Back on Blogger

Thought i'd come back to my blogger account and start again, i'm still keeping up my other accounts but this allows me to upload pictures of items/artwork/anything that i have found and like, from being out and about to browsing on the web and books.

Past blog (NOV 09) Specialism decision

Blog from www.wix.com/amagson/acmdesign

17/12/09

REFLECTIVE SUMMARY

Looking back over the past few weeks I have really enjoyed my illustration and think I have chosen the right path for me.

Looking at inspiration and tips has helped my drawing along with the exercises we have done. 

My action plan is continuous and not just till the end of this module, I have began doing some of the points but I will continue to do more in future.

My main aim was to be drawing everyday and I really enjoy doing this, whenever I see something / someone interesting I want to record it in my sketchbook as I think the drawing can tell more of a story than a photograph can.

15/12/09

We have also been set a conceptual thinking task after developing our drawing skills, this is to create a  'dog exercising machine' using a piece of montage.  At first I found this quite hard , as I think I’m not that strong with conceptual thinking, but kept developing my ideas and came up with Smack-a-snout, thinking back to my childhood and amusements with the bash-a-croc machine.  This piece along with few others from illustration tasks I’ll upload in my 'uni work' section, when completed.

8/12/09

I 've been a few places when drawing these figures now; near the minster, starbucks, winter gardens, pubs, home and others, any chance I got to draw figures interacting.  I feel this has really helped me loosen up, allowing me to focus on the unique elements of each  figure,, which characterises them.

30/11/09

So since I last wrote, I did go down to museum gardens and drew a few of the ruins on site, I enjoyed this drawing on site and now we have been set a 1 week task of reportage drawing of figures. 

25/11/09

Been getting into the whole drawing everyday over the weekend and now, and I love it, just want to sit down and capture everything when I’m walking, for example the Museum Gardens in York; the gardens are amazing along with its historic ruins.  I think I will go down there Friday whilst I’m at home :)

Also been thinking of 3 specific objects that are personal/unique to me, thought of lots, however most of them are at home as I go home quite a lot I only bring things I need at uni house, will pick the up this weekend.

www.zazzle.com/illustration+cards   

http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/

Just looking at illustrators out there and have come across Teresa Flavin, her website is very helpful she has links to all sorts for advice in the illustration industry. (Couple of links:

http://britishscbwi.jimdo.com/   - supporting published and unpublished children's book writers and illustrators

http://thedrawingboardforillustrators.blogspot.com/)

Coleen McIntyre - faerie tales studio.

Have taken few books out of the library to research more into other illustrators(Picture this: the artist as an illustrator, in all directions  Travel and illustration.) Also bought little book on sketching by Alwyn Crawshaw.

19/11/09

Been thinking about SPECIALISM more today think it's going to be illustration but don’t like how people say you should know if you're an illustrator.  I don't but I know I love drawing more than anything and I think this is why I should pick illustration.  There are definitely skills I need to improve but surely this is what it’s about.

Will carry on reflecting and come back to it!  Also very pleased with how created this website from Tuesday :)

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Ok decision time, the specialist route I am going to follow is illustration...  This is basically because of my love of drawing and wanting to develop it further and have a unique style. Drawing is the base of any design so this is another reason why I want to study it further. I also work at Clinton Cards and love seeing the illustrations on the some of the cards that come in, it would be great to have my own range in the shop.

Illustration has been defined to me as drawing, painting, print and photo manipulation.  I believe these are the key aspects of this specialism.  Illustration is everywhere is the world today, from book illustration to those used in adverts, posters, magazines, newspapers even on clothing, it is everywhere.  Agencies are always looking for a unique style for their brands, music artists, books; so why can't it be illustrative. However many agencies and companies source through freelancers and the only way to get work known is to send it out to them, yet some will employ in-house illustrators.

There are some helpful websites to view current illustrators (egg. www.MonkeyFeetIllustration.co.uk) and others that provide work for freelancers and they bid for it.  Have looked into some on Inspiration Artists tab and named a few to research more.

I would define illustration as drawing using more than just a pencil and telling a story, fact, detail, title whatever with a creative image.

Plan of Action:

Research more into illustration, past and present, through books and the internet.

Explore and learn more about print processes.

Create a unique illustrative style.

Learn more about illustrating for specific things such as book, adverts, posters, headlines.

To have more confidence in my work.

To learn more about illustrative type and improve my weakness on type.

Look into agencies and placements that cover illustration.

'To draw like you breathe.'

18/11/09

Putting up content whilst keeping thinking about what to do, trying to reflect on my work from the past year finding out what my strengths and weaknesses are, reflection is with the work.

17/11/09

Looked into specialism areas on my course the lectures were very good and helpful but still a little bit confused as what to do as they all overlap slightly, there's:

Graphic Design - Handmade

Graphic Design - Identity

Illustration

Structural Graphics/packaging

Motion Graphics/interactive

Typography

Advertising
I know I love to draw, paint, etc maybe illustration?

But do like a challenge and learning new software like after effects...motion graphics maybe?

Enjoyed consumer module designing for a specific target audience creating a new brand... Identity?
Hmmm...Such a tough decision!