Reflective Visual Journal

The Brain

The brain is divided into two parts and as a result of this, the two sides work differently. The left side of the brain is conscious and decisive and takes on the responsible approach to thinking or creating, whereas the right side of the brain is playful and naive and unaware of restrictions. Like a child, the right side of our brain allows us to be fully creative and revert back to a child like state of mind where we can run away with ideas.

Taking these two fashion illustrations below.

The first image is free and more experimental. The use of colour makes the image more expressive and eye catching and adds a certain flare to it. This is the typical kind of style you associate with the illustration of garments, as fashion illustrators tend to pay a lot of attention to style and create more expressive and ‘free’ images. The right side of the brain has definitely come into play here, but the human form is still in proportion and evident which suggests the consciousness and seriousness of the left side of the brain. In comparison, the left side of the brain is evident in the image below that of the two men which is produced in pencil and the only colour is in the tie. There isn’t any attempt at creating great attention to the garments but holds a simple and realistic look. There’s a more ‘sensible’ approach to the garments and image overall. I think this is also because of a difference in the target audience.

Developing Visual Language

As a creative practitioner, it's important that you establish your individual visual language. You must grasp your signature way of communicating and create a language which runs through your work. I have taken my example from illustrator Rebecca Kitchen. The group of editorial images I have taken of her work all relate and respond to each other through style and atmosphere as well as a consistancy in the use of media. They speak to us, the viewer because we are able to see a narrative without the use of words.

The picture below also shows a different kind of visual language through colour, texture and image. The mood board is another way of communicating from one to paper and from paper to an audience. Where someone from a business type backgroud would perhaps a traditional cloud and arrow type word mind map, this fashion practitioner has her own unique a style relating to the type of work she does. The idea behind it is quite simple and self explanatory. There’s obvious research into colour schemes for the garment and even texture which could be applied. This as well as the little annotation which is being used to describe what going on, all creates a form of visual language the maker of it has an obvious style and way of working which comes through effectively.