Tropical World

For me, the aim of going to Tropical World was do get back into observational drawing as its something I don't feel I have been doing enough of. We realised that going on a bank holiday monday was a bad idea because it was so busy we couldn't get a proper view of anything long enough to sit and draw from it properly. I took plenty of photos inside to worm from them as reference later on, and then did some observational drawing outside of some flowers. 

Piranhas - Observation 

Flowers - Observation

 These are my drawings from my reference photographs. I feel like I had relied quite heavily on using  ink and a brush for the later stages of first year so I wanted to restrict myself and use pencils and a variety of pens for these drawings. 

This tortoise drawing on the right was the final one of about three or four sketches of the same thing using different media. I think this one is my most successful and I like how the hardness of the media used captures the dryness and roughness of the creature and its environment. 

I like drawing tortoises. I find it strange how inanimate they look all the time. 

I found meerkats quite challenging to draw, and they don't stay still for very long so it was hard to get good reference photos let alone actually sit and draw them. I think after a bit of practice I started to get familiar with their shape and fur markings. 

This was the first time I've got back into drawing for fun since finishing my modules for first year. Ive got a good feeling about summer and want to continue visiting different places, drawing and taking lots of photos. I hope to visit somewhere else soon where theres better opportunities for observational drawing. 

York Art Society Exhibition

When visiting York, I came across York Art Society’s spring exhibition and decided to take a look around. It was really nice to look round an exhibition purely for enjoyment without a specific project in mind. It inspired me to keep drawing and painting this summer and get back into making pictures for fun and for myself. I noted down a few names to research when I got home but I struggled to find a lot of them online and realise I probably should have taken more details than just a name.

Artwork by Jelena Lunge particularly caught my eye. It was different to most of the other artwork in this exhibition which was more painterly and free. I enjoy looking at work like that but I found Lunge’s work more relatable to my practice because I could find similarities between how she makes pictures and how I like to work. I am presuming that she uses pencil, fine liners and/or ink. Some of her pieces are more conceptual and less to my taste but still have a high level of craft and detail.

It was her pictures of birds that I spent a lot of time looking at. I love how she has captured the texture of the birds’ feathers with such a simple medium and wiriness of the hair around the face. In the image of the two owls, I like how there is such a contrast between the feather texture and the sharpness of their eyes, especially in the one looking straight at you. 

 I like this image but there was something about it that was frustrating me, at first I thought that it was the balance of the composition and the variation in sizes of the birds but I think its jus that the bird in the foreground doesn’t stand out enough. I think if there was a stronger outline around this single bird and maybe some heavier mark-making, it would blend less into the background and the image would have more depth.  

PPP End of Module Self Evaluation

1.  What learning have you inherited through this module and how has it impacted on your own understanding of professional practice? Consider yourself as a student at University as much as an illustrator.

Before starting the course, I knew I could draw but I didn't know if I could illustrate - this is something I’m still battling with but I have now learnt what illustration actually is which is a good start to understanding how I can relate my practice to this. I have received lots of good advice this year, both from tutors, peers, visiting professionals and from the big heads sessions. Its been really helpful to get an insight into the professional world and start to pull together an understanding of what to expect after I finish my degree.

I have learnt things about myself as part of this module. PPP has forced me to think about my likes and dislikes and thoroughly consider my true strengths and weaknesses. I think I’ve still got a long way to go before I truly know the direction I want to take my practice but I have thought about it more this year than ever before. My aim for next year is to take what I find out about myself and make it evident in my work.

Outside of the course, my general life skills have improved. I have learnt that it is important to look after myself better by eating well and getting enough sleep because it makes me more productive during studio time and I get less stressed out because I’m not feeling tired all the time. Also, balancing uni work with tasks such as cleaning, food shopping, laundry and taking time to visit home has forced me to organise my personal life more effectively. Balancing workload and personal life is something professionals all have to battle with so its good that I am learning this now.

