Reflective essayWork Based LearningMeghan Browett; MB14185444Susan MartinWord Count; 2246

Contents

Incoming Statement…Page.2Review 2…Page.4Review 3…Page.7Review 4…Page. 11

Incoming Statement

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I started the year by evaluating my past projects. I was particularly interested to see how my Penguin Book Designs had faired in the competition. I looked at the winning designs and wanted to see how they compared to the work that I had produced. I feel that the overall standard of work that was produced by the winners was high, but no higher than the standard of work that I had done. The graphical influence in many of the final designs were clear to see and the use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator was a favorite media within these winning book covers. I used both these computer medias to produce and manipulate my designs, but I will look to further refine my skills in these programs this year, as there were some interesting techniques that the winners had achieved in these creative suites. The winner of the adult non-fiction design, Scott Kooken, had used typography to compliment his work and the style and colour of the cover was well thought through. Furthermore both Scott and the winner of the fiction book design, Kate Gamet, had really strong conceptual ideas in their designs. This has resulted in me evaluating how I can produce illustrations with more refined conceptual ideas and how I can master the use of different medias to bring a greater depth to the concepts I’m trying to portray in my illustrations, such as the use of textures, colours and typography. I would like to concentrate, and continue this year to develop my use of combining typography and image on a page. I had set this as a target last year but don’t feel that I had made sufficient progress in developing my typographical skills within my work. To target this I intend incorporating typography into my work as much as possible so I can really start to get used to thinking about my illustrations as usable, editorial and professional pieces with and within text. My other goals from last year such as creating simple work in Photoshop and Illustrator, were achieved and surpassed, I intend now to challenge myself harder in the second year to experiment

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with mainly analogue media. I want to explore various printing techniques and paints, as I didn’t use these techniques last year. I feel that this year I want to make use of the equipment and resources that I have available to me, as I can really start to show a multi-discipline approach to my illustrations and hopefully this experiment could enhance my work and could help to cement a unique style.  My biggest target for this year is researching the various outlets and platforms to showcase my illustrations and see what other illustrators have done to achieve success. This was a point brought up in my formal feedback from last year. I hadn’t adequately researched working illustrators and how they could influence my own work. So this year I plan to look into various ways I could get my work into the public view and see how other illustrators in the industry have successfully got their work out there.

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(Fig.1)

(Fig.2)

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Review 2Reviewing the end of Semester 2 I have started to see an emergence of a definitive style within my work, this style being print and fine line drawing. This style has rapidly started evolve from my first year and the beginning of this year due to me utilizing the resources available to me in the studio at college. I have started to experiment with lino-print, mono print and screen print in the new printing studio and this has help to shape a personal style that I have started to apply to most of my briefs given this year. The use of pen and print is something that I look forward to developing and I’m finding that I can apply it to many different outcomes, from books to commercial use. Now I have discovered this style I looked at the relativity of my work in the present illustration industry. Illustrators such as Saskia Pomeroy, Beth Brandon and Alessandra Genualdo have similar styles in term of colour, style and media and are all working, successful illustrators that have all recently showcased their work at the London illustration fair.  All have work both commercial and decorative and have varied portfolios that show diversity in different disciplines. By looking at their work I have noticed a theme of consistency amongst all their disciplines from ceramics to print. I will take this idea in the next semester and experiment with different medias but create a consistent and decisive style across all medias so that it is instantly recognizable. Another strong attribute to their success I feel is their professional, online portfolios and websites. They each have sleek, modern, easy to navigate websites that show their best work in a clear and professional manner. This I feel is something I need to refine in my own work and I will start a website/blog purely for the use of managing my online portfolio. My Wordpress blog is accessible to the public but it is mainly an online sketchbook of my ideas. As stated in my first review I intended to start a behance profile but as of yet haven’t attempted to make one, however looking at these artists and learning the importance of professionalism and

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networking from various speakers in the semester, I will strive to get a website or similar online platform started by the end of the year.Elaborating on speakers that we have had in over the past semester, we had a talk from the local, working illustrator Beech who took us through the importance of networking and being self-motivated. He highlighted the difference between agency and freelance work and which one suited him, which was interesting to learn about agency fees and shares of income. Another useful tip that he revealed was to never price oneself too low. Instead price for the amount the work will be used rather than the piece of work as an individual. This was quite intriguing as a new illustrator because there is the fear of where to price your work. This useful tip showed how to start with prices that aren’t unattainable. However listening to Beech talk highlighted the fact that I had no knowledge of copyright laws, contracts and agreements or promoting myself as an illustrator. As one of my targets last semester was to learn basic knowledge of these aspects of illustration I find that although I have a rough knowledge of the paper work of illustration I still have a lot to learn and I have already started to study the AOI guide for illustrators for information on these topics.Taking from this information I need to in the next semester concentrate on the professional, work-based side of illustration. Compiling a CV that is reflective of my skills as an illustrator but also showing my credentials, compiling a professional online website or portfolio and networking with various people in the illustration industry either locally, online or maybe even globally.

