• Select two finished illustrations that contain a range of content
• Edit the illustrations by reproducing them two and a half times larger and in proportion to the printed illustrations.
• Do not trace from the original and draw the elements of the image with sufficient detail for them to be readable.
• Explore how many lines you need to describe the content.
• Try another version of the same image and see how much content you can remove so that the image is distilled but still makes sense.
• Find some images that make you more aware of art direction behind them and explain the thinking behind them.

The two above illustrations (Figures 1 and 2) contain a lot of detail and would be ideal for this exercise.  First, I printed the illustrations and then created an axis and re-sized the images to two and a half times bigger by drawing and filling the white paper with pencil.  I worked in an A3 sketchbook, drawing first with a pencil and then inking the drawing with a fountain pen and black ink.

In figure 3, version 1, I have sketched the image in pencil using the diagonal line from the axis as a guide.  I removed the decorative background and the flowers in front together with details in her hair, clothing, and necklace.  In version 2, I pulled out more content.  I simplified her hair by changing it to soft flowing hair illustrated by a few lines.  I removed a lot of detail from the face and only left the lines necessary for her expression.  I removed the folds in the clothing and the lines in the background showing where she is sitting.  I attempted to use the white space surrounding the figure as a sitting area and an area that her hand is resting upon.  Her other hand is holding her neckless.

I repeated the same workflow in figure 4 and omitted the background pattern, details in the hair, the pattern on her clothing, the bangles on her arms, jewellery in her hair and details in her face.  I have simplified the wings of the birds and the flowers she is holding against her chest.  In version 2, I have simplified the illustration even more by removing the flower against her chest and details in her clothing.  I removed all her jewellery and simplified her hair even more.  I am illustrating the birds by merely using an outline.  I kept the outline of her hand, which, I feel, is an integral part of this illustration. The hands add to the tenderness of this illustration.

Art direction

According to Phil Coffman, Art Director, Springbox, design is about problem-solving, whether you are a designer or an art director.  The two roles differ in that the designer is more concerned with execution, while the art director is concerned with the strategy behind that execution. (Mall, 2010)

Jarrod Riddle, Sr. Art Director, Big Spaceship, says, “The act of designing is different from the act of art directing.  Art Directors are supposed to provide the concept.  Designers are supposed to bring ideas to the table and implement the concept.  However, it is important to point out that it is almost never that black and white.  Designers do art direct and art directors do design.” (Mall, 2010)

 I include images below that made me aware of the art direction behind the final image.  The end product is mainly logos, and the creative process is very similar to what I have done in this “client visuals” exercise.  

Pedro Arbeláez is a graphic designer from Medellín, Colombia.

Hamed Khan Haidari is a graphic designer from Malmo, Sweden.

In conclusion, this method of editing an image has made me more aware that each line on the paper has a purpose, and it takes practice and skill to know which lines to remove and which lines to keep. 

References

Mall, D., 2010. A list apart. [Online] 
Available at: https://alistapart.com/article/art-direction-and-design/
[Accessed 19 November 2021].