Brief
Research and illustrate one cover each week for three weeks.
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My chosen titles
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Artists of note
Franklin Booth
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Brief Summary
Published in 1950, Llewelyn Wyn Griffith’s The Welsh remains a cornerstone exploration of Welsh identity, delving deep beyond politics and borders to capture the very soul of the nation. It is an insightful study into the unique character, spirit, and culture of the Welsh people.
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Key Themes Explored:
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Welsh Folklore
The Welsh legend of the Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) tells of a subterranean fight beneath King Vortigern's castle foundations. The Red Dragon (the Welsh) fought the White Dragon (the Saxons). When the Red Dragon won, it became the enduring national symbol of Welsh courage and resistance.
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The Legend of King Arthur
King Arthur established Camelot with the Knights of the Round Table after claiming his right to rule with the Sword in the Stone. Mentored by Merlin, he pursued the Holy Grail. His reign ended tragically following the betrayal by Mordred and the affair between Guinevere and Lancelot. Arthur was taken to Avalon, promising to return.
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Original Thumbnailing
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Idea 1
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After a chat with Tony it was decided that I should make it more 'Welsh', using symbolisms that are recognisably Welsh but still stick with the era the book is exploring (Up to the 1950s).
More Thumbnails!
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Ideas 2 & 3
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Too visually empty, reduced to symbols - Redo
Idea 4 - Caernarfon Castle
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Rough colour idea
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Idea 5
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The 1954 book Minds and Machines provides an early examination of the relationship between cybernetics, psychology, and the philosophy of mind. It explores the then-emerging ideas of using machines, particularly computers, as models for understanding human mental processes such as learning, memory, and problem-solving.
The 1950s was a pivotal decade for cybernetics, during which the field defined itself and began to influence a wide array of disciplines before being partially eclipsed by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The focus was on understanding control and communication in both animals and machines, using concepts like feedback loops and information theory.
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Written in the early days of computing and artificial intelligence, Minds and Machines is a seminal work that bridges the gap between the natural sciences (physics, engineering) and the psychology. He makes the case for the usefulness of machine models and analogies in comprehending the intricacies of the mind.
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Key Themes
-Cybernetics and Psychology -Mechanistic View of Mind -Learning and Conditioning -Historical and Philosophical Context -Focus on Behavior |
1950s cybernetics
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1927 movie which is one of the first cinematic depictions of a humanoid robot.
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Early renditions of cybernetics
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- In 1940, Konrad Zuse presented his Z2 computers, an early machine that used relays for logic.
- Tortoises, While not explicitly confirmed in the snippets, the book references Grey Walter's work and his book 'The Living Brain.' Grey Walter's famous "tortoises" were small, autonomous robots that used simple light and touch sensors to navigate and recharge, serving as early examples of machine behaviour and a popular topic in early cybernetics.
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Original Thumbnails
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Idea 1
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Improvement
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Ernst Rosenthal's 1949 Pelican book, Pottery and Ceramics: (From Common Brick to Fine China), serves as a comprehensive technical guide to the entire ceramic industry,
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The text emphasizes the scientific and technical processes involved, detailing the necessary raw materials, the industrial manufacturing methods (preparation, shaping, drying, and firing), the design and chemistry of glazes, and the final physical properties of various ceramic bodies, effectively functioning as an accessible yet detailed technical history and handbook of the industry.
Overall, the book doesn't mention just one type of pottery or ceramic but many from different civilizations and styles and so I want to create a cover which displays a variety of ceramics and pottery.
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Pottery and ceramics through the ages
Beaker People Bell Beaker (Oldest/Foundation)
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Represents the earliest, foundational pottery traditions in Europe (c. 2800–1800 BCE).
- Neolithic/Bronze Age in Western and Central Europe. They are named after these distinctive pots. - These ceramics mark a period of significant cultural diffusion and interaction across Europe. They represent foundational, early European pottery. - |
Egyptian Faience and Pottery
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(c. 3200 BCE onwards)
- Predynastic to Roman Egypt. - Represents the earliest known successfully glazed ceramic material. It is pivotal in the history of ceramics because it introduced the technological breakthrough of applying a glass coating (glaze) to a body. - Egyptian Faience is technically not clay pottery, but a crushed quartz or sand compound. When fired, the body fuses and its surface develops a shiny, characteristic blue-green glaze from copper compounds (a process called efflorescence). - Small figurines (like the famous hippopotami or deities), beads, amulets, and small vessels. |
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The Amphora/Vase
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(c. 7th – 4th Century BCE)
-Ancient Greece, spanning Geometric, Archaic, and Classical periods. - The primary vessel for large-scale storage and transport (wine, oil, grains). It is a symbol of classical civilization and art. - Two-handled storage jar with a distinctive shape, a body that is significantly wider than its neck, and a pointed or narrow base - One of the principal vessel shapes in ancient Greek and Roman Empire. |
Aztec Effigy Figure/Vessel
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(c. 1350 – 1521 CE)
- Late Postclassic Mesoamerica (Valley of Mexico). - Represents the highly advanced ceramic traditions of the Pre-Columbian Americans, developed entirely independently of Old World techniques (like the potter's wheel or true high-fired glazes). - Often takes the shape of effigy vessels (pots shaped like animals, humans, or deities), tripod bowls (bowls on three feet), or incense burners. The figure forms are distinctively expressive. |
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Chinese Celadon/Ming Vase
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(c. 9th Century CE onwards)
- Imperial China (Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties). - China is the birthplace of porcelain. These forms represent the pinnacle of early high-fired ceramics and glazing technology. - For decoration the Celadon is known for its distinctive translucent jade-green glaze. Ming vases are famous for intricate underglaze cobalt blue-and-white paintings. |
Japanese tea pots (kyūsu (side-handled teapot))
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(c. 17th Century CE onwards)
- Japan, particularly during the Edo period and subsequent eras. - Represents a highly refined, specialized craft tradition and the precise needs of the Japanese tea ceremony (Sencha). - Distinctive side handle, which provides perfect balance and control for pouring. The handle is often made of wood or cane, or clay. |
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English Bone China
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(c. 18th Century CE onwards)
- Industrial Revolution England (e.g., Josiah Spode, Wedgwood). - Represents the final, successful industrial and chemical perfection of tableware, often used in domestic settings globally. - Delicate, thin, and often highly decorated teacups and saucers. - Bone China, a uniquely English invention that adds calcium phosphate (calcined animal bone ash) to the kaolin formula. This makes the ceramic exceptionally white, thin, strong, and highly translucent. |
Thumbnailing and Development
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My favourites
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Development
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Final Outcomes
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