Ellen Richards

BA (Hons) Illustration

As ân artist, I am particularly interested in creating work which explores subjects which are tailored to a certain demographic. The topics are relevant and meaningful to a specific individual, whether it be something they have experienced in their past or are currently experiencing.

The project which I have created explores theories relating to body ideals and expresses the truth that physical perfection does not exist. People should look through/past the outer appearance of another individual or oneself to identify the beauty within. The interesting thing about this topic is the changing nature of the “ideal” appearance. This has a continuous and ongoing effect on people’s opinions on themselves and others.

My current work expands upon my dissertation – How 21st Century Films Have Educated Women on False Beauty Ideals. Having already researched in depth, the aim of my current work is to educate people through illustration on how looking through/past outer appearance can change your perspective on others.

My designs are inspired by the harsh and damaging words used by society to describe individuals and in particularly, women. The messages should make people re-consider how they approach and discuss outer beauty. The fragility of my paper cuts represent how single comments regarding external appearance can also cause fragility to their recipients. My anaglyph colours of red and blue aim to give the illustration of perspective, both from the sense of outer and inner beauty, and, in understanding how comments can impact people differently.


Fel artist, mae gen i ddiddordeb arbennig mewn creu gwaith sy’n archwilio pynciau sydd wedi’u teilwra i ddemograffig penodol. Mae’r pynciau’n berthnasol ac yn ystyrlon i unigolyn penodol, boed yn rhywbeth maen nhw wedi’i brofi yn eu gorffennol neu’n ei brofi ar hyn o bryd.

Mae’r prosiect rydw i wedi’i greu yn archwilio damcaniaethau sy’n ymwneud â delfrydau’r corff ac yn mynegi’r gwirionedd nad yw perffeithrwydd corfforol yn bodoli. Dylai pobl edrych drwy/heibio i ymddangosiad allanol unigolyn arall neu eich hun i adnabod yr harddwch oddi mewn. Y peth diddorol am y pwnc yw natur newidiol yr ymddangosiad “delfrydol”. Mae hyn yn cael effaith barhaus a hirhoedlog ar farn pobl amdanyn nhw eu hunain ac eraill.

Mae fy ngwaith presennol yn ehangu ar fy nhraethawd hir – How 21st Century Films Have Educated Women on False Beauty Ideals. Ar ôl ymchwilio’n drylwyr eisoes, nod fy ngwaith presennol yw addysgu pobl drwy ddarlunio sut y gall edrych drwy/heibio i ymddangosiad allanol newid eich persbectif ynghylch eraill.

Mae fy nyluniadau wedi’u hysbrydoli gan y geiriau llym a niweidiol a ddefnyddir gan gymdeithas i ddisgrifio unigolion ac yn arbennig, menywod. Dylai’r negeseuon wneud i bobl ail-ystyried sut maen nhw’n trafod ac yn ymdrin â harddwch allanol. Mae breuder fy nhoriadau papur yn cynrychioli sut y gall sylwadau unigol ynghylch ymddangosiad allanol achosi breuder i’r sawl sy’n eu derbyn hefyd. Bwriad fy lliwiau anaglyff coch a glas yw rhoi argraff o bersbectif, o’r ymdeimlad o harddwch allanol a mewnol, a deall sut y gall sylwadau effeithio ar bobl yn wahanol.


• https://erichardsillustrat.wixsite.com
• https://www.instagram.com/ellenrichardsillustrations

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