2. What approaches/ types of research have you found most valuable over this module? Why did they have such an impact?

My research into the work of other practitioners through blogs and sites like Pinterest have been valuable to my work this year. Even just browsing through these inspires me and I can see this coming through in some of my work for other modules. I need to get better at blogging my ongoing research because I often forget names or websites which makes them difficult to revisit. I think my research into other practitioners’ work had a big impact on me because it was about me finding work that I genuinely liked and wasn't just something that tied in to a brief. Looking back, I feel I should have spent more time doing this because it will shape my interests and practice as a whole.

Research of the outside world has had an impact on me because I have started to realise how many examples of illustration there are all around us. This fills me with a bit of confidence but I still know that it is a very competitive industry. Finding out about where illustration can exist gets me in the mindset of thinking where I would want my work to be which is a key thing to consider as I move into second year.

3. In what way has PPP informed the way your work in other modules and your illustration practice as a whole?

It has made me more aware of the work that is already out there and I have sometimes pulled across some research or inspiration from a practitioner from PPP into another module such as visual communication.

It was because of PPP that I realised digital skills are essential in the creative industry, and so I made an effort with Photoshop to become competent with using it. My awareness of the creative industry still needs a lot of improvement but small realisations like this will all work together to make me a more rounded and adaptable practitioner.

I feel that I have learnt a lot about myself in this module. I am starting to understand the way I think, work and organise myself. This has a big impact on my other modules because I am starting to work in a more methodical and effective way. I hadn’t really taken the time to think about this in much depth before but writing lists in the PPP sessions about things I want to improve about myself made me realise where my downfalls lie. I have tried to tackle them during my other modules, for example, avoiding distractions, not leaving things to the last minute and eating healthier. I am slowly starting to understand how I work best and it is resulting in my work being completed with lower stress levels and less rushing.

4. What weaknesses can you identify in your PPP submission and how will you address this in the future?

I need to research other practitioners more frequently and blog about them more effectively so I can revisit them if required for other modules. I haven’t really explored a broad range of practices this year, only really illustration, art and film. I would like to become more aware of other disciplines to give me a wider knowledge of the current creative industry as a whole, I would be interested in exploring graphic design, surface pattern and architecture in particular. I also think I need to sometimes take a step back from my work in other modules and use what I have learnt in PPP to evaluate how I am progressing and what I could change to make things go better.

I feel like I haven’t been out enough this year to galleries, exhibitions and events. I would really like to get more involved with the creative scene in Leeds and also visit new places. I have visited numerous cities this year but I haven't taken advantage of my time there to do drawing so I would really like to do some drawing from observation wherever I go in the future. I hope to do lots of this when I visit Budapest, Vienna and Prague this summer.

5. What communities of practice and professional contexts do you intend to investigate further as you approach level 5? Why do they appeal to you?

I want to explore reportage illustration more. I think my book about human trafficking in the tea trade for the visual narratives brief sparked my interest in this and I would really like to see how I can use my work to target world issues and highlight their importance. It would be important to get emotion across with topics like these which is something I really want to work on next year.

Textiles and sewing is a hobby of mine but I have realised that I have totally avoided incorporating this into my illustration practice this year. This wasn't intentional and I think it might make some visually exciting outcomes if I combined drawing and textiles, it might also help me bring some of my personality into my work.

I have watched a lot of films this year and I want to continue this and see how this can impact on my work. I am particularly inspired by the Wes Anderson films I have watched so far and the strong use of composition in his frames. I am keen to explore how techniques used by other directors could influence my practice.

6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance					X
Punctuality					X
Motivation				X
Commitment			X
Quantity of work produced			X
Quality of work produced			X
Contribution to the group		X
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

Final Presentation Slides and Notes

 Slide 1 - Illustration

I think this image sums up the main thing I have learnt this year which is the actual meaning of illustration and the work involved in it. 

