Many images and words contain a tone of voice in order to stand out. Not just visually but also through words. An appropriate tone will help to organize the information across to others, an inappropriate tone may send mixed messages and confuse the targeted audience.
To express different levels of tone within text, we would consider the type face style, whether it being soft or sharp depending on its message. To attract a viewers attention a larger bold font would be most appropriate on a form for example. The use of colour within text will also help the audience to navigate a lot quicker to selected areas, indicating its importance.
An image being a photo or logo will help to visually show us what is trying to be said, which may be the message within itself confirming what we may be unsure of. A good example of tone of voice within image is used everyday whether it being road signs or instruction manuals showing us what we should and shouldn’t be doing.
Whilst exploring legibility we must first consider how we interpret information visually. What works, what doesn’t and why.
Below is a bad example of legibility:
This advert fails at providing the information clearly in both font size and colour. The small white font makes it harder for the driver to read when placed on a light background. There is far too much information within such a small amount of space therefore making the information provided distracting. The size of the sign is also intimidating and may put the driver off from reading it, meaning that the message has the opposite effect and is ignored.
The position of the sign also makes it illegible as it has been placed in front of a tree, making the information invisible to the eye. To make this sign more legible the designer should consider reducing the amount of information per sign allowing the typography to be larger and clearer
Below is a good example of legibility:
Here we can see a good example of graphic communication. The simplicity of the layout works well because the message is clear and brief. A black background is designed to make the white font and the colourful logo stand out. The layout is centred and tidy as well as being visually attractive.
The message of the advert is for people to think differently and not in black and white as shown in the image. The apple logo is therefore shown in multicolour to persuade people into believing Apple think differently to everyone else.
An understanding and knowledge of an audience can enhance and focus the communication.
Illustrators also need to be able to communicate well. Making it crucial that the specific audience expected to view the illustration is identified and understood by the illustrator as they work towards their ideas.
Illustration is used to say things, whatever the message or idea that is to be communicated there will be a style and type of image which is most appropriate to convey it. The old saying that 'one picture is worth a thousand words' is still valid in the digital world of the 21st century, from its uses in enhancing educational resources from an early age. It can communicate an instant message that is not possible using words. Depending on the message and audience, the style of illustrations can differ to ensure the right look and feel, designers incorporate different techniques and styles from Watercolour pigments, colour pencil, graphite, acrylic paint and computer based software such as photoshop.
An illustrator can find inspiration from almost anywhere whether it being from the use of the imagination or what can be visually seen. Just by being visually aware of the actions of others within the public can trigger an idea or scenario, this is why many artists tend to carry sketch books and note pads to record their ideas by text or image.
Visual memories are also a great source of inspiration, as the visual story has already been mentally written down; from here the artist can recreate these memories into images. Children can also offer a great deal of inspiration as their minds are more open to imagination, allowing the artist to be more creative within their work. An artist is less likely to find inspiration by trying to force it whereas they will often produce a whole lot of nothing, eventually an idea will come to them generating a higher level of meaning.
The use of the internet is popular amongst many illustrators, we as an endless visual library is at your door step. The combination of these methods of inspiration is very creative within itself, allowing endless creativeness.
Bricolage is the term used to describe the creation of a work from a range of resources, in order to be creative using various things that happen to be available such as household rubbish. Portions of other artwork and photos may also be used in the creation of collages, where an artist will glue objects to photos or paintings. Many designers use bricolage to come up with innovative and unique ideas from within the environment where raw materials are provided.
Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects, a good example of this term was used by Louise Nevelson who began creating her sculptures from found pieces of wood in the late 1930s.
Polystylism is the use of multiple styles or techniques in literature, art, film, and music. Instrumental bricolage in music includes the use of found objects as instruments, such as spoons and combs. Culturally bricolage is used to mean the processes by which people use objects from across social areas to create new cultural identities, a good example being the punk age, where punk rockers would attach fabrics and pins to jackets.
A notion of originality (being at the origin of) can be described as an artist who inserts his own work into those of others, either by change of media or by completely recreating the original image into a more modern day vision. The material they manipulate is no longer primary by selecting cultural objects and inserting them into new contexts.
The level of originality has been lowered over time meaning evidence could be the debate about the protected work, copying sustains the economy of commerce, without it, less would be produced, manufactured and consumed, and fewer works of art would be exhibited.
Some artists choose to produce original images on a printing press. With printing processes such as intaglioprinting the composition is created directly on the printing plate. The resulting print is an original image and not a reproduction of a previously executed work.
Postmodernism has rejected the modern idea of originality and the idea of new, and replaced it with a concept of references and links. On one hand, it can be argued that there is no originality. Artists recycle old ideas and put together old content in new ways.
My view on originality is that it does not mean thinking something that was never thought before, it means putting old ideas together in new ways. Every original piece of art has a unique style of its own. Mona Lisa, and the Last Supper for example, these world famous pieces of art are original, not because they were created in a unique way, but because these were new ideas implemented in traditional methods.
Below is a recreated image of the Last Supper which is a good example of how an original image can be transformed into a more modern day vision.
