Conceal/Reveal

We were given a brief with the title 'Conceal/Reveal' to start over the Christmas holidays. This is the first brief in which we chose our 'specialty' - mine being illustration. We were told to do our work on A1 sized sheets.

I started my research by making two lists under the titles Conceal and Reveal

The first idea I thought of was a key and a key hole. The key hole symbolizes something being concealed and secret and the key is the opposite, it reveals what is hidden. I made some observational drawings of keys (as seen  in the photograph below) using different techniques including paper cutting, fineliner, ink using the back of a brush and simple sketches.

Another idea I came up with was the fact that our organs are concealed. I looked at the heart and the brain - it is fascinating what goes on in our body to keep us alive and it is all hidden.

I looked at illustrator Russell Cobb's work for inspiration. His illustrations look similar to scientific diagrams with it's arrows and labeling.
 

The illustrations look like a series of theories but they are mysterious as we have no idea what theories they are or are they just made up?


 My list also included the fact that our thoughts and feelings are all concealed within our minds and are only concealed in acts that show emotion. Some emotions can be false - the truth lies in the mind so we will never know exactly what someone else is thinking.

This led me to the 'Phrenology Theory'  which is a theory developed in 1796 and was popular during the 19th century. It is  primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules.

I made some research on the theory and looked at the diagrams made to describe it.

This is my research sheet:

 This is my next sheet:

 I copied my own silhouette and divided my head into the same shapes made in the phrenology theory diagram. I then, looking at Russel Cobb's work and the idea of a keyhole, did a self portrait, photocopied it and divided my own head into sections. I then cut the top of my head off and had it opening like a jar - like one of Russell Cobb's 'Diagrams'.

On the bottom  right of my page I've made a pattern inspired by different cuttings of keys. I also looked a silhouettes - this is something that it revealed and concealed at the same time. The keyhole in the middle looks simple and effective showing that the mind is concealed.

I then wanted to make my own illustrations within the phrenology head. I made a list of all the different emotions and thought of illustrations that would represent these in a simple way.

I've tried to use a range of different media including college.
Here are some of my illustrations:

 A keyhole representing 'Secretiveness' - Using coloured card.

A ruler representing measure.

An eye representing Cautiousness -using acrylic paint.

I have made some observational drawings of a pocket watch on an A1 sheet that represents 'time' - this is what I have done so far:

 I have tried to use a wide range of techniques and different angles of the watch.

 

A mouth laughing representing 'Wit' (coloured pencils, inc and felt pens)

An apple representing 'Food' - using acrylic paint.

A tube of acrylic paint representing....

By photographing my images, I can transfer them on to  the computer to adjust size and arrange them in ways inspired by phrenology.