20/12/2013
18/12/2013
Portfolio Feedback 2 - Gary Prendergast
Today I took my portfolio to my Art Foundation tutor, Gary Prendergast to get an opinion on my Print portfolio. The advice he gave me was really helpful, some things I have changed for the hand in date and some I will look into after christmas.
To start with, he suggested I have my Print version of the portfolio portrait instead of landscape like my PDF portfolio as a lot of my work is portrait and it stops the viewer from seeing the work as well because it's smaller.
He also gave me some Graphic Design advice relating to my logo which I found fascinating since we never usually have that kind of mentality in illustration.
Another point Gary made was that the images with white backgrounds looked lost on the white pages so I should add a thin hairline frame around those images.
Furthermore, he agreed with Alan that the layout of every page should be the same to avoid it looking like a sketchbook instead of a professional portfolio. He also agreed with Alan that a couple of the images looked a bit pixelated and to relink them in the InDesign file to ensure that they look correct.
Leading on from this, he suggested having work such as my wallpaper photographed properly in the studio to get the best out of it. This is useful information for the future as I would like to start making more objects out of my work.
Another piece of advice Gary gave me is that its always a good idea to direct your portfolio towards your audience. For example, if I was going to a book publishers or magazine I should take work that is in that realm such as my Penguin book cover design.
Again, this meeting was a brilliant opportunity to get advice from people who have been or are in the industry and the advice is very valuable to me. Thanks Gary!
To start with, he suggested I have my Print version of the portfolio portrait instead of landscape like my PDF portfolio as a lot of my work is portrait and it stops the viewer from seeing the work as well because it's smaller.
He also gave me some Graphic Design advice relating to my logo which I found fascinating since we never usually have that kind of mentality in illustration.
Another point Gary made was that the images with white backgrounds looked lost on the white pages so I should add a thin hairline frame around those images.
Furthermore, he agreed with Alan that the layout of every page should be the same to avoid it looking like a sketchbook instead of a professional portfolio. He also agreed with Alan that a couple of the images looked a bit pixelated and to relink them in the InDesign file to ensure that they look correct.
Leading on from this, he suggested having work such as my wallpaper photographed properly in the studio to get the best out of it. This is useful information for the future as I would like to start making more objects out of my work.
Another piece of advice Gary gave me is that its always a good idea to direct your portfolio towards your audience. For example, if I was going to a book publishers or magazine I should take work that is in that realm such as my Penguin book cover design.
Again, this meeting was a brilliant opportunity to get advice from people who have been or are in the industry and the advice is very valuable to me. Thanks Gary!
On Frustrations Project Finalisations
I have been working with photographs and combining them with photos as I like working with layers and having different textures to my pieces. I started by drawing from photographs of myself, still in sets of 3, in different scenery to represent the mood of the frustration. I then edited the colour and brightness of the images to show the deterioration of emotion.
I think these effectively reflect the meaning of them once you know what it is, but not so much that you would know what it was about without it. They can work both ways and allow the viewer to interpret them in their own ways.
I then realised I needed to take photographs for this project, so enlisted the help of a friend and chose to this time reflect the frustrations in the positioning of the body. I am happy with the way the images below have come out but would like the opportunity to develop the use of photography in this project more in the future.
The use of backgrounds has really helped to create an atmosphere in my work, even more so than I imagined when it was suggested that I should work on them.
Another aspect I looked at was using plants and nature to demonstrate the three frustrations of my theme. I decided upon flowers dying and combined my drawing with textures and colour, as well as type which I made to reflect the natural idea.
I think these effectively reflect the meaning of them once you know what it is, but not so much that you would know what it was about without it. They can work both ways and allow the viewer to interpret them in their own ways.
I then realised I needed to take photographs for this project, so enlisted the help of a friend and chose to this time reflect the frustrations in the positioning of the body. I am happy with the way the images below have come out but would like the opportunity to develop the use of photography in this project more in the future.
The use of backgrounds has really helped to create an atmosphere in my work, even more so than I imagined when it was suggested that I should work on them.
Another aspect I looked at was using plants and nature to demonstrate the three frustrations of my theme. I decided upon flowers dying and combined my drawing with textures and colour, as well as type which I made to reflect the natural idea.
Overall I have learnt a lot about myself in this project and am really looking forward to the next (after a relaxing christmas break!).
10/12/2013
Portfolio Feedback 1 - Alan Dalby
I emailed Alan Dalby, my Guru, my PDF portfolio to get some feedback on it and the following is that feedback.
Nice opening page, it’s good that you’ve started to brand yourself and your work seems to have a consistent feel to it.
Theres a few things you can change in your portfolio, that at the moment are detracting from your work.
Flipping through the portfolio, it’s obvious that the logo isn’t in the same place on each page. It jumps around from page to page.
The easiest way to do this is to learn some very basic inDesign, but you can do this on photoshop too. (it’ll be a bit harder to get it in place though)
Basically, make a master page with your logo on it, and make sure you use the same one for every page. Make sure your images don’t jump around too.
It will make the portfolio consistent, less distracting, and more professional looking.
I was unsure whether to have my logo and the image information in the same place or following the layout of the page so this advice put that to rest.
The other obvious thing is the quality of the images.
Ideally you want people to look at your work full-screen so they give it their full attention and It’s always worth bearing in mind that people will be viewing this on various sized monitors. Most of your images are pixelated when viewed full screen and the colours are washed out. (Maybe because it’s been saved as a Jpeg too many times)
This doesn’t really do the work any favours. make sure the PDF is large enough, with 72dpi images.
