SPACE ARTSophia Ferguson-Stuart

What do I want to do?

Explore the depiction of Brown Dwarves.

This will include the environments that they occur in as well as their physical appearance.

(http://members.wolfram.com/jeffb/vistapro/)

What do I want to achieve with this project?

Improve my painting techniques to the point they are no longer painful to look at by taking on the technical challenges of this project.

Achieve the successful representation of a variety of astronomical objects to a professional quality.

Gain a better idea of which part of Space art I am most suited to.

Artists who can inspire me.

Michael C Turner Works mainly in

traditional media but also uses digital techniques and airbrushing.

Subject matter is creative rather than strictly scientific.

Member of Deviant Arts and International Space Art Network.

Don Dixon Use more digital

techniques. Subject matter

more scientific in orientation e.g. This image depicting the possible births of brown dwarves.

Chesely Bonestell (1888-1986)

One of the first modern space artists.

His images helped popularise the idea of space travel in the 40’s and 50’s

He was still working in the late 70’s.

He also produced sci-fi images for books and magazines.

(http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/Mimas.html)

References & Resources

Ede, Sian; Art & Science; I. B. Taurus; 2005. Hodges, Elaine R.S; Guild Handbook of Scientific

Illustration; Wiley; 2003.

For the science information and reference

LeBlanc, Francis; Stellar Astrophysics; Wiley; 2010. NASA images I also intend to ask my astronomer friend for his

advice.

Getting in touch with other artists

International Space Art Network

International Association of Astronomical Artists

deviantART

A possible timeline Weeks 1-4  Visual research in to relevant artists. Initial explorations into suitable techniques. Scientific research and initial ideas. Development for first final piece. First final piece completed.  Weeks 5-8  Completion of next final piece. Continued development of ideas and visual exploration

Weeks 9-12

Finishing last final piece. Finishing off of any work not already done so. Final submission.

Over the summer I am intending to practise and improve my painting techniques in order to get them up to a useable standard as well as doing much of the initial science research.