John Cleese on Creativity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xPvvPTQaMI

During my last tutorial, Matt also told me to watch John Cleese's talk on creativity. Ive just watched it and it makes so much sense to the way I was feeling, and really gives me a direction of how to create imagery in the future.

  

Notes from the talk-

Creativity is about play. 

Your mind operates in two ways, open and closed. If your mind is open, you are able to be creative, if your mind is closed, you simply cannot create. Things that make your mind closed include, stress, deadlines anxious etc feeling like you have too much to do. 

When you are in the open mode, you are leaving that all behind and allowing yourself to be playful. 

He explains the importance of the open mode. But also the importance of being able to switch between the two. When I put it into the context of my own work, I think what he means is that the idea is a form of creativity, so the sketchbook is where you are most likely to be in an open mode.
To then refine an idea or initial drawing into something thats polished and finished, it is important to enter the closed mode, by which you are focused on that particular thing.

Moving forward-

After watching this I think I am able to combine the two modes within my work. But
I would also like my finals to have an element of play in them. Something that happened in the open mode incorporated into the finals. This could be a sketchy element, as though the image has been been documented on the spot, but then worked into later. This way I can retain a documented, and creative feel to each final.

Very inspiring.

Documenting Dad

Currently having to work from reference imagery, as I can't make it home right now. However I think this allows me to be slightly more playful, because I am having to make up what is around when I'm trying to communicate a feeling. I want to work from imagery as well as life, in order to create a varied and tested body of work. But the life part will have to be over Easter when I go home. 

Still trying to think of flow theory whilst creating these images, which is why I added a sketchy element. Firstly, to add a playful element within the refined final images, but also to add a sense of movement within the frame, to make it feel as though its been documented on location, as though its been experienced, in the same way that Rachel Gannon achieves. 

Gathering old Photos

As well as stories and memories, I will be working from some really old photos, in order to document a time that I wasn't even born. I feel like Im documenting something really historical when digging out these dusty old photos, but just my old man. Its really interesting discovering all of the things he used to do, some I had no idea about.

So far this is going well because I can get really involved in this reportage. Working with a subject as close to me as this is a good starting point in the world of reportage illustration. 

To do-

- Work from these images.

- Try to decide on a style I would like to use. 

- Gather a load of new images too, in order to document his busy life as a whole I will need recent images too.

Artist Research - Rachel Gannon

Matt showed me Rachel Gannon's work in my last tutorial, and it really fits in with the documentary context that I would like to explore more, now and in the future. 

I really like the way she get the information down on the page in a way that you can almost feel the movement within the frame. Its like she captures the essence of the scene for the viewer, and this is something I really want to be able to do. 

This is what I want my sketchbook work to achieve, so that I can then flick back and try to figure out the best working components to make a more refined illustration, that has the essence of the scene and still communicates effectively, whilst looking finished. 

This really makes me think of the flow theory. I feel like Gannon is open when looking at these illustrations, which is why they feel so real. She's captured emotions, because you can tell that she is completely involved in what she is creating. She is present and is experiencing what she is communicating to the viewer.

Making the connection between contemporary illustration and flow theory is really helping me to understand what it is I want to do, and helping me to understand what I need to do to achieve these things.  

I need to experience the things I want to document, and try to communicate these things by being as involved as possible. I need to be focused, and I need to constantly consider how what I make will be a worthwhile contribution to the world. 

Flow theory- ted talk

Felt really inspired after watching Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's talk on flow theory. I screen shotted the lists because I really want to remember them. I really think that I will be able to feed this theory into my documenting dad final piece. I really want it to have good theory and body behind it. Which is why I have been listening to podcasts by the same person whilst doing my sketchbook work, and trying to take on board the theories discussed while I've been painting.

Documenting Dad

To get things going, i thought I would ask my Dad to describe his typical day for me, just to get an idea of how busy he really is. Bless his heart he took the time to write this for me. I told him I was doing a project about being busy, he has no idea my fmp will be all about him. He will either love it or hate it, but I hope its the first...

I would like to extract elements from this email and add the, to certain illustrations once Ive got the ball rolling a bit. OR I could make a quick little comic about it, if I have time next to the book and prints etc. 

Need to start gathering information and photographs and talking to people I order to have a good background platform to work from.

Another quote thats inspired me

Following on from yesterday and the past few days, this quote entered my life today. Its like the world knows what Im feeling and is helping me!

Paula Scher, on abstract, said...

"You have to be in a state of play to design, if you're not in a state of play you cant make anything."

I need to find my state of play again.

FMP

For my fmp I am doing a documentary series based on the life of my Dad. He is a very interesting man, and I know Im not the only person that thinks this, which is why I want to tell/show the world. 

Rather than making it super personal, and not relatable to others, I wont come from the angle that he is my Dad. Instead I will try to document all of the things he has done or does in his insanely busy life. After a tutorial with Matt, I want to call it 'The man that was never bored' or something along those lines. 

The personal touches will come from what people write about him or his hobbies. I will ask my family and my friends that know him to contribute in order to make a book that is personal but in a broader sense. It is about the life of a man, and how interesting it is, rather than a book about my old man. This is the plan. 

Feeling so much better- tutorial

After having a really crap week that centred around me feeling really unsure about my work and my practice, I finally feel better. The tutorial with Matt has massively helped, and I've come away with so much to do and think about, and I feel so interested and invested in my work again. I love feeling excited about what Im doing, and I was getting so lost in the final outcome that the process wasn't informing my work, and that needs to change. Drawing in my sketchbook is really helping me. I feel like I experience what I draw when I work freely in a sketchbook, because I use it as a visual thought process, and diary type journal.

