This is a new brief I am working on at the moment thinking about wind in the willows creating characters, scenes, a sense of place in my own way.
Here is what the brief is asking of me;
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Spend a season on the river bank and take a walk on the wild side...
Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and high jinx on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. The four become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels?
First published in 1908, and inhabited by anthropomorphic creatures with quintessential English charm, The Wind in the Willows possesses a wonderful fascination for children of all ages.
Students are invited to design a whole new cover look for The Wind in the Willows, in order to reinvent this classic for a new generation of readers, encouraging children (and adults) to revisit it time and time again, and ensuring that it remains an integral part of childhood.
I found this brief very interesting to comprehend as I will love to give the wind in the willows this whole new look with the taste of collage and other techniques and skills I will learn exploring and experimenting. Wind in the willows was a book used to read when I was a child and its fascinating to revisit the book however with a whole new look at it.
Here is an image of the very first book published by Kenneth Grahame in 1908
To start my sense of place for this project I have looked at a variety of images, textures and objects that I feel relate to wind in the willows in my own little world.
I first look at a description of the main characters to get a feel for who they are;
Mole – A mild-mannered, home-loving animal, and the first
character to be introduced. Fed up with spring cleaning in his secluded home,
he ventures into the outside world. Originally overawed by the hustle and
bustle of the riverbank, he eventually adapts.
Ratty – Ratty (actually a water vole) is cultured, relaxed and
friendly, with literary pretentions and a life of leisure. Ratty loves the
river and takes Mole under his wing. He is implied to be occasionally
mischievous and can be stubborn when it comes to doing things outside of his
riverside lifestyle.
Mr. Toad – The wealthy scion of Toad Hall. Good-natured, kind-hearted
and not without intelligence, Toad inherited his wealth from his late
father. Spoiled, conceited, and impulsive, he is prone to obsessions and crazes
(such as punting, houseboats,
and horse-drawn caravans), each of which in turn he becomes bored with and
drops. His motoring craze eventually sees him imprisoned for theft, dangerous
driving and gross impertinence to the rural police. Several chapters of the
book chronicle his daring escape from prison.
Mr. Badger – Gruff and solitary,
who "simply hates society", Badger embodies the "wise
hermit" figure. A friend of Toad's late father, he is uncompromising with
the disappointing Toad yet remains optimistic his good qualities will prevail.
He lives in a vast underground set, part of which incorporates the remains of a
buried Roman settlement. A brave and a skilled fighter, Badger helped clear the
Wild Wooders from Toad Hall with his large cudgel.
Otter and
Portly – A friend of Ratty with
a stereotypical "Cockney costermonger" character, the extrovert Otter
is tough and self-sufficient. Portly is his young son.
The Gaoler's Daughter – The only major human character; a "clever, wise, good
girl", she helps Toad escape from prison.
The Chief Weasel – The story's antagonist. He and his band of weasels, stoats, and ferrets from the Wild Wood plot to take over
Toad Hall.
Which then leads me to found out what do these animals look like just to give me a sense of idea of how they should look ,for instance;
Toads
Badger
Moles
Rats
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| Here is collage of Ratty with his dinky Bow Tie! |
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| And here is the famous Mr Toad! |
