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| Fairyfolk playing on the Mushroom seats |
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| A fairy and a trolling catching a fish |
Friday, 10 June 2016
Extra: Fairyfolk in Ballaglass:
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
Evaluation:
I had decided to do Manx myths for this final project. I've always loved fantasy creatures and stories ever since I was little, so the Manx myths are very close to me, especially the Moddey Dhoo who is my favourite. And I wanted to do a digital illustration of 5 main Manx myths: Manannan, the Buggane of St. Trinian's, merfolk, fairyfolk and the Moddey Dhoo.
So, I did some research into the different Manx myths and the three local Manx sites that have a part with them: The House of Manannan, St. Trinian's and Peel Castle. I also went to the different sites and took my own photos, as well as taking a few at the beach and in Ballaglass Glen, for merfolk and fairyfolk references. I went to the Inspiration Art Exhibition in Laxey and had an interview with Julia Ashby Smyth, one of the Manx artists that I've researched on, I then did some research on Archibald Knox, another famous Manx artist. Then, I decided to do some sketches on the computer to get myself used to drawing again after three weeks of not using a wacom tablet.
Then, I went on to designing the illustration. I constructed several mind-maps, one was to do with the legends, one was to do with the whole project and one contained questions on what would I do if my work was commissioned: How much would it be, what size and who to purchase - sell - it to. I wanted my illustration to be printed out in an A2 size for the board, because I wanted to show that it is the central, main piece for the project.
Afterwards, I went on to sketching ideas for the illustration. I sketched out 15 ideas and eventually, after looking at each one, chose the final idea, because it fitted well with the whole project. I also wanted to show that the myths can move with time, so the idea of having the myths flow down to their modern forms that- I believe - would help give out a sense of the ancient myths becoming part of the modern world, it is also depicted as looking like a river's flow which ties in with the Island's main river, Sulby. After deciding the layout of the piece, I chose to design the myths modern forms. I started with Manannan, who is the main myth and Guardian of the Isle of Man, then I followed on with the other myths. I practiced drawing wolves/dogs, so that I was able to draw the Moddey Dhoo in his mythical form which is: A large black dog. This is because in the novel: 'The Black Hound,' the Moddey Dhoo is depicted as a large black wolfhound so I decided to use a more wolf-like style in drawing his mythical form.
After designing the myths, I started to draw the sketch of the piece on Photoshop CC 2015 edition, as it is a program that I am most comfortable with rather then the other programs available, as it is easier for me to use. After working on that version of Photoshop I continued to work using Photoshop CS6 (64 bit) I used the sketched layer to design another layer for the background sketch, followed by one for Manannan, one for the myths and modern myths and one for the golden depictions of magic. After that, I started to colour the illustration. I wanted to use mostly blue, green and turquoise-like colours, because Manannan is the God of the sea and these colours are used most to depict the ocean. I used the green for the trees and the hills and coloured Peel Castle in brown and St. Trinian's in various grey tones, because these are roughly the colour of the actual landmarks.
I coloured the city in pale colours (blue, red and grey), because I didn't really want them to standout that much, and I used the paint bucket tool to paint the background a sky blue colour. After colouring the illustration, I added shadows, to the myths, with the burn tool, to add tonnage to the final piece.
Finally, after I had finished it, I took the illustration - which was on a memory stick - to Chaz, who was in charge of the printing unit, and asked him to print out my illustration as an A2 print which I collected the next day and pinned it onto by board.
However, I decided to include some sketches in my logbook about what different modern objects would the myths use to blend into the modern timeline and our world. And I have also created character sheets for the different myths in the illustration on Photoshop CS6 as well.
If I were to improve this project, I would have chosen to make a book out of it and improve my drawing skills a bit more.
This concludes my project.
So, I did some research into the different Manx myths and the three local Manx sites that have a part with them: The House of Manannan, St. Trinian's and Peel Castle. I also went to the different sites and took my own photos, as well as taking a few at the beach and in Ballaglass Glen, for merfolk and fairyfolk references. I went to the Inspiration Art Exhibition in Laxey and had an interview with Julia Ashby Smyth, one of the Manx artists that I've researched on, I then did some research on Archibald Knox, another famous Manx artist. Then, I decided to do some sketches on the computer to get myself used to drawing again after three weeks of not using a wacom tablet.
Then, I went on to designing the illustration. I constructed several mind-maps, one was to do with the legends, one was to do with the whole project and one contained questions on what would I do if my work was commissioned: How much would it be, what size and who to purchase - sell - it to. I wanted my illustration to be printed out in an A2 size for the board, because I wanted to show that it is the central, main piece for the project.
