English Gothic Horror - Initial sketches.

The paragraphs all coincide with a page of picture research and a sketch that are in my sketchbook.

1. Gregor’s room is clad in dark wood panelling, to add a sense of gloom and despair. The door has moved to the side of the stage so that Gregor would be able to look through his door and see the lodgers who arrive. The fire underneath the room symbolises a warmth that Gregor is missing, the comfort that the rest of the family and the lodgers have taken from him. The table and sofa are simple but show easy comforts and it’s a happier place to be than upstairs. The ladder upto Gregors can be easily moved and stored away, restricting Gregors access to normality and hiding him away from visitors.

2. With this second sketch I decided to keep the fireplace the same, but move the door. It occurred to me that having it there could show a level of secrecy towards Gregor, blocked from his view. The stone steps are narrow and against the wall, looking as though they are being pushed in to hide them and what they lead up to. Gregors walls are made up from stone also, to add a coldness that reflects his situation and feeling. The wooden flooring would be a warm tone, unlike in the previous sketch. There is no furniture, suggesting that the area underneath is more a hallway or living space not used often by the family.

3. This sketch is very similar to number 2, but by changing the stairs and adding windows I feel I have made an important difference. Gregor can now see into the outside world, adding a sense of loss perhaps or maybe a sense of hope that he may escape and become accepted. The winding staircase means Gregor’s room isn’t hidden away, prompting the lodgers to ask questions as to what is up there and making noise. I also got rid of the fireplace, showing a certain coldness surrounding the whole situation.

4. The stone flooring was chosen to show a certain air of grandeur that is left out in Gregors room, and the fireplace moved to the side so that he may view the warmth he is missing not only literally, but mentally too. The furniture is basic and the 3 chairs are first used by the family, then by the lodgers who arrive. I chose not to add in extra chairs as the family become the servers of the lodgers, trying to impress them with their helpfulness and willing nature.

5. In the last of my sketches I decided to go in a different direction completely. I had explored the idea of the structure/floors/walls setting the tone, but this time decided the features/furnishings could also achieve this. The wall hanging would be faded and tired looking, to show a sense of what used to be when Gregor was earning money for the family. The window on the back wall is decorative and ornate, a common feature in gothic horror settings and another way to portray the loss of the wealth they had. Gregor’s four poster bed turns into his prison and the posts can act as a suggestion of walls and imprisonment.