Storyboarding

We evened out the work load and assigned a story board to each person for the 3 archetypes. I chose the Paris one because I wanted to work on that particular story, as well as design the character for it. 

Whats working well:

We work well as a group so far, bouncing ideas, sharing the work load. 

Given that there's 4 of us its really important that everyone has something to do, especially in the early stages. 

What needs improving:

We were off to a very slow start what with our idea falling through, so we now need to pick up the pace if we are aiming to make 3 20 second animations within the next month.

Time management is key. 

We need to condense the storyboards even more so, 20seconds is so short to tell a story. More work needed.

My first storyboard was very rough and when I thought about the time scale, i knew I needed to change certain elements. The scenes needed to flow much more and certain things could be eliminated in order to fit the 20 seconds we had. 

This is a little more accurate and what we will work towards for this particular animation.

 The other two storyboards that we will be working from -

Joe's

Ian's

Me- Paris, bakery, Rags to Riches

Joe- Asia, market, The Quest

Ian-America, diner, Overcoming the monster

Tropical- Illustration Friday

Was very late on this one because of the work load, but managed to get some mono prints done down in the print room that slotted into both of my projects at the time. I then found a drawing I did from last year and it then became a tropical fish. Sometimes when deadlines are pressing, its handy to look back on unused work to see if anything will work.

Notes to self:

- Get mono printing more, its a great way to produce a lot of work with various outcomes in a short space of time.

- Look back at old work, whether it can be used or elements can be taken from it when time is of the essence. 

- Keep ideas fresh and simple.

Research book and artist research

Ive started a small research book in order to keep my thoughts and timetables and discoveries all in one place. I aim to keep this going as best I can, and it will be good to keep referring to thought the project. 

I went back to look at Victo Ngai's work as i thought it very fitting for my project. I remember her saying that she tries to add Chinese cultural references into her work wherever she can, because its what interests her. She has quite a lot of work based on China too.

Things I love about her work and aim to achieve-

-Composition. Always so interesting and enticing.

- Colours. very symbolic and eye catching. I need to learn the importance of colour in chinese culture, as Im sure colours represent different things.

- Texture. Really getting into texture this year, want to continue to explore its outcomes.

Ceramics induction

Went down to the fine art workshops for a ceramic induction the other day. As soon as i knew I could make things with this new project I went straight there and asked to be inducted.

Pro's and aims -

-Ive always wanted to do ceramics.

-I learnt quite a lot in just a morning.

- I plan to put my illustrations onto the ceramics.

Con's-

- Turns out it will take a lot longer than I had initially thought, what with waiting for things to be fired, then glazing then waiting again. I would be working to someone else's timetable and it wouldn't be reliable.

- The workshops are so busy that its very difficult to get one on one time with the tutor, which meant a lot of waiting around.

-To transfer my illustrations onto the ceramics will cost quite a lot of money. Im willing to do some, because I really want to achieve this, but it will be limited given my budget.

What next-

I will have to wait for these items to be fired before I can glaze them, and it could be weeks before this. Therefore I think it best that I make my own ceramics at home with Sculpey, which is quite easy to work with and I can bake it in my oven at home. I must plan my time wisely if I want this to work.

Final idea

Our initial idea fell through, because it meant we were too reliable on other people for idea generation.We were waiting around for parents to find time in their busy schedules to interview their kids and it just wasn't getting the ball rolling at all. 

So in the end we decided to go for a previous idea that was circling the group and expand on that. Our idea was different foods in different cultures. Food is an every day part of most peoples lives, and therefore can be, perhaps, quite a mundane subject. But we thought we could make it really exciting. 

We started by making small plot lines and stories for each of the subjects we were choosing and then tried to relate them to various cultures. 

I think this could be really fun, excited to start now.

Project proposal

Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION	Level	05
OUIL505 ILLUSTRATION 2: Applied Illustration	Credits	30
Module Brief  Title: Product, Range & Distribution

STUDIO BRIEF 1: Project Proposal

Project Rationale

Project Rationale. (what do you intend to do and why?)

Throughout this module I intend to explore traditional methods of image making and craft while maintaining a contemporary style throughout. I would like to look at Asian culture, Chinese in particular, and incorporate these subjects into things like ceramics, lino and screen prints. Asian culture fascinates me, and I would like to learn more about it whilst bettering my practice in the print room. My confidence has grown when it comes to screen, lino and mono printing, I would like to push my skills in these areas in order to better my practice.  I have always been interested in ceramics, and would like to explore the possibilities. I do not want to limit myself to a small skill set, but rather explore and understand an array of outcomes in which my illustrations could be found.

THEMES / SUBJECTS What Themes/Subjects will form the content of your work for this module? This should include Theoretical and non- creative based content and concerns. This section should identify your consideration of the social, cultural, ethical and creative concerns of contemporary practice

GENERAL THEMES: Asian culture, Chinese in particular. Nature, history, traditions – old and new. SPECIFIC SUBJECTS: Chinese history Folk tales, myths and ancient stories Festivals Foods and delicacy’s   Patterns, colours Plants

PRACTICAL & CONCEPTUAL APPLICATION What areas of Illustration do you intend to investigate in relation to the practical and conceptual, production / distribution of work in response to selected briefs.

SPECIFIC DISCIPLINARY AREA: Object and Environment will be the primary focus. Discovering where my illustrations can be, whether its ceramics, tapestry’s, paintings, prints. AUDIENCE/CONTEXTS: I would like to translate old traditions into a contemporary style in order to appeal to the younger generations. Educational and stylish maybe? PRODUCTION / Distribution Methods: Molding the clay for ceramics, glazing and then applying the illustrations. Screen printing onto fabric, perhaps silk and then making them into lanterns.

