Finding the right idea

I had a stream of different ideas when i was trting to find the right idea for my EMP. I wanted to base my project on a personal interest so I would be able to keep interested in the project throughout the 600 hour brief. 

I firstly made a list of all the different things that i considered. I felt like this way I could make a connection. As I already knew that my specialisms  is illustrations, I had in my mind that i knew that I would have to pick something interesting to draw. I want my illustrations to have meaning and a personality! 

These are some of the ideas I explored in my sketchbook which I have considered:

- Animals, I have always been interested in animals. I thought that it could be interesting to illustrate the world of animals in my style to make guide to animals. This idea came from one of my own personal favourite books named 'The Living World of Animals'. I was given this book by my dad, he has the exact same book that was given to him as a child. I remember how much he loved the book and how much it taught him. So on my 8th birthday he gave me the same book, I have kept it with me every since. Its is a treasure in my eyes and I use it all the time to reference to when i want to draw an animals. 

I feel like this idea would be very extensive, but I think the concept is quite weak. I do not wish to draw all these animals exactly how they are. I do love the book and I feel I should keep it the way it is. 

-Atlas, I have always had an interest in how maps and atlas look. Especially the really old ones that are now a bit ripped and discoloured. I wanted to remake an Atlas in my own way, focusing on areas that have personal meaning. I wanted to have a detailed illustrated map showing meaningful places in my life and people i have met. I also thought it could be quite nice to illustrate places i want to go and things I aspire to do! This project would be for no real audience except for my self, acting as a personal dairy that would tell me storey. 

I felt very strongly about this idea for a while as I could imagine how it would look, it would be great for my portfolio and I could keep it forever as a record of my life. I Started to experiement with detailed drawing and realised that It just wasn't how I worked. I have never been to good with being very detailed, the secret is, i get bored easily. I like quick, spontaneous drawings! I tried them more simple but i found that they didn't transmit the quality of the old previous maps i loved so much. 

-Postcards to People I love, this idea emulates the idea above, about the Atlas's. In the way that I had the idea of recording places I love and drawing them. I could revisit and draw on location, record the way I feel and the positive memories from my past. I thought that these memories illustrated would be a beautiful thing to send to the people I love, the people whom I shared these memories with. I have an interest in old postcards, I am always taken by some postcards in an old book store in Winton, these postcards are been sold for little money but the memories and the messages written are priceless. I feel that this project would be for again for personal reasons, something to keep and be admired. These postcards are for the people I love.. 

I find this project very personal to me and devilling into my past. I have made a list of all the places i would like to revisit and the people i would like to contact. Unfortunately, I have limited money and travel options to do what i want to do. For this reason i am going to have let go this idea, as i would not be happy with the standard and the limitations i would encounter. 

-Masks, I have always had an interest in decretive masks. I am fascinated with the different styles, history and cultures they come from. I wanted to delve into the world of emotions,  decorative patterns, the meaning of these masks. How wearing a mask can hide you from the world, and what that could signify. I find all forms of masks interesting from, a super hero mask, a theatre mask, a tribal mask. I was thinking about researching into how self security, how people feel they can take on an alternative personality when hidden behind a mask. Masks, can bring confidence, power, aggression, flirtation etc.. I would love to research how people feel with these masks on and how a mask could reflects someones dreams and aspirations. Illustrating people and designing them their own masks! The concept would display the 'super hero' effect, giving these people a new lease of life. 

I find this idea very inspiring and i could have a large amount of research to accompany. Illustrating these masks would be very rewarding not only for me but for the my target audience the people I am designing for. As much as i love this idea, I feel like the concept isn't as strong as some the idea's i have had so I am going to let this one go.

-Gardening improves Mental Health, I was firstly inspired by a family member when i thought up this idea. They attend a gardening nursery in poole, all the people that volunteer (except the manager) are diagnosed with different forms of mental illness. They attend this gardening centre to work and meet people, I find this charity a very positive and inspiring cause. I found this charity an inspiring and meaningful basis on which i could focus my illustrations on. I plan on visiting the charity on a regular basis, so i can record my visit. I want to meet the people who go there and interview them, find out there personalities and how the gardening centre has helped them. This is a great opportunity to add meaning to my drawings, I want this project to project a positive attitude  on the work they do at the charity. My target audience will be personal to the people who attend and to my experience, I want to bring awareness about mental health. I think this concept has massive potential to expand ideas and experiment with different mediums! At this point i am very set on thought that i could do portraits of the volunteers who attend, faces, hands, their favourite plants. I want to delve in to the history of people with mental health, artists who have used it as there concept. I want to explore ways i can illustrate emotion, by using printing techniques using flowers. 

I find the link between- Personality+Gardening+Working hands+ Flowers= Mental wealth. A very exciting area to look in and gives me a lot areas to look into, all for a meaningful cause!