From my draft it is clear that I have to re-think the layout of the contents page. I looked into what style other magazines use on their contents pages.
I don't really like the list style because it doesn't really draw the reader in. I think I will have the photos more in the middle of the page rather than cramped in at the side.
I won't have as many photos as this but I like the idea of have a larger image to show the more important main article. Also I think the listing looks better when there are sections.
I think I would like at least one more image of a different band on the contents page because althought the image is large it makes it look like there is too much writing.
Although I'm not doing a double page for the contents I might use Q style of having the photos with the large page numbers over the top.
I quite like the slanted text and spliting up the sections into features and regular sections.
These are the photos that I will use in the ripped collage for the background of the cover and double page spread. I think I will make them black and white so the only colour in the background is the blue and red of the sections of the Union flag.
Golden Spiral is the term used for a perfect spiral with the ratios of each curve being proportionate to one another.
As well as being present in nature it can be used in photography, to help create a perfect image. On the outer edge of the spiral an object will start then the subject will lead the eye into the centre of the picture for example the rose an onlooker would look at the edge then follow the nature spiral into the centre of the flower.
I don't think IPC Media is the right publishing company for my magazine because although it has a wide range of magazines most of them are not aimed at my target audience but at more mainstream audiences who are interested in lifestyle, celebrities and outdoor pursuits. Other than NME their magazines are mainly targeted at older audiences. I think Development Hell Ltd. would be a good publisher for my magazine because it is quite small and the magazines that it currently publishes are quite genre specific. The Word has quite a arty style to it so my magazine would link to that and might interest some of the current audience.
For my front cover I would like to create this type of effect with the messy paint or ripped collage style.
This street artist has been pointed out to me and I love his style. I want to use his idea of scribled paint layered into the picture of the girl. Although I wouldn't have a close up of the face I would also like to keep the simple sketch effect of the subject with the soft shadows and highlights.
I want the band name to be meaningful and to reflect the theme of the magazine. Listening to my iPod some lyrics stuck out that could work:
Call To Arms
Surrender To Nothing
I'll Attack!
Promises Look Like Lies
Love What You've Done With The Place
Feel The Rays
City of the Damned
Better Not Wear It Out
We Will Not Sit Down
I Want A Riot
Here Comes A Juggernaut
Also a quote I came across in history that stuck out was "Peace Talks with a Loaded Gun" it referred to a government going into negotiation for peace with the intention of contiuning the war if the other government involved did not co-operate in the way they would like. As it is quite long I might use this for the title of the band's album. For the band's name I like Call To Arms, Promises Look Like Lies and We Will Not Sit Down.
Even though I originally planned to have an all boy band. I think I will have a mixed group because it goes against the typical image of a punk band so I think it will add appeal to the band and magazine.
Today I went to The Herbet in Coventry for the current exhibition of Street Art: Contemporaty Prints From the V&A. There was a large of range of different street artist with different styles and techniques.
SPQR
Meggs - Save Me From Myself
Laura McLauchlan
Horn Head - Weird Uncle
Pure Evil - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Bastards
Insect - The Executioner
Kerry Roper - Modern Youth
Vhils - Periferia Uniforme
The artists used a range of medias including stencils, screen print, collage and freehand painting.
These artists in particular caught my eye.
Pahnl
Pahnl uses simple cartoon style stencils of people, dogs, cats and birds. He creates a continuing story with the characters, spreading them out over urban areas. The video was playing in the exhibition, it's simple but very effective.
Shepard Fairey - his work is usually done by screen printing. His is most famous for his Obey work but has also done music related art.
He also did the well-known cover for Led Zeppelin's album Mothership.
Miss Tic - is a french artist who works with stencils usually of the same woman. I love her print "Ma Zone" with ripped layers collage in the background and the stencil woman on top, I would like to create this kind of effect on my front cover.
Ben Slow- I love the effect he creates with the raw sketch image and dripping paint.
I really like the abstract style of David Hockney's photography work. He takes repeated photos of an image, landscape or portrait and places the pieces of the image next to each other but so they don't quite match up or and I think it would look quite artistic if I incorporated it into my design.
The use of polariod photos in this video is very effective.
The style of B.o.B and Bruno Mars' video for Nothin' on You reminds me of Hockney's work with the ripped, collage effect of B.o.B and Bruno against the street in the background and the repeating cut images of the different girls.
Even though B.o.B and Sia are not the right genre or style for my magazine, I like the effect and style they create in their videos.
Different styles of art is used a lot by bands to represent their genre of music and make them stand out.
For example, Blur got Banksy to design the cover of their album, Think Tank.
The style of the dripping paint and the black & white stencil graffiti style imagery made me think of Green Day's album artwork for 21st Century Breakdown and Shenanigans.
I love how the words are layered into the picture and how the red lines give the idea of the American flag.
In their music video for 21st Century Breakdown they use a street art style with the brick walls in the background and the black & white stencil style images.
In 2009, before the release of 21st Century Breakdown, they commissioned a group of artist to do an exhibition inspired by the songs from their new album. These are some the pieces that were produced.
I think the street art style artwork works very well for Green Day because it represents the rebelliousness of their lyrics and music genre. It also gives a sense of mystery and secrecy to the band, if someone hasn't seen or heard of them before, when they pick up their album they don't see the faces of the bands or artist who made it which makes it more interesting and eye-catching. Rather than having a dull posed picture of the band the artwork gives people an idea what the album and music is all about. It will either appeal to someone and encourage them to buy the album or it won't.
Other album covers with urban /street art style, these bands have very different music genres but I like how they have used a style that represents the music on their album. For example, Snow Patrol use a couple walking together in snow gear, their music is mainly about love and relationships and the outfits have connotations with the bands name.
