Illustration

A Spanish illustration found in Barcelona.


I have started taking notice of illustration since late 2007. One illustrator I have always liked in particular is David Shrigley. He does very simple yet humourus drawings and has become very successful. I think illustration is also great for research and sketchbook development. The great thing about illustration is how versatile the subject is. There are so many different techniques that beginners and experts can use. Illustrations can be drawn, painted, or made using computer software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. It is greatly used in books and magazines, but is also used a lot for various pieces of artwork. One type of illustration technique I like to use is stick figures and silhouettes. It is basic but very effective, much like the artwork used on "school" signs or a fire exit. With this said, illustration is often used to provide information or decorate a piece of written work. Many types of illustration are done purely as a piece of artwork. Many pieces can be found in design museums, just as examples of what designers can create. I personally find illustration one of the better ways to be creative with art and come up with new ideas for adverts, posters, flyers and magazine covers.





Please visit these websites for some great illustration examples:





http://www.illustration.web.com/





http://www.davidshrigley.com/

Photography and Travel

http://www.photography.com/

Above are images taken by me in Hunstanton, United Kingdon and Barcelona, Spain.

I have studied photography since September 2003 and it has held my interest since. I used to develop the films manually in a dark room, but this has not only become expensive, but nearly obselete as digital photography is rapidly taking over. It is a bit of a shame that photography is not done manually these days, but digital does mean we do not have to buy film, only photo paper for printing. On a digital camera you can also see the image straight away, which helps you decide if you like it or not, instead of spending money on development. My personal favourite photography subjects are cars and travel. The images can become collectable, and keep track of all the places you have visited. I hope to do a lot of travelling after I have graduated so I can visit many sites of the world. A few of these places include Thailand, Mexico, Australia, Japan, France and Italy. So far I have managed to get to Spain, Greece and Dubai to do some great photography. I think travelling really makes a person, and helps them build up their confidence and experience new things. This is why it must be done at least once.

Collage Design

Since studying graphics, one of my main techniques for many pieces of work has been collages and montages. They are very art based but I usually enhance them using computer software. A collage is usually made up of photographs leyered over each other. A montage is the same, except to be called a montage the images must be making up a bigger image of something, instead of just being a collection of images. The images do not have to be photographs. Other materials like card, string, charcoal, newspaper and glitter can be used to make a montage. The photos could also be cut up or whole. I used collaging to create magazing covers and layouts in the past, and then scanned them with photoshop to enhance the spot colour. I think collages are a great form of visual expression, as you can put just about anything you like into one, or design a highly detailed montage.

More collage examples can be found at:

www.photobox.co.uk

Typography

I studied a National Diploma graphics course from September 2006 to June 2008. Since this time my interest in typography has developed. I had always noticed its use in signs and around the environment, but now have a more unique and creative feel for it. I like how it is used in logos and on clothing, as this can make a t-shirt or a pear of jeans look very stylish. Something that I have learned since starting my graphics course at Uni is how over used "Helvetica" is. It is possibly the most common font on signs, shops and adverts. A single piece of typography can be used as an amazing piece of artwork. The most simple letter placements can make something like a magazine cover or a logo look truly outstanding. In a previous course, I was asked to take the lyrics from a song and write then in a certain font. The font was Bauhaus, and it ended up being one of my favourite pieces of work.

More typographic art can be found at:

http://www.misprintedtype.com/

http://www.dafont.com/

Architecture and building design

Since I started studying graphics at the University of East London in September 2008, I have developed an interest in architecture. Seeing many sites in and around London has really made me appreciate the subject. From a creative or artistic perspective, I realise that without buildings like the O2 Arena, London could look very dull. Even though it is not actually a building, the London eye is also designed well. I have seen many buildings around the city which take away from the usual designs. There is a slanted building near tower bridge that looks like it is tipping. There is also the bullet shaped building and Tower Bridge itself. The Tower of London is probably one of the most unique due to its age. The great thing about London and other cities alike is the mix of modern and historic building designs. I can really appreciate the creativity and effort that goes into this - even study the subject myself later on.

Pictured above, good examples of the unique architecture in London.

www.architecture.com

Car Graphics and Logos

I have always been very interested in the idea of applying graphics to certain types of cars. It would be great to learn to paint so I could apply my knowledge of graphics to a type of car vinyl design. Recently a game for the Xbox 360 came out. It is called Forza Motorsport 2. In this particular game, many different cars can be customised how you like. There are all different paint jobs and logos. The typography used is what impressed me the most. type will usually be included in the design to show the tuning company for the modifications used. For example, if a car was fitted with Yokohoma tyres, a sticker or paint job with the word "Yokohoma" could be added to the car's exterior. It is simple yet very stylish when done properly. It is a great way to show off the modifications on a car, and the companies whose parts have been used.

The above images show models sporting various logos from different tuning companies.

For classic car images and some paint jobs: http://www.munitechmotorcars.com/

Or for more car graphics: http://www.demongraphics.co.uk/

Biography: Alex Trochut

Alex Trochut is a designer who goes by the statement: more is more. Alex is very skilled at typography and illustration projects. Because of this, he has achieved a Certificate of Excellence in Type Design. It should be noted that Alex has worked with a very high amount of well known clients. Just a few of these include Adidas, Nike, Johnnie Walker, Brittish Airways, Computer Arts, Top Shop and NetWork Magazine. The illustration Alex has produced hasa very cartoon style look about it. All illustrations look digitally enhanced in some way. The typography is impressive with the simple yet very effective approach. Such an example is the new lettering designed for the Cadbury's logo. His website looks very simple on first appearance, but once a piece of artwork is selected, it shows and fills the page.

His work can be seen at http://www.debutart.com/

or his personal website, http://www.alextrochut.com/