Just a little update..

I currently have only 5 weeks left of the first semester, before I have to hand in all of my projects for the development module. So, as I have been updating my blog, but not so much in terms of my progression, I thought I’d briefly talk about the work I’ve done so far, what I still need to do, and discuss the goals that I want to achieve, which will be more long-term based.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

• Research is complete – both directly from the book and my artist research.
• I have created a mind map and chose the imagery I’d like to create.
• Drawn up on of the quotes, the Wardrobe.
• Experimented with digital techniques.
• Experimented with different printing methods – screen printing, and adding foils, etching, Linocut, laser cut plate.
• I’ve chosen that I want to create the rest of my illustrations with the laser cut plate technique as I feel I had gotten the cleanest results.

Still to do:

• Create the other illustration with the printing method.
• Possibly edit the outcomes digitally.
• Mount them.
• Evaluate the final products and project as a whole.

Inktober

• I have completed the challenge, creating 31 illustrated characters for each day of October.
• I have fixed or edited the designs digitally. Compiling them all into a zine format.
• I’ve experimented with different forms of printing – through the colleges normal printer, reprographics and creating some on the zine.
• With the finished products, I have begun to sell them online.

Still to do:

• Write up some of the days – I have written them up on this blog, however, I feel I need to write them more formally and with much more information, for my actual project.
• Write up the experimentation with printing methods. Opinions of the different outcomes of the zines.
• Evaluate the final products and project as a whole.

House of Illustration – Howls Moving Castle

• Read the book, highlighting areas and quotes that I could possibly illustrate.
• Created sketches from the quotes.
• Narrowed down my selection and had drawn thumbnails.
• Narrowed down my selection yet again, so that I was left with 3 potential illustrations and 1 potential cover.
• Started sketching the thumbnails digitally.

Still to do:

• Write up artist research.
• Refine the digital sketches with traditional line work.
• Scan in the line work.
• Colour digitally and potentially add a textured overlay.
• Write up all of the progression, thoughts and opinions throughout.
• Mount/submit the final designs.
• Evaluate the final product and the project as a whole.

Penguin Illustration Awards

• Read the children’s book – Wonder by R.J.Paolo
• Read the adults fiction book – Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.
• Have thought about the imagery I could potentially illustrate for both of the books.
• Have thought about the styles I could potentially use.

Still to do:

• Actually start the project, not next week but the one after.
• Write up research – from the books and potential artists/styles I will be using.
• Form a mind map/mood board of potential imagery I could create.
• Create 3 thumbnail sketches for each book.
• Refine my choices and refine the designs digitally.
• Choose which concept I think is best, possibly refine it more if needed.
• Write up progression, thoughts and opinions throughout the project.
• Mount and submit the final design.
• Evaluate the final product and the project as a whole.

Long-Term Targets

• Get better at time management. Thinking more practically, how long will it take me to work on a project, then follow my timetables as efficiently as I can.
• Draw more full-length bodies. Over the year I feel I have gotten better at drawing faces, however, I do still struggle with the anatomy of the body, so I do wish to practise more in the future.
• Boosting effort levels, getting rid of that ‘it’ll do’ attitude. I believe this can be done by just taking a break from my work then going back to it again with a fresh mindset, ready to make further improvements, as opposed to just being sick of the piece and wanting to just get it out of the way. I don’t think this can be done overnight, hence why it is in my long-term goals, as I feel in a way I will have to train my mind to do this more often, especially during future projects, in college and out.