visual communication: persons of note evaluation

Overall:

strengths:

• consistent use of media and colour choices make different themed mini-sets look like they belong with each other as part of a larger series
• have been recognised as pieces on Larkin- even the poster which only has a quote
• except for the stamps, I didn't rely on portraiture / caricature to convey a person, which I think is a subtler and better take on the project
• my time management for this project meant I got the pieces printed well in time BUT...

weaknesses:

• ... it also meant I had cut some corners
• scanning / digital reproduction still doesn't quite pick up the nuanced feel of analogue media
• I wonder if the different themes / intentions interrupt them as a set

Postcards:

strengths:

• compositions create a sense of distance and observation from the viewer

weaknesses:

• Poor compositions regarding mood and line of sight
• I did not plan enough time to remake the postcards into the suggestions that were made at the crit. Although this might not be noticeable to others so much as the maker it bothers me greatly! And as such I feel disappointed in them!
• This was the first time I used these methods/ colours together and I hadn't planned them out! Instead I "made do" and carried on. It could be worse, but it definitely could have been better if I was more thoughtful about it.

Stamps:

strengths:

• textures and images came out surprisingly well despite scaling down and being so small!
• simple images suit such a small frame
• hopefully- there is a touch of humour and recognisability in here

weaknesses:

• if the joke is lost on the viewer then there is little point to have four whole larkin faces!
• I should have put more consideration into the number/ lettering. the hand drawn type matches the rest of the series but I do wonder if I should have considered digital typefaces.

Poster:

strengths:

• the poster is less based in reality than the other pieces, and I think this adds a more interesting touch, particularly to the whole project as the poster itself is so huge! It may well be the first thing people decide to view.
• the strange scaling of people to buildings adds to the sense of emptiness and distance, and also gives it a sense of character

weaknesses:

• the difficulties in scanning / digital reproduction are particularly clear in this piece (Larkin's head merges right into a wall!) (the smoke has turned yellow in tone and merges into the white background)
• although I wanted to emphasise the emptiness in the house I think the lack of detail / colour staggers the composition