Case Study

TEXT VERSION:

Case Study - "Adrift" by J.P. Coovert

PERSONAL RESPONSE

What drew my attention first was the attractive and deceptively simplistic style, and the use of only 2 colours: white and navy.

It reminds me of something which I can’t quite put my finger on – possibly something like Scott Pilgrim or some webcomic I’ve once read.

I love the symbolic feeling it has. I also love the style. It’s hard to find things I dislike about it.

Although I liked it the first time I read it, I’ve grown to like it even more. From analysing the book and the drawing techniques used, I feel like I’ve learned from it.

It gives you a sort of dream-like panic, the feeling of being lost, trapped and in danger, and then a false sense of security before the real rescue happens – and then it ends with an open (but evidently positive) ending. If you can call it that – its as if it is not truly an end and anything could happen next.

FORM

The colour palette is simple but effective – navy and white, which contrast greatly and effectively.

The work holds together throughout, and I love the basic “banner” around each page which is often breached by the drawings within.

I imagine the artist used these colours and techniques for a minimalist and dream-like effect. The colours in particular add to this effect, as well as also add to the oceanic theme – like the water and foam.

Evidence for the hand that made it include the white lines on the blue of the ocean which are all wibbly and uneven, an effect that looks as though a computer couldn’t recreate it and enhances the hand-made look.

The composition is organised in a structured way – its structure seems to have a clear plan with a beginning, middle and end.

Everything seems controlled with the occasional splurge of random lines within the drawing that look as though they were left to chance.

Due to its simplistic style, a lot of the textures are absent and so left to the reader’s own knowledge and imagination. “Visual rhymes” are used – such as a bird’s feathers drawn using the same technique as the splashing waves are drawn.

Space – or the white parts of the drawings – is used to great effect.

It has a traditional perspective.

CONTEXT AND CONTENT

“Adrift” is a near-wordless small-press comic book with one panel per page. Both the “boarders” around the drawings and the pages themselves have curved corners – few sharp or straight edges are used.

It is about a man who is lost at sea and the troubles and dangers he encounters whilst searching for rescue. It could be interpreted as symbolic, for example it could represent an actual event or episode in the artist’s life.

The title – “Adrift” – seems to describe the whole story in one short word.

There is no textual narrative. However, it follows conventions in the way that it does have a plot with a clear structure, with conflict and a main protagonist who must overcome this.

It seems as though it was made for fun and artistic expression, as well as possibly for profit.

PROCESS

The front-cover is screen-printed on blue card. The book is of good quality and the processes – while possibly harbouring cheap materials (e.g. the paper) to construct it – are professional and appealing.

The process seems to be more modern than traditional; it is likely that a computer was involved during the book’s construction.

Skills required to create such a piece would probably have to include drawing, inking and painting, as well as knowledge about computers and artistic ideas and integrity.