I have learnt that illustration should have a purpose and a concept behind it. Learning the difference between drawing and making an illustration has been key to the development of my work. I now ask myself what the purpose is of the work I am doing. What am I trying to achieve? Is this image getting across the point I am trying to make? I don’t think I have done particularly well at developing strong concepts within my work this year and this is an area I will need to improve on as I now understand that the concept behind a drawing is what makes it an illustration. 

Another step for me has been moving away from using reference imagery as something to copy from and instead, translating what I see onto paper in my own way. This has given me more freedom and helped me to discover new media and methods of working which were previously outside my comfort zone. I think this has been helped by drawing the same thing over and over again in different ways and seeing how an image can develop through different stages. I can see how my drawing skills have developed and I have more confidence in them now because I know that what I am making doesn't need to perfectly resemble real life or an image I am working from. 

Slide 2 - Advice

Receiving advice from tutors, visiting lecturers and professional illustrators through big heads has been really beneficial to me this year. Its good to get an insight into the industry from people who are working in it and it gives you an idea of what to expect after university. 

We had been taught about using roughs at the start of the year but my scamps were much more labour intensive than they needed to be and I was struggling to break out of the habit. It was only until the big heads session with Josh Cochran where he showed us some of his initial scamps that I realised that even the professionals produce really scribbly drawings to get an idea straight in their head before progressing onto refining their idea. 

I think one of the most important realisations I have had this year is that its okay to make bad drawings. I have learnt that its a good thing to make mistakes because it gives you the opportunity to identify where things have gone wrong and work to try and solve it. I had it drilled into my head that the images I make must be successful because that is what makes me a good at drawing but the reality is that unsuccessful drawings will probably be more useful to me in the long run. I think I still have a long way to go with my sketchbook work and being less precious about its appearance and using it as a thinking process but I’m starting to get there. 

Slide 3 - Lucinda Rogers

I was introduced to the work of Lucinda Rogers at the very beginning of the year and her work has made me think about my use of line and how varying the weight of my lines could have drastic effects on my work. It gives an image a lot more depth and helps highlight focal points to the viewer. Researching into her work lead me onto reportage illustration, I have been reading through a few blogs about reportage which is where I came across the work of George Butler. 

Slide 4 - George Butler 

He has been to Syria, Afghanistan and other significant places in the news to document what is going on there first hand. Looking through his illustrations from his visits have really inspired me to spend more time doing observational drawing. It has also made me more keen than ever to go and visit different places and explore new environments and cultures. I just need to get out and draw more!

Slide 5 - Holly Sharpe

Holly Sharpe’s work caught my eye on a piece of packaging so I decided to find out more about her. I really admire her bravery with media and colour and how she manages to capture movement and drama in her illustrations. It made me realise that to get these results I need to experiment more and understand that it is okay for things to go drastically wrong. One of my aims for next year is to become braver with my application of media. 

Slide 6 - World knowledge 

I have been saying for a long time that I need to keep up with current affairs but I have never really had the motivation to sit down and read about it. However, being at home over Easter I made more of an effort to watch the news and actually took an interest in the general election which is something I never thought I would pay attention to. Staying up to date with this kind of information will be key to my future practice because I will need to know what’s going on in the world for my work to be relevant and relatable. I have realised this year how little I knew about world issues and it highlighted how I consequently find it difficult to form my own opinions about such topics.

Slide 7 - Meeting people and exploring

Socialising with new people both in halls and at college has helped me to expand my knowledge of other peoples opinions and beliefs. I have been introduced to new genres of film and music, different foods, cultures and religions. Its always a worry turning up to university in a city you barely know and not knowing anyone so its nice to have made a group of friends I can feel comfortable around. 

Yorkshire has some amazing landscapes, beautiful historic cities and traditional villages that I don’t think I am currently taking advantage of. I have explored Leeds but not as much as I would like to and aside from one day trip to Saltaire, I haven't really left the city. My aim for summer and next year is to explore more and be inspired by where I am living. 

