MEGAN REILLY
ONS
A COLLECTION OF ELEPHANT ICONOGRAPHY AND SYMBOLS
TONS.
THE PROJECT.
This project was all about representing data through icons and symbols. We explored different methods and approaches in making a three-dimensional object in two dimensions. Specially, we picked any animal to focus on and experimented in 16 different categories. Each category had a specific strategy to experiment with, but, for the most part, you had the freedom to interpret the “rules� however you pleased. The goal was to create symbols that clearly displayed your animal while also offering information and meanings of your animal. After a lot of experimenting, the end goal is sixteen refined and finalized icons, one from each category. Throughout this book, you will see a collection of information and sketches that led to my final 16 icons. I chose to focus on elephants and their unique characteristics. I learned a lot of facts about elephants, their characteristics and their meanings and it is shown in my sketches.
RESEARCH. In order to properly illustrate my animal, I began with researching and gathering as much information as I could about elephants. I took notes, made lists and created a word clusters.
In words... First Thoughts
Trunks Huge Grey Small tail Circular toes Big ears African Sprays water Lives in open plains Buddhism Wrinkly Four-legged Indian Painted Elephant rides Circus Familes of elephants Thailand
Visually Huge Grey Big ears Trunk Tusks Four legs Wrinkly Fat Rough Massive Wide Hairy Clonky Big Small tail Bumpy Tall Large eyes Small mouth Circular toes Africa-shaped ears Freckly Dry looking
Emotionally Gregarious Intelligent Compassionate Loving Grieve/Mourn Experience trauma Endearing Joyful Rage Stress Self-medicating Humorous Playful Problem Solver Aware Resourceful Cooperative Altruistic Empathetic
Sounds Trumpet Snort Bark Roar Cry Grunt Grumble
Facts
Elephants are pachyderms, or large, thickskinned, hoofed mammals Types • African (Savannah and Forest) • Asian (Sri Lankan, Indian, Sumatran, and Borneo) Size/Lifespan • African elephants are 8.2-13 ft tall (shoulder to toe) and weigh 5,000 to 14,000 lbs • Asian elephants are 6.6 to 9.8 ft tall(shoulder to toe) and weigh 2.25 to 5.5 tons • Elephants live 60 to 70 years
Symbolism • Symbol of strenth and power • In South Africa, tusks represent wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity • In western culture, they symbolize reliability, dignitity, power, royalty and pride • Buddhist symbol of mental strength • A chinese symbol for happiness, longevity and good luck • In Asian culture it represents “an animal that carries the world on it’s back”
Fun Facts
Diet • Herbivores • Grasses, leaves, bamboo,bark, roots • Adults eat 300-400 lbs of food per day
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Behavior • Form small family groups, or herds • Mourn and greive death years after they happen • Elephants spare or play-fight
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Reproduction • Male offspring are called bulls and female offspring are called cows • Elephants usually only have one child • Duration of conception is 22 months
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Elephants are the largest land animals on earth An elephant’s trunk has more than 100,000 muscles, which are used to breath, pick up things, make noises, smell and drink. African elephants have ears shaped like the African continent, while Asian elephants have smaller ears, rounded at the top and flat on the bottom In hot weather, African elephants suck up water and use it to shower themselves The largest recorded elephant is an African elephant from the San Diego Zoo. It was 24,000 lbs and 13 ft tall.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
GE
ESTURAL.
PA
AINTERLY.
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GR
RAPHICAL.
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SHAPES.
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PHOTO COPY.
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ALTE
ERNATIVE MARKING TOOL.
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ONE LINE.
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BEH
HAVIORAL.
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T
TEXTURE.
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HYBRID.
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ALTE S
ERNATIVE SURFACE.
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ICON.
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INDEX.
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AB
BSTRACT.
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TYPE.
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FINAL SIXTEEN.
VISC 204 PROJECT ONE FALL 2015