How artist place there work according to a context or others in there practice is an important task that can be difficult to some. This framing can be done through there surrounding, time, emotions, events, friends and family.
William Bardebes is a Graphic designer and Unitec lecturer who during a presentation revealed to us that his childhood played a large part on where he is today. He described in great detail how he would prefer the ads in the backs of comic books rather than the actual stories of superhero as the outlandish ads where more grounded in reality. This was the first memorable interaction of graphic design for William and where William discovered the art of having something to say and saying it. During this time the news was flooded with the Vietnam War and with plenty of people who have something to say. William also talked about significant designers during his early years such as David Carson and specifically with his work with the magazine Ray Gun. William transition to how the work that once inspired him now looks ridiculous and dated, He came to the conclusion that “Style = Fart”.
Emma Smith’s is a Unitec lecturer and Painter. Emma’s work is also deeply entangled with her childhood and the fond memories of such a time. Emma’s first artist influence was from a book by Emil Nolde that she got at an early age and challenged her child like perspective on art. Emma describes the art as really bright and muddy at the same time. Although this was Emma’s first meaningful interaction with art, it does not define her work now nor does it play a small part if at all. Unlike some artist Emma’s work is not imbued with a message or meaning but is influenced through architecture and industrial supplies possibly influenced by the childish memories of playing in an abandoned plot of land used by road workers to store their broken/unused supplies. This industrial influence is obvious and prevalent in Emma’s work with the use of straight lines and the repeated pole like shape as well as the support like structures.
Carston Kudra is film maker, editor and Unitec lecturer .Carstons accounts his creativity to his early years where he played Role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. These game rely on a great amount of creativity and improv. as the Dungeon Master. The Dungeon Master creates everything from a world and interactions for the player(s) to the evil that may plague the land. Although Dungeons and Dragons isn’t feature in any of Carston’s work the skills of quick and creative problem solving are greatly desired anywhere and even more so in a creative industry. Carston’s work as a film maker helps express his creativity but with such an influx of creativity the out let is this game.
My inspirations come from a variety of places. One of which is a set of Owl prints by Amie Samla called “wise owl” I got as a gift a long time ago as well as a more recent addition of “Fly Tui II” by Daniel Tippet which I got For my 18th Birthday. These are black, white and have crisp lines. Which I like and have replicated in my design and illustration work. Another place I draw inspiration from is koraha reserve. I walk through this park each day to get home and I find it relaxing with beautiful greenery and interesting shapes. The third place I draw creativity from is all things comic books, the stories, the tie-in movies, the collectables but especially the making of comic books. I am fascinated with the line art and inking process within the comic book creation world.
These Inspirations are the most obvious to me but I am sure there are many more lying beneath the surface that every so often appear, The inspirations that I haven’t Identified myself and maybe never will.
Liam Tanner 