Summative Position Statement

At this point I know that my long term goal is to work for myself as a freelance illustrator. I know that this will not be an easy step to take straight out of university which is why I intend to get another job (still in the creative industries) which allows me to learn new things, develop my skills and support myself financially. Although I am organised and methodical in the way I work, I don’t see myself having a standard 9-5 job for the rest of my working life. Therefore, alongside a job, I am going to be working on my freelance practice by taking on briefs I have time for, exhibiting and selling work wherever possible and generally maintaining a presence in the creative community. As time progresses I hope to build my portfolio of commissioned work, gain a following for my personal work and be earning enough from my freelance practice for it to be feasible to do full time. 

I used this year to try out a range of different briefs and I have learnt that my work is a lot more versatile than I originally thought. Although I almost always use ink for my illustrations, I don’t have one distinct style which is what makes me adaptable to different briefs, contexts, audiences and timescales. Aspiring to have such a broad practice is a little daunting but I really don’t want to limit the potential uses for my work. This year I have really discovered where my personal interests lie and this has informed the kind of projects I take on and the subject matter I want to explore.

Finishing my degree is not the end of my learning journey by any means. I am expecting to learn so much from my first few years outside of education about myself, my practice and the real working world. I am going to continue entering live briefs, reaching out to other practitioners and sharing my work with potential clients with the hope of receiving opportunities, advice and feedback in response. I am going to try my best to stay positive and not be disheartened by not getting where I want to be straight away. I know its going to be a long journey but at the end of the day I know I’ll be making pictures for the rest of my life, whether that’s for someone else or myself. 

Summative Evaluation

End of Module Student Evaluation

BA(hons) Illustration

Module Code: PPP3 OUIL602

Name:   Naomi Smith

Student ID:   254958

Learning Outcome	Evidenced where? Blog, Sketchbook, Roughs Final Illustrations, development sheets etc.  (No more than 75 words)	Your grade Using words: > poor, satisfactory, good, very good, excellent
6A3 Demonstrate specific knowledge and specialist understanding of the professional and contextual location of their practice. Knowledge and Understanding - RESEARCH	Blogposts specifically including ‘who is my market’ and ‘unpack your practice’. Finding common ground between my work and creative practitioners by blogging the relevance of their practice to mine. Listing and writing about live briefs and competitions I have been involved with. My presentation shows where I hope to see my work by identifying contexts, clients and how I see my practice working in the future.	Excellent
6B2 Undertake research to identify and evaluate their personal and professional skills and the career or progression opportunities available to them. (Cognitive Skills - EVALUATION & REFLECTION	Contacting people in the greetings industry to find out about their experiences and ask for advice. Research into other illustrators’ practices. Finding out about the structure of an advertising agency while working at TBWA Manchester. My notes from numerous life after college sessions link to this, especially the Easter program workshops. A blogpost I specifically wrote about my plans ‘Creative Strategy – My Plan’.	Very Good
6C2 Develop and implement a personal promotion strategy to communicate to relevant organisations. Practical & Professional Skills - VISUAL QUALITY)	Structuring and development of my website making it easy for potential clients or customers to find what they are looking for. Development of my branding and identity, discarding unsuitable ideas. My creative presence presentation boards show my cohesive set of promotional material. Each component is specifically needed and relevant to my practice right now and in the future.	Very Good
6D2 Use a range of appropriate communication methods to present themselves as a professional practitioner to a relevant audience. Key Transferable Skills - PROFESSIONALISM & COMMUNICATION	My evaluative blogposts about my online presence, looking at the successes and failings of the current platforms I use and explaining why I have stopped using certain ones. Website development. Participating in and attending art fairs and exhibitions and conducting myself as a professional in person and via email.	Excellent

Evaluation (See guidance below for more information)

You are required to write a 500 word evaluation of this module.

