Blues: The Willie Dixon Factor.

The Brief.

Self initiated project exploring musical myths and
cultures centred around the early blues movement.
Avoid using drawing as a method to complete final
outcomes, instead work with secondary visual
reference and printing techniques such as lino and
possibly screen print or etching
Research& Development: All visual research
should be presented on the SHU blog. All
development should be presented with final
submission.
Agreed outcomes: A minimum of 4 printed images
using a variety of printing methods including Linocut,
you may also wish to work with illustrative type.

Ideas.

 Initially I thought about just producing a random collection of blues performers, but felt it needed a little something to tie the images together as a collection. I really wanted to create material that I liked, but thought that the collection needed to have something else to pull it together than it just being  my favourites. After starting to  list the artistes I wanted to include, Willie Dixon being at the top of the list followed by Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, I realised that there was a a factor that was pulling them all together. Willie Dixon had worked with most of my favourite blues artistes, either as a musician, song writer or producer.

I think drawing together a collection of blues artistes under the "artistes who have worked with Willie Dixon" banner also gives me the benefit of ideas for a layout of the finished designs. I'm not sure how that will pan  out in the end, but initial ideas are things like a magazine, a family tree type poster and a time line.

Cora Lynn Deibler

While searching for a picture of Koko Taylor, I came across these illustrations Of "Blues Gals" by American illustrator CL Deibler. I like the simplicity of the built up layers and hand drawn images. I think there might be something in these images that I can develop and use for my own work.