visual communication: persons of note initial ideas + crit feedback

For this task I was given Oliver Postgate, Ray and Charles Eames and Philip Larkin. Whilst Postgate and the Eames are interesting people they are all visual artists, and looking at the task initially I couldn't really think of a way to present them except to draw their already visual creations, and that felt like a boring angle. I also liked the idea of working with a writer, and being able to interpret their work to my own visuals and maybe even working with typography and lettering of their quotes. So I chose Larkin.

He is quite an interesting man, and the main issue at the minute is how I deal with him, tone of voice wise. I have conflicting opinions about him- sometimes he is so grumpy it is funny, sometimes his preoccupation with death is very sad. And he was not a particularly kind man either- his work may be inspirational but he is not someone I would aspire to be. Do I celebrate him?

I am aware that my skill for drawing people is lacking, so had a go at this first. Larkin's face is quite interesting to caricature but I don't think I'm there yet.

But, another important point that came up in the crit is whether it would be more valuable to look at him- as a character- or use his work as a true representation of him.

I had already begun illustrating his poem "The Whitsun Weddings" and while I enjoy the poem and it is popular and think it has some very beautiful imagery I don't think this is a poem that truly represents Larkin. I will read more of his poems, and perhaps select one to illustrate.

An important part of Larkin's life was his environment and his conflict and acceptance of it. I painted some vignettes from 1960s Hull. This also got me thinking- should I be using a sad miserable colour palette to match Larkin's mood- or maybe try and juxtapose it with something more colourful?