I want to be a documentary illustrator. I want to work with people.

I need to be a journalist of visual imagery, so I need to start thinking about this and work it into my practice. So ready to get the ball rolling again now.

Quick thought

I need to start thinking about drawing as a process again, rather than focusing so much on the final outcome. This is why I am not connecting with what I am doing. Im rushing to get to the end, and concentrating on what the end product will look like, rather than letting the process of image making influence me. 

Kindness project- CREATIVE BLOCK

The last few days have been difficult. 

This project I've set myself is about kindness, and the idea is to communicate the idea that kindness is the same all over the world. To make people think about it as an action, and hopefully create some form of positive social change.

 I have asked my friends all over the world to send me their own personal definition of kindness. I started with Charlotte, using an image I took in Leeds to represent where she was when she thought about what she wrote.

The idea was to transform this into a screenprint. Digitally print the building, and then screenprint on top. 

I am pleased with this image. But I'm not feeling it. This project is really important to me, and I want to do it properly. Im struggling to see the end result.

The work Ive produced lately has been so exciting to me, but this is making me feel a little flat. 

Em gave me a really great crit today, and told me to go back to visual language in first year, and to start drawing from life again and I guess experience what it is Im drawing. 

Which is really great advice. I need to strip it all back, stop relying on photoshop, and teach myself and remind myself about how best to communicate things.

The emotive aspect to this hasn't been there for me the last few days. Which is why Im going to leave this project for a little, and start on my fmp tomorrow. I thought this project would influence my fmp, but I think it needs to be the other way round. Documenting my dad is immediately personal to me, and something I care so much about. I will strip it all back and start to use my sketchbook to work through this creative block Im stuck in. 

Hopefully this will work. 

Kindness is.. THOUGHTS

Unfortunately, I am still really struggling with this project, which is annoying me because its a passion project and I came up with it, so why can't I execute it well?

Ive been asking various people for their thoughts on kindness, and then trying to collage in their location in the world with photographs. I have then reverted back to using my Colours May Vary method of image making, tying different techniques that Ive recently used together. Its not that I think the illustrations Im creating are terrible, it's just I m not connecting with the subject, and I don't think Im communicating the idea of kindness well. 

Im a little worried this is taking me longer than intended. I want to complete this project, but I want to do it well and give it plenty of time to develop into a series that celebrates kindness. If I don't get it right soon I might have to leave it for now, as I need to start on my Fmp.

Moving forward-

- Give it another go.

-Try to understand where Im going wrong, otherwise my next project will also suffer.

-Seek advice, talk to a tutor.

- Manage time wisely.

Peer review and thoughts

Today's peer review was really useful. For once I felt like I was sat a table of professionals, discussing where and how certain illustrations could fit into certain industries. It was as much ppp as it was extended practice, and Im now realising the importance of the link. 

When showing my work, it was clear that I have so many varying styles. It panics me a little at times, but im trying my best to embrace it. I like to mix things up, and create something different as much as I can. Because of this I was advised to look into collectives, or studios that offer an array of styles within illustration. 

Its important that I constantly think about where and how my work will sit in the world of contemporary illustration.

Researching these collectives made me feel so much better about having a diverse practice. I need to continue researching into studios where I could see myself working, and start to contact them. 

Colours May Vary final print

For this years Colours May Vary exhibition, I really wanted to make something that would sell. I thought about it for ages, and had so many varying ideas, but in the end went with this. The concept is making yourself out of order to the rest of the world. Taking time out for yourself.

Attempting a 4 colour screenprint for the first time ever was a little risky, and something that went wrong the first time, so I had to re-do them all. I came out with about 8 decent one's, out of 11, so not bad going! 

I was completely shocked to find out that all of my prints had sold out in the first 2 days of them being in the shop, and so I had to send more down, and then I put some digital versions in too. The digital version is really clean and crisp, which I like. 

Overall, really pleased with this image, and the amount of work put into it is finally paying off which is such a good feeling. 

It was also really great to be back in the print room again- need to keep pushing this.

Kindness is...

This is a self initiated brief that has sparked from doing the Warsaw zine. 

I want to continue with documentary illustration, but I want to try and work with a subject that might evoke positive social change. 

Following the success from colours may vary, I feel motivated to start this project, but I am struggling to come up with an angle or an approach. I guess i will just have to work through this.

I created the image above, using the Warsaw Zine techniques and trying to build on these, however, I don't think it communicates effectively. I need to keep practising and reflecting on my process in order to improve. 

Warsaw zineee

This wasn't a brief I had initially set myself. But after a recent tutorial with Ben, I felt really inspired to create something based on Warsaw. After visiting the city in January, I felt completely inspired, probably more so than ever before.

I decided to make a zine based on our time there. So with the photos taken on my 35mm film and the help of the photocopier, I collaged for the first time. Im still trying to teach myself as much as possible before I leave. Having this time to experiment is something I really value as a practitioner.

This work is completely different to anything I've done before. But it resonates with me, and has so much personal significance, which is why I enjoyed making it so much. 

I got everyone who came to Warsaw to write one thing about the trip down for me, and included everyones on each page. I wanted it to be personal to the people that experienced it with me too. 

Instead of getting them printed all fancy, I (with help) worked out how to print a zine on the photocopier. Still amazes me how much Im learning everyday! 

Ive printed quite a few, and aim to send them to studios in Warsaw, or take them with me next time I visit to give to people. 

This project was really personal to me, and received good response on Instagram, and working this way is definitely something I want to improve and keep practicing in the coming months.