CONTEXTUAL REFERENCES Identify areas of professional/creative practices that will inform the contextualization of the work that you produce. This should include specific illustrators, studios, practitioner’s and products as well as broader creative disciplines and methods of Production / Distribution.

ILLUSTRATORS / DESIGNERS / STUDIOS: Lynnie Zulu – Contemporary styles mixing in with my old themes. Ai Weiwei- Chinese artist who works with ceramics. Wu tong- Chinese sculptor, ceramic figures are of particular interest to me. Megan Clarke – Extensive practice, object and environment shine through what she does. Granby workshop – they take a very traditional approach to the way they work. Create all sorts of lovely objects in so many alternative ways. For example, rather than a kiln for their ceramics they use a method called sawdust ceramics which I intend to try. Studio Arhoj – Copenhagen based studio, inspirational ceramics.

CREATIVE SKILLS What practical skills do you intend to further develop and apply during your project. What do you intend to use the skills for. Consider extending the use of skills that you already have in order to deliver work of a higher standard as well as identifying new skills that you will need to develop.

Screen printing is something I want to develop. I’ve never done anything more than a 2 colour on paper, but I would really like to change this. Perhaps a 4 or 5 colour screen print, and also try to print onto fabrics as well as paper. Working with lino is also something I want to better. Try some more lino reductions and some smaller more intricate pieces. Lino forget me to think about shape and image differently, so its important I keep going with it. It is also possible to use lino within ceramics. Ceramics is a skill I will definitely be developing as I know very little about it. I aim to learn everything I need to know. Ceramics will keep my practice fresh and new and exciting.

KEY TEXTS. List a selected number of books, articles and texts that are central to your proposed area of practice. These should include a combination of design and non-practice based books, theoretical texts as well as visual publications. You should include a list of relevant websites

Chinese folk lore such as: the magic paintbrush the singing tree a love curse the animal whisperer and many more. Tales and traditions by Yun Xiao Traditional Chinese festival articles to be found at chine.org.cn

Secret 7- Tame Impala

I started with Tame Impala's the less I know the better, because I had a few ideas kicking around. 

My main motive when setting out to complete all seven of the secret 7's was to do something different for all of them. 

I decided to start with a spot of screen printing.

I had a bunch of ideas for this one after watching the music video, however I decided to step away from that after making a few roughs, just because I didn't want it to be just like what they've already created themselves.

I went for something that communicated the song a little more, so the man with his eyes closed and fingers in his ears.

Ive been getting into screen printing a lot more this year, and I find I can do it a little quicker each time. However for this one I wanted to learn how to create a marble effect. I tried it on my own without knowing what I was doing and failed massively, so had to go back and ask for some advice.

I submitted these two because I couldn't make my mind up on which was best. The marbled effect is much better on the lower image though.

Achieved and Learnt -

- Ive learnt how to create a marbled effect in screen print.

- Im pleased with the even block blue. 

- I have also realised that screen printing takes time and I wasn't prepared for something to go wrong, so now I must speed up a little if I want to submit all 7.

Interrogate the brief

We've been analysing briefs lately, so I thought it best to do the same for the collaborative one.  

• What problem(s) are identified by the brief?

To tell a story with a snapshot. To capture a something from everyday life and distill it into a moment, whether it be an image or a short animation.

• What is the brief asking you to do about it/them?

The brief is very open in many ways. Besides turning something ordinary and mundane into something extraordinary, the brief is up to us. Our biggest challenge will be taking something from everyday life, narrating a story, and stripping it back into either an image or an animation whilst keeping it/making it exciting.

• What is the message?

Showing the world that everyday life can be exciting as you make it, thats what I think anyway.

• Who is the audience?

The judges, there are 8 for this particular brief! Shutterstock. Audience is quite worldwide really. 

• Can you foresee any problems in responding to the brief?

Many! I think it will be a very challenging brief. Its hard to see the excitement in everyday life sometimes, and its going to be difficult to choose a subject when the brief is so open on so many levels. I don't doubt our group though, I think we will rise to the challenge. 

Secret 7 initial research

In all honesty, I wasn't as impressed with the song selection this year in comparison to the last few years. However, I definitely want to work with a few of them.
 The song choice this year and the rules -

So we have-

Tame Impala - The less I know the better

John Lennon- Imagine

Etta James- At last

Chvrches- Clearest blue

Jack Garratt- Worry

Max Richter- Dream 3

The Jam- Art School















Im quite interested in doing a few. I think I will start with 3 and see how I get on. At the moment I'm thinking of doing Tame Impala, Etta James, and then I'm torn between chvrches, John Lennon and Max Richter. I really like the idea of trying to illustrate or create work for a classical piece of music, because there are no words to work with.
A little research into these artists existing vinyl covers has helped me to visualise what the musicians themselves like.

Etta James doesn't really have any arty vinyl sleeves, nor does Lennon. I think that why I want to do one of these, put a contemporary twist in the mix.

The classical cover. Again, nothing very exciting. 

Churches seem to love shape! Im no good at working with shape, but maybe this is my chance to change that. I want to push myself with these, and create work that I wouldn't normally.

Jack Garratt is pretty new on the scene, so there isn't much out there. The first one is very graphic design based. Quite minimal approaches.

Tame Impale are super psychedelic. Lots of colour, lots to look at. Pretty trippy stuff really.  

Im not sure whether to take a completely new approach to the vinyl sleeves instead of creating something similar to whats already been done. 

Yeah, I think thats what i'll do.