At the beginning of this module I felt really daunted by the prospect of graduation and entering the real world of work, but coming towards the end of my final year I can now say I am actually really looking forward to it. This time last year I was very focussed on making work for application onto products and I thought this would be the route my practice would go down. However, now I am presenting a much broader practice which spans editorial, publishing, product and maybe even scientific illustration. I have definitely developed my practical skills this year through tackling a range of briefs which have taken me right out of my comfort zone. I have produced public art, found a new approach to linocut printing, developed my pattern design skills and developed a strong, detailed drawing style which I now understand is commissionable. A lot of my briefs for extended practice have been completed under a short deadline and I have proved myself to be very efficient working under pressure. I have learnt a lot about myself, the way I work and what I need to do to boost my productivity and motivation. I have said ‘yes’ to a lot of things this year and I am so glad I did, engaging with live and competition briefs has led to most of my successes this year. Entering my design for the Virgin Media communication box competition led to me bringing my design to life, being part of an exhibition, having my work featured in Independent Leeds and making valuable contacts along the way. Entering the Papyrus colouring book brief led to a great experience of doing a day’s work in an advertising agency, learning about how this industry works while also getting paid to complete extra work for them which is soon to be published. At the time these things seemed very daunting but I have a real sense of achievement from completing them. Receiving feedback from my peers about how my practice appears from an outside perspective has been influential on the way I choose to present it. I have been torn this year about dividing my practice and have received conflicting opinions, but the feedback from my peers has given me confidence that all of my work is recognisable as mine. I really struggled with reaching out and making contacts. I thought it was because I lack confidence in myself but I actually now realise I lack confidence in the presentation of my work. I think I am afraid of my work seeming irrelevant to the people I am sending it to. This is why I have made it the aim of my final major project to produce work that has a specific purpose and context. I feel like I did keep on top of my PPP blogging with regard to session and workshop notes, tasks and events but what I could have done better at was taking the time to continually reflect on my practice, my creative concerns and my thoughts about the future. I think if I had done this consistently throughout the year there would have been a more natural written progression to the point I am at today. Thinking ahead, even after graduation I think it will be useful for me to take the time to evaluate my practice from time to time. I need to recognise the progress I am making and consider what my next steps are to get where I eventually want to be.

PPP3 Final Presentation

I have written out a script but won't be presenting this word for word in my presentation. These are the points I want to get across. 

1. Opening Slide

Introduction. 

2. Summary of level six.

This year has been a year of saying yes to things, doing things outside of my comfort zone and really trying to make the most of my final year in education. 

I have taken up numerous opportunities to exhibit and sell my work and I have taken on projects that have pushed the boundaries of my practice and allowed me to experience some new and different ways of working. And obviously I completed my dissertation too. 

Entering live briefs and competitions which have lead to some great opportunities like trying out public art by painting my Virgin Media box and going to work in an advertising agency and working under continual art direction. I have been taking on private commissions, showing my work in public facing exhibitions and even went into a school to deliver a talk on what its like to study a creative subject at this level and discuss the opportunities available in the creative industries. 

Level six has also got me talking to people and building the beginnings of a professional network. I have spoken to people from creative and non-creative backgrounds and have realised it is beneficial to have a broad range of contacts with different experiences and information to offer me.

3. Who am I as a learner and how does this inform me as a professional practitioner?

I work best when I am working alone, but this year I have realised that this doesn’t mean I can’t still work on collaborative projects with other creative practitioners as long as I have my own job to do within the group. I am happy by myself and can imagine myself working from my own studio quite happily as a freelance illustrator. 

I always work best when I’m under pressure and I have learned to set my own deadlines to boost my productivity. I have also learnt that I often need a change of environment to work in so I rotate between working at home, in the studio, cafés and the library. 

I am self motivated and don’t need someone telling me to do my work. I often find my most productive and inspired times are when I am working into the early hours of the morning which is why I can’t see myself working a 9-5 job in the future as it’s just not how my brain fucntions. 

I am a creative person but I am also very organised and I think I tackle projects quite methodically. Giving myself this structured way of working will hopefully help me manage myself well as a freelancer. 

4. What are my skills? What do I do best?

Practically, my strongest skill is drawing, working with a variety of analogue media in an adaptable style which makes my work suitable for a range of briefs with varying timescales and contexts. 

Aside from my practical skills, I am good conducting myself professionally, organising my time, staying motivated and being disciplined.

My future ambitions go beyond just being creative, they are about running my practice as a business. Getting involved with numerous Life After College sessions this year has really benefitted my understanding of what to expect when I leave. I still have a lot to learn but I am much more confident with legal things like contracts, licensing, my rights, and financial things like pricing and managing accounts. 

5. My work 

Talk about my projects. 

6. Examples of contemporary illustration I can relate to.

Charlotte Hicks’ portfolio is visually similar to some of the images I produce and the themes she works with are nature and science based which is something I am really interested in as subject matter. I think her work could exist in editorial illustration, book illustration, packaging, product and for educational or scientific proposes. Thinking about this made me realise that there is no reason why I can't make my illustrations work in these fields as well.

I have followed Holly Exley's work for a while now and although we have different visual styles, I would like my own practice to be similar to hers in the future. She works with a lot of natural and food-related themes and her client list includes M&S, Lonely Planet, and Stylist magazine. She also runs her own online shop where she sells original paintings, prints and products.

Jill Tytherleigh works a lot with ink pen in quite a similar way to how I draw. She does editorial illustrations, product ranges, instructional illustrations and much more. I hope that in the future my practice is as versatile as hers so I can work on a broad range of interesting projects.

7. What is my place in the industry?

These are some of the companies, publications and organisations that I am aspiring to work with at some point in the future. 

There is a broad range here but I do think my images could work with any of these companies or brands if the brief was right. I think its good to have optimistic long term goals, but my short term goals need to be realistic in order to help me get there. 