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 (Fig.3)

 

 (Fig.4)

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 Review 3Having reviewed and obtained feedback from my work over semester 1 I am now able to address issues that have arisen. The written analysis and theoretical approach to my own and others illustration practice was an area of weakness as well as the refinement of my final illustrations in practical work. I acknowledge that my verbal communication skills are stronger than my written ones and although being able to eloquently explain my ideas verbally I still need to improve my written work, as it is a primary source for my explanation, interpretation and analysis of the illustration industry. In order to enhance my written abilities I will start to review my texts before submitting them to online platforms or tutors, I will also seek advice and guidance from Chris Taylor.I'm aware that the refinement of my practical work is a key element to my progression as a professional illustrator. Looking back at previous work, including my penguin book design and editorial brief, I can see the benefit of spending additional time refining and editing my final pieces to get a higher quality finish.  I have already addressed this issue in my work and have started and will continue to allocate extra time for this refinement process. With semester 1 coming to an end I have started to establish ideas for my final major project and have proposed to investigate ‘Female Anger’ for my project. This proposal comes from my enthusiasm for drawing the female nude and how it is perceived contextually in art. The decision was also based on illustrative style and my ability to explore the female body in my illustrations, notably in my work for both penguin design admissions and life drawing classes.  Artists such as Tracey Emin, Egon Schiele and Jenny Saville have helped to aid my interest in the topic as I find their illustrations of female nudes engaging, aggressive and primitive, all of which relate to the idea of Female Anger. 

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The final major project is also a chance for me to enhance my professional and self-promotional skills as a working illustrator. I believe that Female Anger as a topic will allow me to tap into the very contemporary practice of feminist illustration and can be applied to various promotional platforms, such as, feminist zines, online galleries and social media. Furthermore, illustrators such as Carol Rossetti have shown an emergence of artistic feminist movement and have proved that my work on this topic is of contextual and contemporary value. As an element of the final major project I have to partake in the curating of our end of year exhibition. Working closely with photography and graphics students we will have to explore a theme for the exhibit that is applicable to each individuals final major project. We have decided on an industrialised scheme with the exhibit title being ‘Fuse’. This proposed idea will allow for the reflection of a raw and stripped back concept, and an importance on the relations between creative disciplines. I think that is concept will enhance the ideology behind my own work and will reflect the primitive and crude approach I am taking. My work can be considered to be on the cusp of fine art, and has no commercial use; therefore, exhibiting in a gallery format would lend itself to my final major project. However, I think that exhibiting in a curated space has certain formalities and could possibly be derogatory to the exploration of applying my work to different platforms. The exhibition could be seen as a traditional and archaic way of displaying work and would not aid the use of more contemporary promotional platforms such as social media and online galleries. However these are issues that can be addressed and could be remedied with the use of interactive online elements or marketing the exhibit primarily via social media. 

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(Fig.5)

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(Fig.6)

Review 4

Concluding on the end of my second year I am now able to reflect on whether or not the course has been beneficial to me as an aspiring illustrator.I know that my analogue and technical skills have vastly improved since being on the course and I have built up a professional level of work, in particular, with my printing techniques. I have used the studio and materials available to me, effectively, and have built up a knowledge of various disciplines that is indispensable. This broad awareness of numerous materials will be beneficial when working professionally as I will know how to apply them to the most suitable of projects or clients. I feel that although my printing work is particularly successful, I have not isolated my skill set and have managed to embrace lots of techniques.

I feel that this increase in technical ability has given me confidence, not only in myself but also confidence in my work. I know that I can now effectively and eloquently talk about my work and how it sits in the illustration market and I am now confident enough to explore

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different avenues for my work outside of the college; this being through live briefs and submitting my work to online illustration platforms.

This exploration of various outlets of my work has resulted in the need for a professional business card, copyright sticker, website, logo and mailer. All these elements are necessary when it comes to promoting yourself and your work and I now have a suitable promotional pack containing all these items. Furthermore, I know that a lot of work is seen online so was particularly attentive when building my online portfolio. I needed to create a space online that was accessible to clients, easy to navigate through and where possible work interest could be generated. As a result my website is clean, simple, and has a mailing page with all my details.

In terms of business skills, I know that a lot of expertise and bsusiness knowledge comes with experience. When Beech visited he admitted that he had no idea how to price his work or look at contracts before he started as an illustrator and this is true of a lot of professionals in the industry. I have learnt that experience is more valuable but you should still know the basics when it comes to the right types of contracts for yourself and how you value your

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work. I have learnt how you can price your work depending on the exposure and use, how to read a contract thoroughly and highlight concerning areas and the application and value of royalties to my work. However there are still areas that I of course need to learn to be a clever and sucessful professioal illustrator, such as understanding the implications of self emloyement, taxes, loans, agency fess etc. This is something that will need to be adressed in the future and the AOI guide for illustarators will be a useful tool when deciphering all these different elements.

In conclusion I have managed to evolve and develop not only my illustration skills over the past two years but also my knowledge of the industry and business. I know that I have the right tools going forward to make justified and succesful decisions for the progrrssion of my work, and I know what I need to do in order to promote myself and gain work in the future.

In the next year I will contine to refine my use of print technques as I see this becoming my recognisable illustration style and I will contine to search for work outlets by submitting more work to online illustratuon magazines and generating traffic on my website through the use of online promotion such as social media.

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Bibliography18 Empowering Illustrations To Remind Everyone Who's Really In Charge Of Women's Bodies". Mic. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

(Fig.4) Alessandra Genualdo. Cargocollective.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

(Fig.5) "Carol Rossetti". Carol Rossetti. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Emin, Tracey. "- Tracey Emin Studio". Traceyeminstudio.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Emin, Tracey. "Emin International - Emin International". Emininternational.myshopify.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

(Fig.6) Jones, Jonathan. "Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude Review – A Feminist Artist Ahead Of His Time". the Guardian. N.p., 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

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(Fig.1&2) "Penguin Design Award - Penguin Adult Prize - 2015 Design Award Winners". Penguinrandomhousedesignaward.co.uk. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

(Fig.3) "Saskia Pomeroy". Saskia Pomeroy. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Stern, Simon. The Illustrators Guide To Law And Business Practice- AOI Members. London: Association of Illustrators, 2008. Print.

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