Afterwards, I went on to sketching ideas for the illustration. I sketched out 15 ideas and eventually, after looking at each one, chose the final idea, because it fitted well with the whole project. I also wanted to show that the myths can move with time, so the idea of having the myths flow down to their modern forms that- I believe - would help give out a sense of the ancient myths becoming part of the modern world, it is also depicted as looking like a river's flow which ties in with the Island's main river, Sulby. After deciding the layout of the piece, I chose to design the myths modern forms. I started with Manannan, who is the main myth and Guardian of the Isle of Man, then I followed on with the other myths. I practiced drawing wolves/dogs, so that I was able to draw the Moddey Dhoo in his mythical form which is: A large black dog. This is because in the novel: 'The Black Hound,' the Moddey Dhoo is depicted as a large black wolfhound so I decided to use a more wolf-like style in drawing his mythical form.
After designing the myths, I started to draw the sketch of the piece on Photoshop CC 2015 edition, as it is a program that I am most comfortable with rather then the other programs available, as it is easier for me to use. After working on that version of Photoshop I continued to work using Photoshop CS6 (64 bit) I used the sketched layer to design another layer for the background sketch, followed by one for Manannan, one for the myths and modern myths and one for the golden depictions of magic. After that, I started to colour the illustration. I wanted to use mostly blue, green and turquoise-like colours, because Manannan is the God of the sea and these colours are used most to depict the ocean. I used the green for the trees and the hills and coloured Peel Castle in brown and St. Trinian's in various grey tones, because these are roughly the colour of the actual landmarks.
I coloured the city in pale colours (blue, red and grey), because I didn't really want them to standout that much, and I used the paint bucket tool to paint the background a sky blue colour. After colouring the illustration, I added shadows, to the myths, with the burn tool, to add tonnage to the final piece.
Finally, after I had finished it, I took the illustration - which was on a memory stick - to Chaz, who was in charge of the printing unit, and asked him to print out my illustration as an A2 print which I collected the next day and pinned it onto by board.
However, I decided to include some sketches in my logbook about what different modern objects would the myths use to blend into the modern timeline and our world. And I have also created character sheets for the different myths in the illustration on Photoshop CS6 as well.
If I were to improve this project, I would have chosen to make a book out of it and improve my drawing skills a bit more.
This concludes my project.
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Archibald Knox and the Book of Kells Research:
Archibald Knox was born on the 9th of April, 1864, in Cronkbourne, near Tromode, on the Isle of Man, and died on the 22nd of February, 1933, in Braddon, on the Isle of Man. He was a Manx designer and was best known in his time as being Liberty's primary designer at the height of their success.
Book of Kells:
Book of Kells:
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Julia Ashby Smyth at the Inspiration Exhibition:
Julia Ashby Smyth does sketches, drawings and doodles of mythical and Manx beings. She draws the different events for the TT and the island. She also does commissions for people. Her style is very detailed and I like how she manages to give the character life in her drawings. Some of her drawings are very funny, like her Mad Manx Cat pictures and her seagull drawings too.
My favourite drawings are Manannan, Moddey Dhoo and Tehi Tegi. Plus some of the funny drawing too.
My photos:
An interview with Julia Ashby Smyth:
1. What age did you start to draw?
I started at the age of three. My mother and I would play squiggles. She would start a squiggle and I would try to make it into a picture.
2. What inspires you to draw?
Natural forms, like bare trees and the different rivers. The Manx Folklore and stories inspire me as well, including the mythology of the island and during snippets of conversations. For example, one guy started telling me about when his grandmother was younger, I got inspired by a small piece of information. And when another guy accidentally said "Komono Dragon" instead of "Komodo Dragon" and I was like: "Yes! Komono....!!!" And I started drawing it. It's still in progress, however.
3. Do you have a specific favourite?
I'm very attached to Manannan, Flight of the Elves and Tehi Tegi. It's all because of the history of their stories and that how they're still with us today.
4. If you could choose a different choice of career, what would it be?
To be an Archaeologist. Especially for the Bronze Age. I love how they manage to make the jewellery with the limited technology that they had in those days. And I love the whole discovery of the age as well.
Some images by Julia Ashby Smyth:
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| Mac Lir |
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| Advanced Mischief |
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| Aile |
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| The Old Men of Baldwin |
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| Castletown Witch |
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| Curled up |
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| Eilid |
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| Blackberry Pudding |
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| Mouse-print Boots |
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| Fuchsia Flower Ball |
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| Gingerbread Races |
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| Sock mender |
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| Leaf Surfing |
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| The Story of Kitty and the Phynnorderry |
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| Sideways Cat |
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| Cat Smiling Darkly |
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| Manannan |
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| Yn Moddey Dhoo |
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| oooOOOOH CHIPS! |
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| Harvest |
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| Rasta-faerey Man |
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| Ravencast |
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| Ravendeep |
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| Is That a Sandwich? |
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| Spring Ram |
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| Storyteller |
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| Tehi Tegi |
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| Did somebody mention Tuna?! |
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| Vlad Cat |
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