Ideas, ideas, ideas.....Blending Politics, pictures and text to tell stories!!!!!

Being presented with a new brief always conjurs up a small sence of panic in my mind!!! However, after some brainstorming and initial research I begin to see a path or theme I feel I can follow with my work. This brief asked us to look at the newspapers and tell a story through the means of visualization. this can be through the use of pictures, text or both.
I knew I didn't want to focus on the main news headlines. I wanted to work on a theme that not only interests me but also didn't involve depressing news like the recession, wars, hunger, crime etc.
I began to look for stories that brought a smile to my face. I love animals, especailly dogs, and felt myself focusing on news involving them. I thought it might be fun to look at how animals and humans are so alike. I also love fashion so began combining the three elements- animals, humans and clothes.


 I sketched images of dogs and used collage to dress them in the latest fashion. I suppose I am almost humanising them in my images. I also want to capture the essence of the dog and how they play an important part in our lives (or should I say my life). They repesent for me love and companionship. I always say that dogs are practically human, especially my own dog!!! My sketchbook consists of initiall drawings and collage work that illustrates this. I also looked up stories on Animal Welfare sites and conjured some images of dogs that have their own little life story to tell.


I created an image suitable to work on for my etching and aquatint block. I am having fun playing with the image and experimenting with colour. I had never done an aquatint so was pretty nervous doing my first one. However, I was pleasantly surprised and excited with the result.


 The following images are taken from my sketchbook. They conjure up my theme and the show a flow in my development of ideas!!!