Part 4: Exercise - Street Art

 To start this exercise I researched some of the many types of street art and the ones that interested me the most which also formed the brainstorming stage of what I could create and why. Most of my research is included in the research task: https://nikisillustration2degree.blogspot.com/2022/08/part-4-research-street-art.html and I have delved into yarn bombing further here.

Yarn Bombing with a purpose:

Yarn bombing doesn't just have to be just decorative. These examples of post box toppers have been created to share an important message with the community.

'Save the Bees'

A simple but important message to save our Bee's as they are in decline due to environmental factors. Residents can help to increase Bee population by adjusting their gardening habits as one example.

The creator of this post box topper has included a simple sign to get the message across with some grass, a flower and a big cute Bumble Bee holding the sign. The message is clear and the creation is decorative, cute and pretty. It definitely catches your eye and hopefully will encourage people to look into ways to do their part to save the Bees.

Northumberlandgazette.co.uk. 2022. 'Yarn bombing' adds touch of fun to post boxes in Blyth. [online] Available at: <https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/yarn-bombing-adds-touch-of-fun-to-post-boxes-in-blyth-3318651> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

'Ukraine Tribute'

This creator has again chosen a simple design to get a very strong, important message across. Bring peace to Ukraine, during the current war instigated by Russia.

The design features the Ukraine flag colours, some hearts and two white Doves. The hearts symbolise love and the Doves peace. This is a very clear and effective message.

BBC News. 2022. Ely secret yarn-bomber creates Ukraine tribute on postbox. [online] Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-60706529> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

'Celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee'

Using the royal purple with Her Majesty's Crown and Union Jack bunting, this creator has used elements that signify the Queen of England and are meaningful to all. Choosing the Queen's crown is a symbol of her rein of 75 years and celebrates her Platinum Jubilee with passers by.

Ely Standard. 2022. Secret yarn-bomber marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. [online] Available at: <https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/yarn-bombing-in-ely-queens-platinum-jubilee-8949856> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

'Remembrance Sunday'

Portsmouth.co.uk. 2022. Revealed: Meet the yarn-bomber who has transformed a post box in Portsmouth. [online] Available at: <https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/revealed-meet-the-yarn-bomber-behind-the-spectacular-remembrance-post-box-topper-in-portsmouth-3451337> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

Yarn bombing is interesting to me because a craft that has spanned hundreds of years, seen people through wars, personal life challenges, celebrated the births of new babies, brought communities together and given a hobby to those needing something to fulfil their time, also has the power to change the world.

The post box toppers are just one example of how a crochet project can in fact bring a powerful message to the community. Groups of crocheter's come together to make poppies for Remembrance Sunday displays, to make hats for the homeless and babies in intensive care. This one craft can do so much good for the world.

Ideas and Initial Sketches:

The common theme occurring from my research was that I believe in street art that benefits the community about events, awareness or national importance in a way that is for the common good. This  led me to think about what current issues I could base my street art on that fitted with my voice as an artist. I chose to follow my love for nature and decided to make a piece about the destruction of plastic to our seas. Since this is a widely publicised issue and for the common good of the planet, I knew I could incorporate my message and include animals as well. Since it was Summer whilst I was undertaking this project it worked well with a beach theme.

I loved the idea of doing a post box topper as I love to crochet as a hobby but I also wanted to explore graffiti style and chalk pavement art as all three really intrigued me.

Initial 'pretty' designs that ended up with a 'purpose' as shown below.

My Own Mock Ups:

Taken locally to use with Procreate to create my own mock ups.

Spray paint mock up on wall. (Wall stock image by Marina at Pexels.com)

Chalk pavement art mock up.

Post box topper mock up - taken into Assignment 4.

Reflection:

It was interesting to try these three types of street art and how differently they turned out. I feel like the wall art and post box topper were more effective in communicating my message. The chalk pavement art, I didn't include any plastic items so it didn't have the same meaning and perhaps was only half the message? 

Each one needed a different approach, despite all being made digitally. I used a digital chalk brush for the pavement art to give a more realistic effect. It was quite difficult to get detail and I perhaps didn't think through the concept enough for that one. I didn't use real chalk on a pavement for practicality reasons.

Due to the expense of spray cans, I couldn't afford to do the wall art but would have liked to try it. Procreate spray paint brushes had to be a good substitute. Again it was tricky to work with this medium and get the detail I wanted but I feel it was more effective than the chalk art and the design communicated better about the danger of plastic in our seas. I purposely put the life ring in the centre to symbolise the sea needing saving whilst the plastic floated around, clogging up the sea with all kinds of items. I didn't include any animals on this design because I couldn't find a way to include them without the image becoming cluttered. I think the concept is quite strong as it is and gets the message across.

For the post box topper I felt this would make a great project for the assignment and I wanted to try making the 3D version and actually put it on our local post box. I have therefore continued this project on my Assignment 4 page. https://nikisillustration2degree.blogspot.com/p/part-4-assignment-4.html

Overall I felt this project was successful, I could have developed the concept on the chalk version a bit better but I feel I communicated the message well in the others and despite not being used to the mediums it all came together to meet my objective. Perhaps further context would be gained if the chalk art one was near a beach so that it was even more relevant to the local people, even though this issue affects us all.

References:

WWF. 2022. The World Wildlife Fund. [online] Available at: <https://www.wwf.org.uk/> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

WWF UK online shop. 2022. 4Ocean Bracelet. [online] Available at: <https://shop.wwf.org.uk/collections/jewellery-badges/products/4ocean-bracelet?_ga=2.213575444.1807971324.1659022471-776578248.1659022471> [Accessed 28 July 2022].

https://www.4ocean.com/collections/bracelets?gclid=Cj0KCQjw54iXBhCXARIsADWpsG_CRbiuNRjn8w3WhuenTaBT7P_Zx7B_A5DUAVOkhVF-XTCMIW9TT_caAv-vEALw_wcB