CONTEXT OF PRACTICE

INVESTIGATING QUOTES 

'Where is the content? Where is the comment? It’s all about the materials, rather than the message. It’s all about the quantity rather than the quality. It’s all about design doing rather than design thinking. It’s all style over content, function following form. Illustration has withdrawn from the big debates of our society to focus on the chitchat and tittle-tattle of inner sanctum nothingness.' 

(Zeegan, Lawrence. (2012) Where is the content? Where is the comment? Creative Review [Online] Available at: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/whereisthecontentwhereisthecomment/ [Accessed: 8 September 2016])

Findings

• I particularly chose to further analyse this quote since I find it amusing and relatable. I partially agree with the statement 'Illustration has withdrawn from the big debates of our society to focus on the chitchat and tittle-tattle of inner sanctum nothingness.' I think this quote is implying that illustrators nowadays tend to create artworks for commercial use and disregard the process of image making as well as content. 

Illustration by John Holcroft

Additional Thoughts

• An illustrator, whom I found very interesting creates social criticism through illustrations. John Holcroft addresses social issue that are current and makes comment on reality. In relation to this quote, I think that despite working towards commercial needs, some artists still consider meaning and purpose in their work. 

• Also taking in consideration that a company or business would commission an artist or designer based on their demands, disregarding whether the image-making process took months of in depth research or a simple sketch on a napkin.

• In an interview, Holcroft said '...I do prefer to work on the creative process alone unless I know the art editor and have worked with them before. Ocassionally my ideas are mutilated by clients and they've added pointless and daft elements to the image just to satisfy the editor.'

I think that despite working for a client, it doesn't mean that you're taking the thinking out of it. Holcroft still provides thought, process and meaning in his works. I honestly admire John Holcroft's works and I suppose he's an illustrator to look up to.

Article: Grouchnikov, Kirill (2013). Illustrators at work-Interview with John Holcroft [Online] Available at: http://www.pushing-pixels.org/2013/10/21/illustrators-at-work-interview-with-john-holcroft.html [Accessed: 11 October 2016]