END OF YEAR EVALUATION 15.05.2016

EVALUATION

I am happy with how these last three modules have gone despite them being challenging due to amount of written work required. Looking at my strengths and weaknesses in these projects, I feel my strengths were arranging my work experience beforehand so I wasn’t rushing, plus I am happy with the work I produced during my time there. My time management has improved on these modules as I am on track to hand in on time and dedicated enough time to complete each task and present them adequately. 

I have enjoyed creating my portfolio, business cards and the book, which I think was very successful. My least successful module I feel is the PPD as keeping my blog up to date was something I sometimes forgot to do as I spent more time doing the practical.

The main skills I have learnt from the last year have been from researching more into the creative industry with a more professional view on things and looking at artists and their new work to notice current trends. The biggest thing I have learnt this year is too experiment and try new ideas to find what works and what doesn’t. It is ok to ‘fail’ at times with a piece. I feel I have grown more as an illustrator rather than someone who strictly draws realism and I am continuing to apply this trait in my future works. I now have a clearer view of where I can go next and what I should do in order to reach this and I am aware it will take time. These things being building up a strong body of work and investing in creating a website, as well as building up my instagram. @rlcillustration

My work experience week was a super valuable insight into the world of graphic design as I felt more mature and confident in my abilities compared to the first time I visited them and this showed in my work and relations with my peers. I felt could work alongside them as an equal of sorts, although they had way more experience.

I have also learnt after these two years that animation will never be my thing but I now know the basics which are something I can always practice in my free time. My confidence in presenting has also grown massively and this is something I would need to do to I order to work in the creative industry so this is a good thing.

Artists That I Recently Found and Liked...

https://www.inkyillustration.com/morgan-davidson 

MORGAN DAVIDSON

 I really liked the concepts behind these pieces and the use of colour.

THALIA ROSEANNA

https://www.inkyillustration.com/thalia-roseanna 

My Artistic Inspirations

I follow a lot of my favourite artists on my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rlcillustration/

I am generally attracted to styles that incorporate animals in some way as this is what I am personally interested in. I enjoy seeing how others visualise animals and how they portray this in their work.


Here are a few -

Tobias Illustrations -

I really like his work as I enjoy working with finalisers and monochrome too but I have never experimented the way he does. He has inspired me to try new techniques such as pointillism and to keep practicing.

Bryan Holland Arts - 

I really enjoy the mix of abstract and realism in his work and he paints popular animals such as owls, elephants, canines, and big cats so his work will appeal to someone somewhere even if one animal doesn't. He keeps it varied rather than focusing on one creature, which may get stagant for followers after a while. This is a tip i should consider myself. 

@bigalstattoos 

He is a UK based tattooist and skeleton articulator. Not the most common form of art, particularly in the UK,  but one that requires an intimate knowledge of anatomy, artistic vision and of course a lot of skill! His work is great for reference and just cool to look at in general. 

Compositing Final Pieces -

I realised I never posted these on my blog. These are some my final pieces I produced for the compositing module. I couldn't upload the other two due to size constraints. I feel personally my most successful one was the shapes being stood on and this is the one I am most happy with. 

PPD TASKS Part 1 - April 2016 - ART BOOK

'Weekly Reflection' on project/course so far -

I am currently working on finishing up everything for my final hand in deadline, as well as deciding what art I want to complete for my final show.

I have sent off my art book, (made on blurb.com) and it should be here by the 28th April.  (I have included screenshots of the previews available on the site below, for those interested.)

(PPD) - My Strengths and Weaknesses...

I enjoy drawing in my free time but I'll admit to not exactly pushing myself out of my comfort zone a lot. This would be a good challenge to set myself alongside my final projects this year in creating portfolio pieces.


Strengths -

Digital painting/art.
Animals.
Canines.
Pen.
Sketching.
Realism. 
Photography

Weaknesses -

Humans but more so human faces.
Backgrounds.
Painting.
Coloured pencils.
Animation. 

Reflection on last project and my new Module. 18/03/2016

The last project was compositing, which for me was my least enjoyable project. This was because I am still new to animation and find it challenging to produce.  I also didn't have enough time to actually 'perfect' my drawings so the work I came out with, whilst I am happy with it, could have been more 'streamlined.' There is however potential with my little shape characters for use in future projects perhaps.

The current new module is to work on my portfolio. This involves creating illustrative artwork and showcasing my personal best in a final show and a photo book. I also have to enter a live competition which I have selected as the Adobe Awards, illustration category. I will be doing a realistic/fantasy digital painting.

I also have my PPD and work based learning modules to work on too for the final hand in. I have already completed my 'live brief' for WBL which was a weeks work experience at printing company Potts Print UK, based in Cramlington.

My targets for next Tuesday are to finalize my idea for entry to the Adobe Awards and start working on it. My deadline for my book and completed entry is 12th April 2016.

Five Week Timetable -

Week 1 -

Finalize competition idea and start working on it.

Week 2 -

Practice with illustration and create more 'personal' work, as well as continuing entry for Adobe.
Set myself the challenge of producing a small series of similar illustrations per week.. Push myself out of my comfort zone.

Week 3 - 

Have produced a series of work by the end of this week.

Week 4 - 

Have produced a series of work by the end of this week.

Week 5 -

Have finished my entry, if not before.
Have produced a series of work by the end of this week.

Compositing - CHARACTER/ASSET DESIGN RESEARCH

DAVID SHRIGLEY - 

His 'New Friends' video was a great help in seeing how simple something can be and still relate with expressions. This is the kind of characters I will be creating and using in my final pieces. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHCaK0vmd0Q

MR MEN -

I looked at these because they are mainly shapes but would be a little too complicated to animate though. Maybe I can incorporate colour into my designs though. 

Personal & Professional Development - Compositing Module - 26/02/2016 - LAST UPDATE BEFORE HAND IN

At this point I have finalized my ideas and have started production on filming them. I have also started my essay. My targets are to get everything as finished as I can before my hand in on the Friday 4th March.

These include -

- Sorting my final footage out and tracking it at college. Aim to have this ready for Tuesday next week.

- Getting my character designs drawn out properly for Tuesday too.

- Finishing my essay.

- Putting the animation and footage together on Tuesday. 

05/02/2016 - Compostitng Project Update & Tutorial

For this new brief I have to design three animation shorts based around a given theme(s). I am still working on my ideas.

The tutorial I completed this morning helped me greatly in deciding what technique I might use for my final pieces. First I drew out a crude looping animation with the mouse of a hand clenching, then I transferred it after rendering to After Effects. I loaded the video I wished to use and added my animation. I then proceeded to edit it until I was happy with it. I am not used to After Effects so this was a challenge but I feel it came out alright considering.