Part 2: Research point - Botanical Illustration

Biomedical research is a very in depth science exploring the connections between humans and animals and how medicines, lifestyle, environment, drugs, diseases can be treated, cured, supported and rehabilitated using the latest advancements in medicine, technology and treatments.

Directorate, O., 2022. OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms - Biomedical research Definition. [online] Stats.oecd.org. Available at: <https://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=217> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Advances in Technology for the Artist: 

For this research task I want to explore the link between how advancing in technology has helped contemporary artists, specifically in the printmaking field, to adapt their practice to produce products from their own artworks. This has become possible today because of the new technologies available to them.

I chose printmaker/illustrators because I have recently completed the Printmaking 1 unit and the initial suggested artists to research from the course material included printmakers who are producing beautiful botanical prints and products which look stunning.

Angie Lewin - Adapted her wood engraving prints to create these stunning fabrics used for cushion covers.

'Stellar'

Calendar, prints from wood engravings.

Angie has taken her traditional methods of creating prints from wood engravings and lino cuts and adapted them digitally to be suitable for a whole host of products including fabrics, wallpapers and stationery.

Angie Lewin. 2022. Stellar. [online] Available at: <https://www.angielewin.co.uk/collections/textiles/products/stellar> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Angie Lewin. 2022. Angie Lewin 2021 Calendar featuring 12 limited edition prints. [online] Available at: <https://www.angielewin.co.uk/products/2021-calendar> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Clare Curtis:

Lino prints adapted for products with Adnams

Clare Curtis has adapted her lino prints into product label branding for Adnams, Red Door Gin and National Trust products.

What were once just prints to be framed can now be transferred digitally onto food and beverage products as part of a companies branding. This type of illustration is another area that printmakers can tap into that may not have been possible before the rise of computers and digital imaging processes.

Clare Curtis Illustrator and Printmaker. 2022. Clare Curtis. [online] Available at: <https://clarecurtis.co.uk/product/adnams/> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Clare Curtis Illustrator and Printmaker. 2022. Clare Curtis. [online] Available at: <https://clarecurtis.co.uk/product/red-door-gin/> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Clare Curtis Illustrator and Printmaker. 2022. Clare Curtis. [online] Available at: <https://clarecurtis.co.uk/product/national-trust/> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Angela Harding:

Puzzle

Angela Harding is another printmaker who has adapted her process to modern day technologies. Her striking prints are now available on a range of products including jigsaw puzzles, tea towels, gift sacks and coasters.

Angela Harding. 2022. The Common Jigsaw Puzzle. [online] Available at: <https://angelaharding.co.uk/collections/gifts/products/the-common-jigsaw-puzzle> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Angela Harding. 2022. Stopping By The Woods Tea Towel. [online] Available at: <https://angelaharding.co.uk/collections/gifts/products/stopping-by-the-woods> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

Contemporary illustrators are no longer limited to only producing original prints with pigment ink. Now they can adapt their art work to a huge range of products. Simply by using a computer and picture editing software, an original image can be manipulated to be suitable for not only images of scale such as wallpaper or fabrics but also products in the marketplace. Which can be anything from food and drink labels to stationery, kitchenware, bedding, shower curtains, gift boxes and more.

With the rise of print on demand websites such as Redbubble, Society 6 and Zazzle, artists can upload their artwork and it can be printed on a whole range of products. The artist will receive a percentage of the profits for each item sold.

Long gone are the days where artists simply painted or printed original artworks, now they can expand into a huge range of items to share their work with the world. Technology has given artists a career with the ability to create diverse streams of income and work with a whole host of brands, companies and many more opportunities.

With the rise of digital content artists can now not only have their art on many products but they can share their creative process with others using video, making being discovered by new customers/clients far easier and creating further streams of income through advertising, sponsorships and collaborations.

There has never been more opportunity to be a successful artist than there is today!