Reportage Rotation

"Many will visit the National Theatre to see a play, but perhaps equally attractive is the imposing Brutalist architecture of the site including the striking ‘Red Shed’ temporary theatre. Just a short walk from Waterloo, the National is home to many hidden treasures including a roof top garden and independent café."

Research + Inspiration

After my initial visits to the National Theatre, I looked for work that might inspire me. I wanted to get across the collage of my sketchbook work but in a cleaner more finished way.

My approach was really inspired by Atelier Bingo, their work heavily references Matisse in terms of colour and the shapes they use. I love their stuff! I think particularly their composition is really interesting and quite unique - it's always unexpected. The shapely shapes are wonderful and I love the mix of pattern and texture. 

These photos aren't mine (they should link through to their sources) but as it was very, very drizzly during my visits these are much better quality. My favourite thing about the National Theatre currently is the temporary theatre. The big lego brick of red is so appealing visually, it's so solid compared to the more fractured structure of the Lower Marsh site.

As well as the famous Olivier statue, there is 'London Pride'. There's some interesting information about the statue here. It's a reference to the South Bank exhibition and fits nicely with the Modernist architecture around it. I think they make a nice symbol of the cultural atmosphere. Chilling + chatting. 

Making

My design focuses on the Red Shed + the Brutalist elements of the building. I wanted to use the colours of the site: red, grey, black, and white. Because of the way the building was made it has lots of great texture, so I scanned all my rubbings and collages from my sketchbook.

I started by adding a crayon texture for my background. Then I added a red overlay and played with settings to make a nice textured deep red backdrop.

 I had a rough sketch to work off of but I decided to play with the layout a bit. In the end going to the bottom right one.

I scanned in all my bits and cut them out on Photoshop. Then I pasted in all my bits and began playing with the composition! 

It was really great working that way, I loved moving things around. 

These ladies are my favourite! I think I did a good job at recreating them. :^)

Critique + Feedback

I'm very happy with what I made! I wrote the text before the image so I think they link together well. I think it needs more signposts for the location of the theatre, for example the river or Waterloo station. Maybe it needs to look more theatre-y? I feel like if you see the theatre it makes sense, but... the people reading this article most likely have not seen the theatre. I think also it needs more people to give a sense of scale. 

This is the feedback I got:

• "Image goes really well with the text"
• "1. The image is composed of various collaged shapes, rubbings, trees/plants. Its very abstract + uses motif/shapes to describe. 2. It has a sense of the 50s when the theatre was built conveyed in the shapes + composition. 3. It tells me something but not too much - maybe this was the intention?"
• "Always you've got lovely colour, feel happy & empty, calm. 2. Hard to know where it is. So, if draw more information and built it like people"
• "1. yard/buildings/statues? 2. Really unique. Using her own style, which makes the work standing out. There've not many abstract works but this is. 3. Text could be more coherent with the picture?"
• "A more graphic, abstract approach, shows your own style. 2. Use of colour, industrial looking fits with the building + its function. 3. Could make it a little more obvious - but don't need to"
• "Good to try the 'graphical' style of illustration. Really highlight the place with the use of colours."
• "1 Looks like plants inside a building 2. Cute style of collage. I can tell who did it. I like the monochromatic colour scheme and composition of the image. 3. Without the text I wouldn't be able to know it was a theatre, mabe a black square might help for the backdrop"
• "1. Arcetectural space 2. effective use of simple shapes and limited colour to depict a complicated space 3. text could be bigger just so easier to read"
• "Like the range of textures and select colours used - sucessful final image - like the nipply people"
• "Image depicting the National Theatre. Very interesting use of abstract imaging, good use of colour - excellent composition"
• "Graphic interpretation of a place 2. The colours and static images give a busy feel but not chaotic because of large amounts of white space 3. More National Theatre imagery could help because its hard to tell what place it is"
• "Very convincing image along with the text, good composition, perhaps one more colour"
• "Interesting composition wouldn't have known where the piece was about without hte written description"