sand in certain areas. The other has a light table that she draws and moved the sand on. I was going to do something similar to the first artist but just place the sand on top of a darker paper for contrast, but I found a DIY article that I can make a light table.
After reading through the syllabus and completing other first-day material, I began brainstorming for the first project. Our first assignment is to create an illustration based on a compound word. We have free range of what medium to use and the final piece can be 2D or 3D. The size required is 8" x 10" and we will be submitting the project digitally.
Reading through the list of example words at the bottom of the assignment, I began to think of some ideas. I began brainstorming some ideas for a few words such as doorman, spacesuit, and dog house. I didn't want to go with the first idea I thought of and I knew a lot of people will be working with these words as well. I began searching the internet for different examples of compound words while also trying to find a unique material.
I stumbled upon the word sandman and wondered if I could draw a man out of sand? I am going to the beach for the weekend with family, so I could collect some sand from there to use. I remember seeing artists who create portraits and visual stories using only sand so I began researching how they do so and seeing if I could create something using a similar technique.
Here are some of the artists I found that use sand:
My next step before I am able to get the sand is to work on some sketches and create a Pinterest board with some composition ideas.
