Summative Evaluation

The aim of this module was to enhance and develop my skills as a professional practitioner. To prepare me for the real working world, and feel confident to leave the nest that is our studio, to head out into the professional realms of reality, equipped with a polished portfolio - which is exactly what it has done.

With the freedom to explore briefs that suited my illustrative practice, and my values, I was able to capitalise on my strengths, and work with various processes that challenged my work, and kept it exciting. I want to always be passionate about illustration, and always be excited by the possibilities it presents to me. This is why I must continue to work on briefs that inspire me, and resonate with me personally.

Contextually I have explored an array of professional outcomes, from editorial, to posters, to selling and exhibiting prints to name a few. Discovering documentary illustration and aligning this with my practice has been the best realisation, and I now feel ready to put what I’ve learnt into practice.

Volunteering in Greece this summer, documenting the refugee crisis will challenge my practice no end, but also provide me with real life material to work with, in order to create illustrations that raise awareness, or promote positive social change. I have learnt the importance of experience, especially within reportage work, which is why first hand research will always be at the heart of my projects.

I feel confident to take the skills and knowledge that I have learnt during this module out into the real world, and I am more than excited to see where these skills can take me.

End of module Evaluation

Project Report

Final Resolutions

Revised Statement of Intent

Granted, my briefs changed somewhat during the year, but that's what I really enjoyed about it. I was able to adapt to different briefs to suit my practice at various points in the year. I took on board far more briefs than I had intended which I am pleased about.

Professionalism

I have considered professional presentation much more this year, as I want to come across as a professional, not a student. I decided to present my finals in a portfolio box for this reason, and also so as not to crease the fabrics. I can't fit all of my work into this box, so I will submit a folder with my sketchbooks and larger pieces too, but I want this to be an example of what I could take to industry professionals. 

Where could it exist...

Considering where my book could exist in the market is an important part of my practice, and helps me to consider my audience when creating work. I think this publication could exist in somewhere like Colours may vary, as their shop celebrates independent publications like this. I have mocked it up in the shop and it suits the aesthetic of the shop. I could email Becky and Andy to see if they would stock it, or what advice they would give me on distribution.

Village book store in Leeds would be another appropriate place to sell it. Independent book stores and art shops seem like my best bet, but I would also really like to set up an online shop as soon as Ive submitted, and try to sell my work myself. This way I wont lose a drastic amount of money when they take commission. 

Final publication

Im really pleased with how this turned out, and how much work Ive managed to produce in the last two weeks. Its amazing what you can achieve if you really push yourself. 

Evaluation-

- Consideration to stock has been vital. Good recycled paper has given the book the nostalgic feel I wanted.

- The cover design improves the publication. Using thicker stock for this was a good idea, and creating the fold ins adds something to the overall design and aesthetic.

 - The book is consistent, and the images are coherent in style for once.

- The finish on the book is as professional as I could make it, and I think it shows my professional progression from last year to now. 

I am really pleased with the end result, and that I have learnt various techniques that will help me to document in the future. I have learnt so much about my process of image making and my process to document, and feel confident to take this into the future. 

Screen print proposition

Refined this illustration, from rough in a sketchbook to a final that could be screen printed. 

So now I have 3 proposals for screen prints, that I would like to make before the final year show. I think I want to change the colours on a few of them though, maybe make the skin pink on all of them and keep them to the three colours used on the baking one, as I think this is the strongest.

I could play with composition a little more too, make it a bit more exciting. 

Overall Im really comfortable working in this way now, and have leant how to do it quickly which is good for quick turn around briefs I might get in the future. With more time I could strengthen the colour choice and the composition, and actually make them into screen prints, which is exactly what I will do after submission. Although they won't be ready for submission, they will still add to my professional portfolio, which is far more important in the long run.

Fabrics

Here are my final set of fabrics, headered and cut down for professional presentation. 

Im really pleased with how these turned out, and its been interesting experimenting with various materials, and learning new skills such as disperse printing. My biggest regret is not forcing myself to learn all of these things at the start. I have learnt so much this year, but imagine if i had had this kind of motivation the whole 3 years! At least I have the motivation and confidence now.

