I really enjoyed being given the opportunity to write my own project but with it came a few hinderances. Mostly it seemed like a prime time to test what I’m interested in as a practitioner- not yet sending portfolios around but needing to establish what I want to do so I can get on to that soon.
I struggled with time management and planning, which isn’t usually something that gets me. I found it hard to come up with a solid idea so distracted myself by playing around stylistically and visually. This was valuable, but more time spent on the concept was really needed.
The book was my main focus throughout the module and I don’t think that was necessarily a bad thing, or unlike how real publishing works. I am quite fond of what I have made, but to say I had spent so long playing around visually I’m disappointed with the illustrations as a collection. I was keen to go full colour and textural after the limitations of 504 but it made it hard to keep them consistent. I also wish I had made them looser, more energetic. I feel that many of them lack depth and detail, all things that I think would make more exciting images. That said, this project along with some of 503 has sparked a slight change of direction for me, and even though I’m not fully happy with these illustrations they are definitely getting closer to what I do want to achieve.
The text in Too Much is the most complex I’ve ever tried typographically. I also did it in a short space of time, so it’s not the most considered, but it’s made me think about thinking more about lettering/ type. I may not need the skill, maybe it would be given to someone else to do. But it’s a good skill to have, whether it’s to give input on a graphic designer’s work or to do it myself.
I feel like because I didn’t manage my time so well, because I prioritised other modules despite caring about this one on a personal level more, that the final book was quite a rushed job. I am interested in it as a concept, and would really like to remake it and refine it, with the intention of sending it to publishers, if not to have it as a portfolio piece / my own enjoyment. The writing is a little odd, and I think the pacing could be smoother. The idea is there and it’s something I care about, so would like to work on more.
I think it would be really interesting to see what an actual child would make of this! I don’t know / have access to any children so haven’t been able to get their much valued feedback. I have been keen throughout to target it at children and not just the illustrated goods market, but at the same time taking heed from other illustrators keen to not be overcome by the idea of ‘child friendliness’ in picture books. I’m pleased with the tone of voice I got across in the book, I think it is subtle but hopefully also exciting, but really I won’t know what a child would think unless I asked them.
Making a range of illustrated products was quite a new concept for me and at times it felt like it could be quite over-commercialising. I don’t care if someone does plaster a character on any kind of merchandise, but it didn’t feel quite right for this project. I also wonder how much input the illustrator/ writer of a picture book has on the design of merchandise. Admittedly the range did come as quite an afterthought, mostly because I had literally forgotten about it due to my poor planning. I think I did well in creating a range of products that accompany the main title in a thoughtful way. I’m pleased with the idea of the note book but am not sure if I got the idea across in the right way.
All in all I am feeling encouraged by this project and what I’ve seen from other practitioners that children’s illustration can be sophisticated and valuable to my own work. I’ve learnt about my own practice in terms of visual style, tone of voice and what contexts I would like to work in. I know what I would do if I reworked the book and do plan on refining it. This module has been the project that has felt most relevant to my own practice and I can see it having context outside of the university bounding.
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