Slide 8 - Digital

I was quite stubborn at the beginning of the course as I wanted to battle against digital media and stick to analogue image making techniques. I feel I really broke through with Photoshop during the visual narratives picture book brief and I learned that even though you are using Photoshop, your work can still have a handmade feel to it. Also, it helps to make life a lot easier with editing and correcting little mistakes and generally makes my work look more professional. Before, I saw it as the enemy and now I see it as a necessity for an illustrator. 

Adobe Illustrator is something I have been battling with since the first few workshops. I don’t feel that this program is one of my strong points because I find it difficult to build an image from shape rather than line. I like the look of work that appears handmade so the aesthetic of generic work on illustrator doesn't appeal to my tastes. I think I need to persevere with the program to see how I can tailor its functions to suit my work.

Slide 9 - Playing it safe 

I think I have played it safe this year. In hindsight, I wish I had taken more risks with my work as I don’t think I have taken full advantage of the experimental nature of first year. Most of my experimentation with different processes such as print and digital were triggered by the brief rather than being self initiated. I feel like I need to be more emotive with my work and put my personality into it more, and I know it makes me sound boring but I found this challenging because I struggled to identify my interests and personality. I need to stop seeing the brief as someone else's problem that I am solving for them and see it as a brief that I can make my own. I am hoping my personality will be more evident in my work as I start to discover new things I like and dislike. I have already developed an interest in films set in the deep south of america, I have found Wes Anderson’s movies really interesting and inspiring to watch, and I've started listening to jazz music since my visual communication brief about Ella Fitzgerald. 

Slide 10 - Sleep and diet

At the start of the year, my idea of making the most of the day was to stay up as late as possible to try and cram as much in as I could. As a result of this, along with poor diet and putting too much pressure on myself resulted in me wearing myself out. I realise now how ridiculous it is to go to bed at 4am for nights in a row and that if I organise myself effectively and avoid procrastinating, I will be able to allow myself enough sleep to actually be able to function the next day.

I am looking after myself better in general - I've come a long way from fish fingers, potato waffles and frozen pizza. My cooking skills have improved a lot, I have tried new things and I can now cook healthy meals for myself. It turns out vegetables aren't that bad. I have also learnt when to take a break from work to refresh my mind before the stress gets of top of me.

Slide 11 - Blogging

At first I struggled to understand the importance of blogging, it felt like I was doing my work and then repeating myself by typing it all again. When I have been on top of my workload and have blogged in parallel to my sketchbook work, it really started to help me clarify my thought processes in my own head and blogging actually became less of a chore. I have realised that although I love to draw, I find it easier and quicker to get my ideas and thoughts down through writing. I can then look through this and see how it can be developed into image. I have to admit I have been guilty of blogging retrospectively for a few briefs and this is when it has really felt like a chore - it doesn't help my development or inform my work because it is already complete, so I really want to avoid doing this next year. 

Slide 12 - Aims for next year 

Organisation is something I think I have done well with towards the end of this year. I write a list of things I need to do almost every day, even non work related and this helps me to stay on track with my workload and other tasks in life that need to be completed. Towards the end of the academic year, I feel I have got better with managing my time as the pressure of multiple modules has crept up on me. Spacing my workload out over the week encourages me not to avoid certain modules and then writing a list each day breaks down the workload into manageable individual tasks.

Next year I am going to keep my work organised in folders to cut down on stress levels when it comes to assessment because I will know that everything for a certain module is together. It will also help me to keep my workspace tidy which is more helpful for thinking clearly and not getting distracted by other pieces of work. 

Other aims for next year are to research other areas of art and design. I have kept my focus very much on illustration this year and I think it would be beneficial to broaden this to other disciplines as well. 

I need to have bigger ideas and better concepts to strengthen my work. I need to be less literal with my ideas and imbue more of my personality and feelings about a subject into my work. I seem to get my idea across through what I choose to draw and my media choices but not with the strength and emotion that is possible with more careful consideration. 

Slide 13 - Second year and questions

The prospect of second year being even more challenging is a scary thought. I hope to learn from the mistakes I have made in first year and work hard to survive second year. 

Are there any questions?