Choosing content...

I have read the text through three times to absorb as much detail as I can. I have underlined the words that I see as significant in expressing the detail: 

What I don't know for sure: 

• What rank the Police Officer is..
• ....And so therefore the clothes he would be wearing. 
• Which war the scene is set in, WW1 or WW2. 

What I do know: 

• He is in the city of London. 
• It is war time. 
• He is working for New Scotland Yard. 
• He controls police file papers. 
• He is middle aged. 
• It is Spring. 

Real people notes to consider as research: 

More than 1200 officers were bought back into service during wartime. Many others were prevented from retiring as thousands of younger officers were being sent to the front line. 24.000 more Special Constables were recruited. 

"Many of the Police Officers during the war did not retire at the normal age of 45 but continued in service well into their sixties". Memories of Peter Johnson. WW2. 

"Night time was particularly bleak, when times were quiet we could borrow a mattress and snatch some sleep. Memories of Fred Hughes. Oxford Constabulary. WW2. 

These accounts help me to understand a little background to this character. 

(Reference: BBC archives & wartimememories.co.uk). 

Inspiration: Robert Fabian (1901-1978), an English Officer who succeeded to the rank of Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police. After retirement, he became a crime writer.  

If this were made into a film, what would the main character be like? 

The man is middle aged. He has controlled police papers for New Scotland Yard for 15 years, this would have been previous to war time years and currently during. 

After this length of service already, I would imagine him to be worn and tired, difficult nights as my considered memory above states, tired days. 

His patience is short, he is grumpy, abrupt and rude. 

His case load is specialised in the "abduction and subsequent history of feeble minded girls". I would imagine this has emotionally taken its toll. Subsequently, he is negative and pessimistic about the integrity of the human race. 

He is angry, so angry it is now deep rooted, "the innermost principle of the man". 

What clothes would he be wearing? 

A man of authority.

He is smart, in a 1940's suit and tie. Trousers held up with braces. Polished shoes on the top, very worn on the bottom from his pursuit for the truth. A Fedora or Homburg hat, black trench coat when out on the street. 

Despite his tiredness and shattered emotional state, he represents Scotland Yard and his clothes represent this. 

This is a photograph of a Detective in 1940, studying finger prints in New Scotland Yard. Inspiration for my character, smart in dress. 

(Reference: The Standard - New Scotland Yard in photographs). 

What furniture is in the main area in which the action takes place? 

The room is neutral and void with tall and uncurtained windows and only a big desk island in the large and empty room. 

Word: 

As angry is so crucial to understanding the emotions of this character, this is the word I will be working with: 

'Dark', 'lonely', 'cold', 'shadows', 'negative', 'worn'... words I will  to visualise. 

Visual mood board:

Tone: Charcoal, black white and greys. Shadows. Windows. Void. Empty spaces. 
Texture: Rain drops...

Inspiration: I am particularly drawn to the shadows in this drawing (by artist John Sanchez). They depict the empty room with tall curtainless windows perfectly:

My charcoal room and tall windows: Void and empty.

Now his desk. Islanded in the middle of this room. I have included a typewriter, a pile of police papers, a telephone and a desk lamp. My initial sketch: 

Middle aged. Worn and tired. Trousers held up with braces. Lonely. I played around with his long coat, had he just come in? With coat hung over his arm and Fedora still on. Or was he just heading out? Coat and hat on. 

Final illustration...

'Dark', 'lonely', 'cold', 'shadows', 'negative', 'worn'

Charcoal drawing. A3. 

Reflection: 

By the time I reached the point of putting together this illustration, I felt like I knew my character really well. I enjoyed working with him. 

I chose to use charcoal, a media I have not used before so therefore this piece is more experimental than it is perfect. However the positives are: 

• I feel satisfied that it translates the emotions that I had wished.. 
• I feel it accurately describes the scene.