To get to the point of working with big names such as these, my self promotion needs to be strong. 

8. My portfolio and promo pack.

I wanted my visual identity to be something simple that works in black and white primarily. I wanted my name to be the centre of the identity because working as a freelancer means that I am the brand. I thought using my own handwriting made this feel personal and it also fits with my preference of analogue media. 

My more detailed work does not work well small scale so I chose a much simpler image to accompany my branding.

My promotional pack consists of a creative CV, business cards and a portfolio book. I also made an acceptance of commission form and some thank you postcards for anyone who buys from me or commissions me for anything.

I produced multiple designs on my business cards and postcards to represent the varying styles I work in. I have kept the overall aesthetic very simple and by sticking to a greyscale theme it would work alongside any piece of my work.

9. My online presence.

My online presence consists of a fully functioning website including a portfolio, about and contact page, and links to my other online platforms. I have a profile on Bechance, LinkedIn, The Dots and Instagram. I keep all of these professional and only post finished work, apart from my Instagram which is where I show a bit more of my personality and my creative process. I have managed to secure commissions via Instagram this year which I think shows that people relate to a slightly less formal point of communication. 

I also have a specific email account purely for my illustration work.

10. What do I see my practice being like?

I have decided that I don’t want to go down the route of getting an agent. I have joined the AOI so I can get advice and support if I need it while I am trying to establish myself. 

In the future I can see my practice having multiple strands. I want to be commissioned for things like editorial work, book illustrations, packaging and maybe products. I have been thinking recently about explore potential educational and/or scientific use of my illustrations, maybe working on projects for reference books or museums.

I would also like to have personal projects going on to keep me curious and pursue my personal interests.

I also want to run my own online shop where I can sell prints of my work and products with my designs on. It sounds like a lot of work but this is a long term goal for when I don’t have to work another job to support myself. 

11. How has level six affected my aims and ambitions?

I blogged at the beginning of the year about my personal and professional aims. I feel I have already achieved some of these like building a strong presence online and also managed to make a bit of money from some small freelance jobs this year. 

My confidence in my work is always fluctuating but I do think that overall this year has been positive for building my confidence. Although the prospect of entering the world of work is exciting, it understandably brings elements of self doubt and uncertainty. 

At this point last year I was very much focussed on the application of my work onto products and this is something I have continued through this year and still want to pursue. However, through my experiences at level six I am on my way to exploring the wider potential of my work to appear in different contexts.

12. What are my short term goals?

I have a few exhibition opportunities coming up soon. I am also keeping an eye out for any more opportunities like this that come up. I have an art fair lined up for late June which I will need to prepare stock for. 

I will be spending time preparing for the end of year show and D&AD in London. 

I will be promoting myself as available for work. I want to keep going with my pet portraits as I find there is easy money to be made here. I will also be looking out for live briefs and competitions that can keep me working that can help me gain experience and exposure. 

I want to make the most of college’s facilities while I still have access to them. 

I will be returning home over summer, going on some holidays, spending time with my family and hopefully taking some time to have a break. I am looking forward to exploring some new places and getting inspiration for personal work. I also want to keep going to galleries, events and exhibitions to keep myself in the art loop, especially in Leeds as this is where I want to return eventually. 

Search for jobs and start applying, make a real effort to find something that suits my skills so I don't end up doing something I hate. Analyse my financial situation and make some decisions about the feasibility of moving back to Leeds.

Amongst all of these things I want to do over summer I want to be picking up projects and commissions as I go to make a bit of money and keep my practice going. 

By the end of 2017 I hope to have started a job somewhere, hopefully a creative one!

Keep promoting myself as a freelancer and take on as much work as I can to build my reputation and professional portfolio. 

13. What am I expecting after university?

I have thought about this a lot and I feel prepared for things not going exactly to my plan. 

I understand the first job I have might not be one I particularly enjoy. I just need to make sure its not too tiring or stressful so that I still have the energy and motivation to spend time on my own work when I get home. 

I know I’m going to have to discipline myself and stay organised and keep pushing myself to keep up to date with changing trends and technologies. 

Rejection is obviously going to be tough to deal with but it is to be expected. I am hoping that I will start to build a thick skin and not be too disheartened by my work not being selected for things. I do often doubt myself but I need to learn to keep my confidence levels high. 

I am also going to be wary of being taken advantage of work-wise. I am hoping being part of the AOI will help me avoid being underpaid or exploited. 

I am prepared to learn a lot! About myself, my practice and adult life in general.

14. What are my long term ambitions?

I hope that by this time in five years I will have established myself as a freelance illustrator. 

I will have either cut my working hours down a lot to make time for my freelance practice or if things have gone extremely well I might be able to freelance full time without the support of another job. 