I printed these onto materials because of a theory I was feeding into my project. Its based on the idea of experimentation. My Dad experiments with his bread all the time, and tests new processes in order to get the best possible results. For a while a process he used was covering his bread with cloth at night. He experimented with these methods in the same way that I experiment in my practice. I thought that if I could bring his method of experimentation into my own practice I could create something unlike anything Ive done before. By printing onto the cloth that he used to cover his bread, I am linking his process with my illustrative practice, adding a new layer to the documentation. This was a system to record and document, but has also added to my skill set, and taught me new techniques that I can improve in the future in order to gain the best possible results, like my Dad does with his bread. 

Artist Research - Wendy Macnaughton

I can't believe Ive just found this illustrator. Im almost annoyed at myself. She describes herself as an illustration journalist, which is exactly what I want to do. Not only that but she also tackles real life issues in order to shine a light onto certain issues. I feel like she's the older, more experienced version of me. 

I might email her and ask if I can fly out to San Fran and meet her, intern with her, or just grab a coffee. Its quite far to go for a coffee, but Im planning a trip to the US soon as my best friend lives out there. Once Ive finished this book, i'll send her some images from it and see what she thinks, I mean she's probably super busy and won't have time to reply, but if I can get across that I want to illustrate for positive social change maybe she would take the time. 

Ah so happy Ive found her work! It really makes me believe that there is a context in the working world for my work to exist and be successful. Makes me believe the dream can be a reality, just need to work hard to get there.

Cutting and headering

Managed to print my images onto material with the disperse yesterday, so then spend last night cutting each one down to size and putting headers on each one, which took a little while. I was trying to be really careful in order to make them look as professional as possible. I sourced the card from Fred Aldous, and went for an earthy brown to suit the themes and aesthetics used within this project. For final year show, Im interested in using bits of wood to attach them to, but for submission I just want them to look professionally displayed.

I have 9 in total in this size, and I might do a few more after hand in ready for the exhibition, but will see if I need to closer to the time. 

I hung them all up just to see what they all look like together. I think I need to get a better photograph, or scan them all in in order for better quality aesthetics. Pleased with how they all look together though.

Sketchbook- process and play

At this later stage in the year its not always easy to remember to experiment and play with process in the sketchbook, however I am trying to do a few minutes here and there when I get the chance. Im still finding new exciting things happen when I allow my mind to enter the open mode, and just play with ideas. I want to develop this idea into a screen print proposition. Then I will have 3 screen prints proposed. I know its nearing the end but I still want to create something new everyday, and I don't want to loose this motivation at all.

Textured paper instead of textured brush...

For Cop I made the book textured on photoshop. At the time I thought it was fine, but looking back it really took away from the illustrations. It also made the book look far less recycled and textured, when that was the aim. I now realise that its all in the stock. By using textured paper, Ive managed to add a nostalgic feel, whilst maintaining a bright and bold aesthetic. 

Little reflection-

I think putting these two images together has really made me realise how far Ive come this year. Cop was so important, and I learnt how to make images in this way, but its good to see how Ive developed this style over the past few months and what Ive learnt since. I think Ive definitely improved, which is such a nice feeling, and its just down to persistent practice. 

Final pages

Evaluation and Contexts-

Here are all the inside pages, ready to print tomorrow morning. Im really pleased with how its turned out, and the coherency of the illustrations. It actually looks like a collection, which is something Ive always struggled with. 

I will make a few of these into prints for submission, and package them in order to show their distribution and sellable quality. Just like my colours may vary print. These images would work well in an exhibition space too, because they are a collection. 

The book could be sold in independent book or art shops, like village or colours may vary for example. 

There are many contexts in which this could be placed, and I want it to display my reportage practice as best as possible. I will try and get this project as out there as possible in order to communicate the practice I want to show people. Instagram has been a good start, but I want to message shops or spaces wth the proposition of selling work or exhibiting. 

Front cover-decision making

For the cover I decided to do a variation of a page from the book. A simplified version of one of the pages. By extracting elements from the original illustration, I made space for the title. I wasn't sure whether or not to include the title at first, or to print it onto a belly band. I thought I could write it into the white square above, but when I attempted this, decided it was too big, and took away from the illustration a little. 

Way prefer the smaller type. I think it looks a little like a school text book, which I really like, adds another element of nostalgia. It also makes it relatable to more folk.

This is the final. Each end had a 7cm wrap around. It will be printed onto recycled paper thats slightly grey, and quite thick, which will make it into a good sized publication. At first I was aiming to include 5 illustrations in the book because I was running out of time, but Ive managed to get 12 illustrations done and in. It's all ready to print now!