The Tie Series

"Deconstructed tie" Part 1 of 3. Approx 25cm x 15cm.
Pieces of a coffee stained cardboard, deconstructed tie, recycled book images, graphite drawing by moi:)

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this new series. I mean a LOT of thinking. Here's my first go at illustrating my thoughts through collage. I'm not anti male authority, I've never gone on a bra burning crusade and I'm not saying that men with ties are the only ones of worthy status. What's got my brain ticking is how things change psychologically when we see someone wearing a tie...and how the type of tie has it's own affect. Picture a politician wearing a tweety bird tie and a politician wearing a sharp black pinstripe tie. Who would you take seriously? Personally I would rather trust to the leadership of this country to someone who doesn't wear tweety around his neck. No offence to good ol tweety or anyone reading this who happens to own a tweety bird tie! It's a perception thing. When you take the tie off the man in is just fabric. When you deconstruct it, it is just a pile of fibres. A powerless power symbol! In my humble opinion of course:)
I also recognise that not all powerful and influential men wear ties. I don't recall Jesus wearing a tie and regardless of your religious views not many people would dispute that Jesus made some pretty powerful decisions. I've also started thinking about the cross. Is it a power symbol? It certainly symbolises a lot of powerful things...life, death, forgiveness, love, hope...but is it a power symbol? I don't know so I will stick with ties for now and I'm certainly not about to deconstruct any crosses!
I have a feeling I will be sticking with this topic for a while yet...I'm just un-peeling the layers.

Metaphorically speaking

Sketch from work book, new addition to the series below. Note to self- next time paint the sky first!

Well I gave every-ones feedback some thought andS decided that the main confusing factor in my last efforts at illustrating my idea was the closed hand. You are a very positive group of viewers! Most people saw the hand as a sign of victory and achievement. I saw it as a sign of domination. Not sure what that says about me as I am not usually pessimistic!
Anyway..I decided that the hand shape was the problem and after playing around for a while I came up with this sketched version.
I have tried to show the hand in an abstract form emerging unscathed from the icebergs...more powerful than the ice. The hand of course is my metaphorical symbol to represent human activity causing damage to the environment (in this case it is climate change.)
I let the line of the icebergs fade away to try and show that they are weakened and melting unlike the hand which is solid and strong. Personally when I keep in mind the feedback you lovely people gave me I think this is a better version and with work it may be a successful illustration. The ice effect is worth working on too. Again... I welcome your honest feedback. I promise not to cry all over my laptop if you disagree!

Thank you!

Another sketch, not a finished artwork from my work book. Same series below.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment and told me their interpretation of the illustration.
Amazing how different ways it could be seen. I did notice that most of you are 'glass half full' sorts of people!
An image out of context as this one was (or in no context at all!) is a lot different to one already published in a specific type of magazine or with a fancy heading. They are the body language so to speak of the picture.

If I had added 2 words to the title: climate change it would have no doubt led to different interpretations because we are usually influenced by the title. Ditto colours. I am fascinated at how publishers can direct out thoughts and responses to their products through imagery, words and colour!

My illustration is a about the human impact we are having on the ice caps. The loss of them through the global warming caused by humans. The hand represents the human race and I tried to show that the ice was melting by the lack of line at the base of the hand. I have been playing around with paint to try and create at ice look (not shown) and I think I have nearly got it...It would change the same basic image quite drastically yet in reality the 'bones' are exactly what you see above.
So now that you have been given all that information do you think it is a good illustration? I'm open to suggestions! Thank you for your thoughts, they are really appreciated!

2 things challenge- Empty/full

This is a sketch from my work book, not a completed artwork!

If you don't mind me asking you a few questions please read on...

How you perceive this illustration would normally be influenced by the context you saw it in, the sort of magazine, newspapers etc...and whether or not your a glass half empty or a glass half full sort of person.
I decided this was a perfect image for this weeks 2 things challenge theme, not because of what it is -but because of how differently it could be percieved by each person.

This sketch has been done as part of a series of experimental sketches all illustrating the same metaphor for my assignment (currently the holidays I'm just making up for hours that I will inevitably loose during the term! lol 30 hour weeks are hard to find sometimes..)
My guidelines were clear...using the image of a hand illustrate a metaphor, using only black and white and must be 2d, no text allowed to accompany image.

The tutor said (something to the effect of..) you can draw a great picture but if no-one gets it then it's a bad illustration..
So what I want to know is...without the aid of any other influencial information how do you percieve my illustration? What is my message? What is my metaphorical hand portraying?

Oh and don't worry about my feelings...there isn't a wrong answer. It's your perception that I am interested in because it helps me to see if I have a successful illustration to work with and turn into a masterpiece:)

Thankyou!