The module that I think has informed my practice the most is Visual Language. Content is so important but as someone learning to be an illustrator, my image making skills definitely needed tweaking! I found the tasks more about composition as opposed to media technique more helpful, maybe because I'd really never thought about composition in such terms before. I think my final piece of work for Visual Language summed up my progress in this module, I think there is something to be said for the line of sight and depth in it- something I'd never consciously thought of before. Visual Language also got me into using scamps and thumbnails, which whilst not an entirely new concept for me it got me more into it and it has been so helpful in quick and good idea production.
And following Visual Language I've been trying to try out different methods and tools in my work. I expected to work more digitally but have surprised myself by favouring analogue methods. For me they have a feel that can't be replicated digitally, but when required I've found it hard to translate these analogue methods to digital, for example for prints. This is particularly tricky with pencil! A big thing I've learned this year is that Animation is not quite as scary or boring as I thought it would be! I really enjoyed the gif project, and can now see Animation's place in Illustration. It's also interesting to see how the method can dictate and control the work, particularly in regards to print processes.
Of course, I've been looking at other artists throughout the year. One of my favourites I've looked at is Mogu Takahashi. Whilst technically it's not exactly something to marvel at I love this naiviety and more so the confidence it's done with. It makes me think about how good images can be made in simpler and looser ways. I've been feeling similarly about Marcus Oakley's work. I think I've been looking too much at Illustration however, and not towards other disciplines enough. I want to look at more Photography- I think there is such an emphasis on composition rather than being carried away with style in this discipline that could lend itself to Illustration.
Over this past year I have been doing some paid work for the nightclub night Fuzzy Logic, and it's the first time I've really sold myself as an 'illustrator' outside of the realms of just selling some not so great handmade knick knacks on Etsy. It's been a learning curve for sure, and it's taught me a lot of good things, such as working to clients briefs, co-operating and reworking ideas and deadlines and getting some money, but it's also highlighted some things in my practice I'm not crazy about. I found myself getting lazy with my ideas and production methods- everything had to stay similar as to fit the Fuzzy aesthetic but I found myself panicking with approaching deadlines and making something because it was an easy solution. And I suppose in a way, I didn't really have that much time to experiment for the projects alone, but I think I could have taken more of what I have learned this year into it.
And one of the pesky things about having to posters is lettering. I went into these jobs completely unprepared, and to this day I can't look at the Fuzzy Logic logo without cringing at its odd proportions. A lot of what I did was very on the spot, gathering bits of odd inspiration and making as I went with no practice which I regret as the results aren't great, and all my criticisms of it are amplified as it's not for me this is for someone else! There's been other instances of lettering throughout the year and it's steadily getting somewhere. Whilst I'm not great at doing big beautiful lettering, I think there is something naturally ok about my 'handwriting' (in quotation marks), in its spacing and style. In the past week alone I have discovered dip pens, and found they give a really nice natural weighting to this hand writing. Before that, I'd used dip pens maybe once or twice and I'm pretty sure I put the nib in the wrong bit!
Whilst I'm aware, or think, that using social media to an illustration advantage is something that maybe gets covered next year, I have been using it as that kind of tool already. I think it's pretty great, I've talked to and met in real life other artists and practitioners through it, and I think it's a nifty way of getting some dialogue going, and I love that it's made me be able to do that. But I'm also aware of how empty it can be, the concept of 'likes' is nice and I find myself sometimes falling victim to it but ultimately I'm aware it doesn't mean much in the grander scheme of things. I find it odd when someone deems themselves or others successful just by their amount of tumblr followers. I've also found the internet an utter distraction, so!
The Context of Practice module was a bit of a shambles in regards to my poor understanding and planning of what I was actually meant to be doing. The essay wasn't great, but once I got into the illustrative side I started to get it. I'm not out to become a political illustrator by any means, but it's made me understand that work with something behind it has so much more substance, and this may or may not be strictly political. Whilst in the realms of politics, I've always liked to consider myself somewhat politically aware but the recent election (and its results!!) really ignited that again, and it's something I want to continue with, not just as an illustrator but a person.
The big thing to consider now is where I want to go, and in regards to whether say, I want to editorial or children's book illustration or whatever I really don't know. I'm not sure how to put it, but I know I'm feeling a bit stale in regards to what I'm making, I don't feel that I'm experimenting enough and so with it not evolving. I need to get some observational drawing back into my practice too, I think what I'm drawing is losing touch with reality a bit to a point where it's distracting. Also, something I've noticed is that I'm clearly not very fond of background and clear am very fond of white space, but I think this is just out of pure laziness so needs to be changed! Since making zines and books I've also become more interested in self publishing, but I'm not sure if that's just because I like having an end 'product'.
I think what I want to say with my illustration is a big thing, just as important as the visuals. I've done a lot of quiet and sad pieces of work this year. Which is fine, maybe a bit reflective on my personality although I'd like to think not! So one of my aims for next year is to cheer up. But again, going back to what I learnt in the COP module, I want to make things with more of a voice, and with that figure out what I want to say, really.
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