Professional Practice Evaluation

During the past year, whilst completing this blog, I feel that I have learnt a lot about myself and my style. This blog has enabled me to take a step back and look objectively at my work and my interests and I now feel more sure within myself.

I enjoy researching and I feel that this is clear through the Professional Practice module. One area of interest that has really stood out to me has been my passion for illustration and design from the 1950's, which includes artists such as Mary Blair, Charley Harper, Paul Rand and Saul Bass. Though I enjoy design from this era, I would like to continue developing my knowledge of 1950's style, so that I am able to apply it to my own illustration work. My interest in the work of Saul Bass has also opened up the world of sequence titles to me, and I find myself searching for exquisitely produced titles. My favourites, that also have a 50's style, are those to the film "Catch Me If You Can". These titles are extremely clever and the images within it are made up of very simple shapes, which I feel is the direction my work is taking. Another is those to a TV series called "Mad Men", which is about an advertising firm in the early 1960's. These titles have a very graphic and simple style, but they are hugely effective in their message and this is the type of aesthetic I want my work to have.

I have been very lucky during ths time to have made contact with a recent Illustration graduate, from UCLAN, called Debbie Greenaway. I first saw her work at the New Blood exhibition in London, and I was drawn to her simple and fun work, and also the plush toys that she made. I have since been in constant contact with her and I feel that this has really helped me. I think that speaking with her has been very useful as, because she is a recent graduate, she has been able to offer advice about making a name for yourself within illustration, and how the toll of leaving university has effected what she has done in her first year away from education. Though I have not had a lot of responses to my emails and letters, I feel lucky to have been able to form a friendship with someone instead.

Thugh this blog was for the Professional Practice module, I would like to continue with the blog as I feel that it easily expresses who I am, through my work and through my interests.

Dwell 2: Tap Final Image

I've decided against putting any extra detail to this piece and have instead taken away one of the paint drops layers. I do like this piece but I think because I have been staring at it for so long, I can't really look at it objectively anymore. I feel that it is now finished.

Dwell 2: Tap Development

I would say that this image is almost finished and I do quite like it but I'm not sure if it really makes sense and I may have to add the cloud as I did in the original Dwell idea.

Dwell 2: Tap Development

Further development. I like the water section, with the transparent layer and the paint drops layers. I don't really know what to do with the tap and I also do not like the cup. I am wondering whether or not to replace it with a jug or just further develop the cup.

Dwell 2: Tap Development

A development of my tap and cup idea. The shape that comes down from the tap, meant to be the water, is actually the shape of Great Barrier Island in New Zealand which I guess you could say is the setting for the article. I do like this idea, but because of the unusual shape, I think that I may have to use a watercolour background the make the piece look more subtle.

Dwell: Finished Piece

I think that I actually prefer this piece for the final image as it is very simple, which I think makes the message more effective so I am going to have to decide between the two final pieces.

Dwell: Finished Piece

I think this is very close to the final image for the Dwell article, though I hope to create two images for this article. I do prefer the brown house but I realise that it has no relation to New Zealand and I wonder how important this is. The article is about a self-sustaining bach in New Zealand, but I wonder if the country is just the backscape for the main theme of the article: the self-sustaining bach. I might try to create a development that incorporates some element of the country such as a tracing of the country that is faded into the background. To be honest, I prefer the 4th development in which there is also a brown house. I think it is the simplicity so I might look at this again to inform this piece. For instance, I think it will look a lot brighter with a white cloud with no layers.

Dwell: Rain Developments

I would say that I'm pretty much close to finishing this piece. I like the use of the paint drops in the background but I'm not sure if it looks to gloomy for this piece. I think I may need to do something else to the power button as it still doesn't quite stand out like I'd want it to but I do love my raindrops. After looking at the brown house development again, I think I prefer the darker colour as it makes more of an impact.

Dwell: Rain Developments

These images show the development process of the Dwell piece. I need to work a bit on the power symbol and I'm not too sure that I like the graph paper background. I may need a bit of something to make the plants stand out aswell. Overall though, I do like the simplicity of this idea.

Dwell: Colour Schemes

Here are some of the possible colour schemes for my Dwell piece. I wanted blue and green in it so that it looks "earthy" and natural. I think that I prefer the bottom colour scheme as it contains blue and green but also not too bright that it would overshadow the imagery.

Dwell: Rain Idea

Here's a new idea. It's a lot simpler than the rest and hopefully makes more sense. The rain is powering the house and making the plants grow. I tried to make each little image look like small symbols or logos, as I feel that this style would look good with the theme of the environment and nature.

Dwell: Tap Idea

This is a quick idea of an image for the Dwell article, in which a Bach is self-sufficient. The cloud feeds the tap which then becomes a drink, showing the process of the water. I want to show something that is clearer in delivering the "recycle" theme.

Elle: Final Image

This is very close to the final image though I may reduce the stroke size of the bow. I decided against arms and legs as I like the simple look when it is made up of shapes but I also don't want to spoil the image with inferior limbs. Seeing as I have never ever illustrated people before, I am very pleased the results, particularly the hair. The image looks brighter in Illustrator than it does on here though. Also, I may add a background of some sorts.

Elle: Couple Developments

Leg or no legs? That is the question.

Elle: Couple Developments

I've added a neck and a transparent layer to represent the woman disappearing but I don't really like it as I don't feel that the illustration has to show her dying but her connection to her first love. Even though I have added a neck, I'm not sure if I want to add any arms or legs as I don't want to spoil the image and I'd like to keep it quite graphic and simple.

Elle: Couple Developments

It's coming along! Even just adding a small bit of colour for the lips really makes a difference. I can't believe at one point I considered not even putting hair!

Elle: Hair Developments

I think I may have got the hair! Finally! I have used a wavy line so that the hair doesn't look so flat and boring. I was a bit worried about the woman's hair and how it goes from a straight line to a wavy line but I think I like that quirky little detail.

Elle: Hair Ideas

Ideas for hair for the man. I am finding this quite difficult but I do like these two ideas. The little curl at the top is quite quirky but I would still need to incorporate a texture so that it looks more natural I think.

Elle: Couple Developments

I'm finding adding the hair extremely difficult. I've never created people before so this is new to me but I don't want it to look too cartoony. This is going to take a while!

Elle: Couple Developments

I have changed the coloured layer with a brown outline that is over the top of the body texture. I think that I prefer this one as it is a little more graphic, but I think it will all depend on how all the elements work together.