Tracing with no regrets

To get started with this project, I started to look at some artists and make comparisons between both practices.

Daniele Villasana s an independent photojournalist based in Istanbul whose documentary work focuses on human rights, gender, displacement, and health worldwide.

Reportage Illustration, like photojournalism, has the aim to communicate real life problems. The difference between the two in my opinion is that one has the power to transmit the feeling of what the artist is seeing in person. Photojournalism is 'raw' and objective. I think the traces that a drawer make give a certain feeling.

Reportage: drawing around the world by George Butler

“Reportage has to have flesh, bones and, above all, life in it. One is not illustrating, but pushing one’s nose info life.” Ronald Searle, 1977

Artist and reportage illustrator George Butler has travelled the world using his work to help tell important stories. In 2013 he won the Breakaway prize at the International Media Awards for his impact as a young journalist.

Butler believes reportage drawings can offer insight and value next to the now more ubiquitous and familiar digital photography. Here, he explains how reportage illustration communicates in ways that photography cannot.''

''Drawing on location is a process that benefits from being bold. The nature of standing in front of a scene and describing it mark for mark does not allow you to hesitate or reconsider. It is a perfect excuse to forget about the anxious restrictions of the studio or the idea that the drawing should turn out well at all costs.'' - Reading this was interesting to me because when I was completing this project I felt anxious of making mistakes. However, when I let myself feel more free and I started tracing with my pen on the canvas it all made sense.

Summer Project: My Personal Square Mile/1.5 Kilometres This page is part of the collection 'Illustration and Visual Media - Year 2 - Paula Saez'.

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