I would hope that I will either be living in Leeds or at least lived there for a while and moved on to somewhere else. And I will definitely have moved out of my family home! 

I would hope that I am being approached for most of my work rather than searching for it myself. 

Thinking ahead, I would love to have a solo exhibition of my work at some point in my life. 

Have a fully illustrated a non-fiction book published.

Have a really good desk. In my own studio. In my own house. 

15. Closing slide - any questions?

Creative Presence Presentation Boards

My Portfolio

Formats: 
PDF File
Issuu Presentation
Physical Portfolio Book
Smaller Scale Mini-Portfolio For Mail-Outs

Creative Strategy - MY PLAN

LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE COURSE

• As mentioned previously I have a few exhibition opportunities coming up both in Leeds and back home in Loughborough. I am keeping an eye out for any more opportunities like this that come up as I feel now is a really important time to stay involved with the creative scene.
• I have one art fair lined up for late June which I will need to prepare a decent amount of stock for. Similar to how I feel about exhibiting my work, I am also keeping an eye out for art/print fair opportunities in Leeds and Loughborough. I am going to extend my search back home to Leicester and Nottingham because I'll have access to a car when I’m home. I could also extend my search beyond Leeds, I would just have to think about how to transport my stock, I am thinking places like York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Saltaire, etc. 
• Obviously a lot of time will be spent preparing for the end of year show and New Blood in London. 
• I will be promoting myself as available for commissions. I want to keep going with my pet portraits as I find there is easy money to be made here. I will also be looking out for live briefs and competitions that can keep me working. 
• Make the most of college’s facilities while I still have access to them. Also think ahead and research where I can get products and prints made when I leave. I already have a good idea of the services available locally but have never actually sent anything away to be produced externally.
• Going to London for D&AD, I have sorted accommodation at a friend’s flat in London and am looking forward to the experience of showing my work to potential clients and employers. 
• I am going to be searching for jobs and getting a better idea of what is available, however I do not want to get a job over summer as I already have quite a lot planned. I would be looking to start around September/October time. 

SUMMER

• I will be returning home over summer as I have a few holidays planned and events back home and I don’t want to be wasting money on renting somewhere in Leeds if I am not using it. I have a few close friends who permanently live and work in Leeds so I’ll have somewhere to stay for short periods if I do want to take up an opportunity up here. 
• Continue my job search and start applying, make a real effort to find something that suits my skills so I don't end up doing something I hate. Analyse my financial situation and decide whether it is worth the move back up to Leeds or if I should take advantage of living cheaply at home for a while. At the moment I am thinking that I will only move back to Leeds if I can get a secure job that pays enough to afford rent for a set period of time. The alternative is to get a job and live at home and use the money I am saving to travel to Leeds when possible to try and establish myself within the creative scene in the north. 
• I am going on a couple of holidays and have a few more being planned right now. I am really looking forward to spending time with my extended family as its something we don’t get to do all together very often. I am also keen too explore new places with friends, I am planning on travelling around Italy and visiting other countries I have wanted to go to for a long time including Slovenia and Denmark. I feel like these will be great sources of inspiration for me and hopefully will help me get started on some new personal projects. 
• Keep myself in the cultural loop by going to galleries, exhibitions, events, etc. These are another great source of inspiration for me and I want to make sure I keep up to date with what is happening. 
• Enjoy not being in education - as much as I have enjoyed my 18 YEARS in education I am more than ready to leave this bubble. I think its going to feel really weird but it will be nice to have a proper rest and do some things for pure enjoyment! (before working for the rest of my life) 
• Amongst all of these things I want to do over summer I want to be picking up projects and commissions as I go to make a bit of money and keep my practice going. 

BY CHRISTMAS

• By this point I hope to have started a job of some sort either in Leeds or at home, hopefully a creative one! I really want this job to allow me the time to still work on my freelance practice and personal projects. 
• If I am still living at home by this point, I hope to have my own car to give me more independence. This will also help me broaden my job search and potential freelance opportunities. 
• Keep promoting myself as a freelancer and take on as much work as I can to build my reputation and professional portfolio. 
• Continue to keep a stock of my own products and prints and I will have hopefully got better at art fairs. I think there will be a lot of great opportunities for this around Christmas time, I just need to make sure I am always prepared and stocked up. 
• I will have graduated officially! 

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW 

• I hope that by this time in five years I will have established myself as a freelance illustrator. 
• I will have either cut my working hours down a lot to make time for my freelance practice or if things have gone extremely well I might be able to freelance full time without the support of another job. 
• I would hope that I will either be living in Leeds or at least lived there for a while and moved on to somewhere else. 
• By this point I would hope that I am being approached for most of my work rather than having to continually be searching for it myself. 

BEYOND

• It would love to have a solo exhibition of my work at some point in my life. 
• Have a fully illustrated a non-fiction book published.
• Have a really good desk. In my own studio. In my own house.