Client Visuals 

I have been taking a look at the work by Illustrator Peter Bailey. So for this exercise, I have selected two of his illustrations from the book 'The Storyteller's Secrets' written by Tony Mitten. 

This exercise has asked for two pieces that contain a range of content. All of Peter Bailey's illustrations in this book are black and white which I find really interesting. 

This is the first illustration I have selected is from the poem 'The Pedlar of Swaffham': 

A busy street scene with the main character the Peddler sitting fairly central in the illustration. Here he meets a Greengrocer who encourages him to move on to best find his riches. 

"If I were a Pedlar
I'd visit the fairs, 
for that's where you're likely
to peddle your wares.'

Scaling: 

This illustration in the book is a rectangle of 14cm by 10cm. 

I use the scale axis to draw boxes, with the smaller box on the left being the real size of the final image. As asked I then work up to two and a half times the final image size. I use the axis as an aid to help with my image: 

Using a pencil and a fine line, I begin to draw the visual. The axis was the most enormous help in roughly plotting out the layout. 

Here is my client visual: 

Now the exercise then goes onto ask for an edited version, acting in reverse,  where the visual contains less content. The image must be a distilled version but needs to still makes sense. 

Starting again, I use the same boxes and the axis as my aid. Being careful not to add the same amount of lines and detail as before. 

I have used pencil in all of my drawings. 

Here is my edited version: 

My second chosen illustration is from the same tale, 'The Pedlar of Swaffham'. Here the Greengrocer is sharing his dream: 

"Well, I've had a dream now, 
for over a year, 
of a small country cottage - the vision's so clear"

My client visual drawing: 

My distilled, edited visual: 

Reflection: 

I suppose my initial feeling is of fear that I have misunderstood the use of the scaling boxes and axis. I went about this exercise a little unsure of whether I have understood this tool correctly. However the way in which I used the axis was an enormous help. It was a guide to where elements of the image needed to be placed on the page. Working so much larger that the final image did feel a little daunting, however again the scaling axis helped. 

I feel content that my client visuals are simple and readable and as accurate as I could make them in my first attempts at editing an image in the way. Where I struggled was then to start again with an edited version. Perhaps if I had taken away from my initial drawing by erasing, I would have felt more in control of that. However starting again from scratch, I found the image less pleasing, with so few line and detail it just felt unfinished and too basic. However, I understand that is the point, on this occasion, acting in reverse. 

Really interesting, again a push in to a new area I have not tried before. 

I should also note that I have really enjoyed studying the work of Peter Bailey throughout this book. So interesting to see an entire book created with only the use of black and white. 

On a personal note, and for my memory Tony Mitton writes in his dedication in 'The Storyteller's Secrets' 

"To anyone who ever told a story and to anyone who ever listened"

This caught me .