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