Comparing two guest lecturers (Otto and Tal Rosner)

Resently at stockport, there has been many guest lectures and for this we were asked to post infomation about it. I intend to write some more about Otto and Tal Rosner, and hopefully this will better my general understanding of them.

Otto gave a very formulated lecture in that he spoke about how he self promoted himself first, then went on about his interests in shape and negative and positive space. Tal Rosner on the other hand also has strong interests in shape and patterning affects.

Tal uses recorded imagery and mashies up video footage to crate abstract movement that is similar to Otto in that he uses found imagery/hand made objects in a composition. Otto enjoys creation and development which i suppose all artist do in some way or another. Otto playfulness intellegence and spacial awareness, are clearly evedent in his work. Tal on the other hand uses the same methods but infrequently dose so, this is becauce he work with film and builds on an idea like in his doppleganger cilp.

In the financial market, Tal most likely gets paid more that Otto per commission, but overall Otto gets more over time as he gets more commissions. (proberly anyway)

Otto and Tal have similar personality thay both have drive to do tasks and have a clear understanding of what is both needed and wanted. Where thay differ, Otto has a hyper-attitude and Tal has a laid-back approach to work. Thats not to say Tal is lazy compared to Otto, not at all Tal works hard.

One of Tal's favourite things to do is duplicate video footage, Otto however enjoys playing with space so you can argue both are similar people at heart.

In my eyes Tal super cedes Otto with the finished out come. (even if Tal didnt respond to my email)Otto is good at what he dose but Tal has the edge. (I think anyways)Maybe im studying the wrong subject.

OTTO

Otto started his illustration career by firstly self promotion work. At college he enjoy drawing and collage work which developed into silk screen printing technique which he now uses as his main style. Otto has worked for various work places i.e. books in Leeds, postcard work, independent newspaper weekly for Saturdays, and so on. He originally felt that getting work is more important than, working at speed which changed with time. The work in editorials was good a self promotional media for him. He feels his work has improved over time. He thinks latterly and has a abstract approach, also scale, positive and negative space are important to him. He is very open to appropriation because he re-uses his own designs and others to make new ones and all so other art like Russian constructivism movement. He thinks that a important part of being a illustrator is having a good portfolio. He told us about how he gives clients four or five ruff ideas, this way the client has chose. The clients usually pic the simplist idea, Otto says and gose on to say its not always the best one. Some of his style is photography with a mix of flat shapes. Posture is something he also incorporates.

All above information from a class lecture at Stockport college.

web: http://www.ottoillustration.com/

Tal Rosner

Tal Rosner studied graphic design, creating an independent language i.e. rhythm and movement were his interests.
One of his major film productions was ‘Doppelganger’, duration 4 minutes 10 seconds which displayed pulsation and shift.
He uses environment to create linear shapes - triangles, rectangles etc. This is his passion.
He generally uses a small budget, which is occasionally personally funded.
He progressed from techno music to more sophisticated classical tunes due to the briefs that were required.
One of the films we watched ‘Stravinsky Debussy’ contained a part named ‘Conmoto’ which used a similar technique to Doppelganger - with the splitting screen and the violence was suggested with sudden jolting movements.
Another clip from this showed scenery of sea, pylons and boats which were multi-framed, gradually morphing into one another.
He did the ’Skins’ programme for Channel 4 / E4 which contained 72 different versions of people covered with abstract layering which concealed his style.

GILLIAN BLEASE

Most of Gillan Blease work as an illustrator is for an editorial in The Guardian newspaper.
She did a foundation course at MMU.
After that studied Newcastle (fine art) where she had influences by Terry Frost.
Then studied in London, which made her more interested in symbolism i.e. a trinket box that was shape orientated.
This then encouraged her to go to Japan where she became more interested in shape design.

When she came back England she chose images that reflected her practice at Whitworth.
Gillan worked at ATME although she didn’t enjoy it much as she found it hard to keep creative.

Subsequently got help with design practice with anther illustrator and built up a portfolio.
She got jobs with her portfolio i.e. L Magazine

Gillan Blease looks back at various artists she admires. (Especially when stuck)
A quote from Gillan Blease “be inventive with composition”
Talks about true essentials – in this case loves simple logo design (enthralling)

Later work for a food section in The Guardian, then was offered a weekly job, over 150 illustrations.
She then goes on to say be careful about the literal meanings in jobs, also costs for self promotion i.e. art books that go to art directors.

Her designs slowly started to get more designed as time went on.
She warned also about time limits i.e. less than 1 hour on some commissions.
Another quote from Gillan Blease “work exists as it is”

She came across a bad art director for a book poster project, also had oodles of input from various people about what they wanted.
She had no chose of colour and had to work in a set style, which she furthermore had a limited design process.
Whereas she had another similar project, book cover brief which was easer in that time was not an issue, as well she had hardly any design limits at all.

In her spare time she draws patterns which from this got work at a card company.
She keeps all ruff work in a booklet separately.

Note all above information from a talk at Stockport College.