Research Project proposal

My Research Project will be focusing on concept art and science-fiction, as well as sci-fi for different audiences. I will be illustrating my response to, and interpretations of, different artistic themes surrounding science fiction. This will be done in the style of digital and traditional concept art.

For this project, I intend to educate my personal artistic skills and expand the range of mediums at my disposal. I will also put a larger focus on digital work, in order to become more proficient, and inform my own practice through my personal interests of concept art and sci-fi.

I plan to conduct several experiments during my research project. The first of which is “Anthropomorphism in sci-fi,” where I will research and respond to examples of humanised creatures / characters in different mediums of science-fiction. The second will be “Metaphor in sci-fi,” and will relate to the comparison between themes or ideas in sci-fi, and how they are visually described. For my third experiment, I will look into “Surrealism and symbolism in sci-fi,” or the dreamlike and symbolic qualities held by certain aspects of the genre. The next experiment will research “Sci-fi for children’s audiences,” specifically focusing on the presentation of characters and narrative in science-fiction aimed at younger audiences. My final research experiment will cover the “History of sci-fi,” and how developments with technology have changed, with examples from old and new films.

(1)    Sci-Fi Art: The 12th Colony 2321 – 2D Digital, Sci-fiCoolvibe – Digital Art (above)

Shows an example of digital concept art used to visually realise an idea, within the sci-fi genre.

The first experiment will be a concept for anthropomorphised characters that could live in a sci-fi world, based on examples from other artists. The second will be concepts for different representations of themes in a sci-fi aesthetic, with reference to metaphor in other creative mediums of sci-fi. The third will be experimental concepts of surrealism and symbolism found in sci-fi, created in an unrestricted artistic way to better reflect the messages symbolic imagery conveys. The fourth experiment will be simplified and colourful sci-fi concepts relating to child-focused cartoons/comics, with reference to presentation techniques learned from a previous Illustration for Children module. For the final experiment, I will create several concepts of differing styles to show the changes in technology from old to modern sci-fi films.

Instead of a final experiment, I decided to undertake artist research, focusing on a specific (concept) artist. This process involves a more personal critique of their work, visual responses, and an in-depth interview with them about their work and process. I have chosen to focus on concept artist Kory Hubbell for the artist research.

Research methods of experimentation in my research project are from concept art books, sci-fi movies and television shows, and internet resources. These mediums help me to analyse the style of sci-fi and concept art in different forms. The idea development strategies for the research project are similar to my FMP, and include imagining the aesthetic of different characters and locations in the story and creating extremely varied styles of concepts for them. From there I will chose a particular style and form for the object I like and continue visually creating down that path. This is particularly helpful when presenting obscure themes or unique environments.

(2) The Moon God – Kory Hubbell (above)

I believe I am prepared for the research project, as I understand and have responded to the topics I am aiming to explore in the project, but am not proficient enough in my ability to produce concept art in different mediums. This can be resolved by practicing my digital art skills and expanding the range of things I choose to illustrate. The Major Research and Project Planning module has helped me better understand how to analyse and interpret different artist’s work in relation to their intentions, in the sense that I have learned how to critically approach illustrative work. Because of this, I now have a greater understanding of my own practice and intentions, and am able to judge more clearly what works and what doesn’t when communicating through illustrations.

Bibliography

(1)   Science and Nature. (2016). Sci-Fi Art: The 12th Colony 2321 - 2D Digital, Sci-fiCoolvibe - Digital Art... - Science and Nature. [online] Available at: http://scienceandnature.xyz/?p=376  [Accessed 26 Mar. 2016].

(2)   Hubbell, K. (2015). The Moon God. [Digital] [online] Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/WKnZN [Accessed 31 Mar. 2016].