I will deconstruct the following images by Lucinda Rogers, in regard to the mixture of mediums, composition and line work that she uses to compose an illustration that is of much detail and complexity.I have chosen 3 images which depict the typical style of Lucinda Rogers, but execute different approaches and urban environments. Analysing and deconstructing Rogers' images will give me insight and a greater understanding of how she approaches reportage illustration which communicates the complex nature of an urban environment to an audience. I will analyse her work digitally and through hand drawn thumbnails.
I have analysed and deconstructed this image layer by layer so I am able to investigate how Lucinda Rogers can communicate an understanding to an audience of the complexities of an urban environment. I have completely taken apart the images and focused on Roger's use of thick and fine line use, composition and media, as these are what project the complexities to an understanding.
I have briefly deconstructed the image via thumbnails which abled me to have a more hands on approach to understanding the image and it's characteristics. I have split the image into sections in order to see how the image is constructed, strictly focusing on the bold and fine lines, view points and mediums used.
I then wanted to analyse the image more in depth by deconstructing it digitally. Digitally deconstructing the image allowed me to pin point those elements on a deeper basis.
I tore apart the image, allowing me to see why the elements have the effect they do with communicating the complexities of the urban environment.
I have looked at view points, blank space, detail, bold and fine lines, composition, juxtaposition, mediums, colour, symmetry, balance, 3d and depth.
I spent a long time analysing the view points and how depth is created with the methods Roger has used. These are important factors to how Rogers composes her complex illustrations. The view point of the image is central and from afar as to create the illusion of the audience being apart of this experience. The important subject of the image is clearly the newspaper stand which is used to balance and centre the image from this view point. Along with this people on either side of the stand have been selected to also help balance and create depth. I have used red lines to indicate this.
I have looked at how Rogers has used detailed areas juxtaposed with more detailed areas which are highlighted with bold and fine lines to separate themselves from confusion. These are complex areas which Lucinda Rogers has illustrated in a more minimalistic style with the use of these methods.
Regarding the colour pallet in this image, Rogers has used very little colour, which are of earth tones so the eye does not become lost upon looking at the image. These colours are used sparingly for the more intricate detailed areas. Rogers has used these colours to highlight papers on the newspaper stand, this causes the image to create the illusion of more depth and to have only used colour in this one area helps balance and centre what the importance of the image is about, which is the newspaper stand. - This can also be linked with the use of bold lines - Which are, of course highlighting the importance of the stand and to separate it form the fine line building detail. By highlighting small areas with detail, juxtaposed with impressionistic/simplified areas leaves an audience with an understanding that the complexity exists whether it is executed in great detail or minimalist way.
In the progress of deconstructing this image I was surprised to find how many mediums were used in this illustration process, with how they complimented each other. I found that Rogers uses black ink to highlight bold lines which create depth and cause certain areas of detail to stand out. Juxtaposed with this, Rogers uses a fine pen line to also highlight detail and to compose the image as a whole. This also gives the illusion of more depth to the image as the fine lines are in the foreground, mid ground and background - in contrast with the bold black lines - this flattens the fine lines causing depth and detail. These methods disguise the complexity from reality and work well as a means to engage with an audience.
Lucinda Rogers has also incorporated strong brush strokes with paint and coloured crayon to fill empty spaces. This not only creates a more engaging and effective look, but also adds a more artistic style and simplifies the complex nature of the urban environment to an audience.
Looking at how Lucinda Rogers has used those key elements that are used to communicate an understanding to an audience of the complexities of an urban environment.
This image is a great execution of how reportage illustration can communicate the complexities of urban environment to an audience. Using the key elements of brush strokes, bold lines, composition, depicting particular areas which are of importance, the use of colour and amount of detail used.
I chose this last image to deconstruct and analyse as Lucinda Rogers approach to the illustration is different in comparison to the other two with the use of a vibrant background, the use of coloured lines and use of white highlights. All of which compliment each other and the complex areas which are used to execute a minimalist style. I will apply these techniques to my experiments in order to gain an understanding and greater insight into how reportage illustration can communicate an understanding to an audience of the complexities of an urban environment.
This image is great example of how a complex urban environment is executed in a minimalist style and communicates this via the key elements which I am investigating and applying to my own experiments.
I have looked at view points, horizontal and vertical lines that indicate balance and symmetry, depth and 3d, fine and bold lines, empty spaces, composition, detail, foreground-midground-background.