If you don’t have original files that are big enough, either, remake the work or don’t include it in the portfolio.
You want people focussing on the good qualities of the work, not the resolution of the PDF.
One final point. The drop shadow is quite nice to make the work stand out on the page and make it looks printed.
But the white from the drop shadow needs to match the page, you’ve got the white brighter than the page. Using InDesigns drop shadow will sort this.
Although I did use the InDesign drop shadow, and the images looked fine on my own screen, I'd never thought to check the way it looks on different computers and so this is really useful to think about. I suppose it's still strange to think of people I don't know looking at my work.
It’s just a few things, but it will really help your portfolio, and sorting these things out will mean people can focus more on your work and any criticism will be more helpful to you. I know criticism sucks, but I just want to help!
If you want any more advice in the future, feel free to contact me again.
It's really nice to have someone working in the field give me advice from what they're learning at the moment and I'm very grateful for his help. Thanks Alan, I'll be coming back for more!
08/12/2013
Website Research Post
I'm really excited about developing my own website, as I've always enjoyed designing the layout and playing with templates for my blogs or personal websites in the past. opinions on the design of a website are quite subjective, I think, so it's hard to try and think of a way to please everyone. I think the most important thing is to make it your own and be free with it, but always remember who you're targeting it to and think about the image you're putting out of yourself through the words in it. Another thing I need to remember is to just include my best work as in the past I have thought a lot of illustrators include images that let the rest of their work down. I have at some working illustrators sites to get a feeling for the functionality and to find some tips for myself.
http://www.oliverjeffers.com
The link above is to Oliver Jeffers website. I really like the style of this design as it really shows his working method and what he, as an artist, is about. The photo of the studio floor, with "floor" written on it surrounded by splashes of paint highlight his humorous nature and creative, messy-in-the-studio techniques. His name is at the top in his signature handwriting style and you really get a sense of what you're getting from him before you even see any work. I'd like this kind of website in the future if i was to become successful in the industry, however i don't think it's appropriate for a recent graduate and mine should be more simple and easy to navigate. Also, once you do get to his work you have to scroll through to see everything, whereas, based on advice from people such as Charles Hiveley, it is better for someone looking for work to have it all on show near the start.
http://www.michelle-thompson.com
Next, I looked at Michelle Thompson's website to get another idea of how my website could look. On the first page there is a sort of slideshow of small elements from her work which I think is a fantastic way of attracting curiosity before people have even delved into the site. This is also really simple compared to Jeffers', with just a navigation bar at the top and not much on the rest of the page.
The "about" section also has a slideshow type device, this time showing her actually making the work (another really useful thing to have) and quite a long description. I don't think a student or recent graduate should have a lengthy description, and will definitely only have a short piece on my own website (this is probably because I don't have anything to say!).
I also love the portfolio aspect of the site, with all her work shown in a bar along the middle, and larger versions are shown above really quickly when you click on them.
http://www.davidfoldvari.co.uk
Obviously Mr Foldvari has to be on here as I take inspiration from most things he does. Another brilliant website, many similarities to Michelle Thompson's based on layout and simplicity. However, the website has a completely different feeling to it which is achieved through the colour schemes and the atmosphere created by the style and subject of the work.
This is a good thing to think about that hadn't occurred to me beforehand, most illustrators websites match their work perfectly with relation to the colours, down to the heaviness of the line and font choices. I think if I continue to pin down my own working style in the coming weeks it will make it much easier to achieve a website that feels like mine, while still achieving a simplicity that allows someone who doesn't know me to manoeuvre the website and get a sense of my work.
http://www.oliverjeffers.com
The link above is to Oliver Jeffers website. I really like the style of this design as it really shows his working method and what he, as an artist, is about. The photo of the studio floor, with "floor" written on it surrounded by splashes of paint highlight his humorous nature and creative, messy-in-the-studio techniques. His name is at the top in his signature handwriting style and you really get a sense of what you're getting from him before you even see any work. I'd like this kind of website in the future if i was to become successful in the industry, however i don't think it's appropriate for a recent graduate and mine should be more simple and easy to navigate. Also, once you do get to his work you have to scroll through to see everything, whereas, based on advice from people such as Charles Hiveley, it is better for someone looking for work to have it all on show near the start.
http://www.michelle-thompson.com
Next, I looked at Michelle Thompson's website to get another idea of how my website could look. On the first page there is a sort of slideshow of small elements from her work which I think is a fantastic way of attracting curiosity before people have even delved into the site. This is also really simple compared to Jeffers', with just a navigation bar at the top and not much on the rest of the page.
The "about" section also has a slideshow type device, this time showing her actually making the work (another really useful thing to have) and quite a long description. I don't think a student or recent graduate should have a lengthy description, and will definitely only have a short piece on my own website (this is probably because I don't have anything to say!).
I also love the portfolio aspect of the site, with all her work shown in a bar along the middle, and larger versions are shown above really quickly when you click on them.
http://www.davidfoldvari.co.uk
Obviously Mr Foldvari has to be on here as I take inspiration from most things he does. Another brilliant website, many similarities to Michelle Thompson's based on layout and simplicity. However, the website has a completely different feeling to it which is achieved through the colour schemes and the atmosphere created by the style and subject of the work.
This is a good thing to think about that hadn't occurred to me beforehand, most illustrators websites match their work perfectly with relation to the colours, down to the heaviness of the line and font choices. I think if I continue to pin down my own working style in the coming weeks it will make it much easier to achieve a website that feels like mine, while still achieving a simplicity that allows someone who doesn't know me to manoeuvre the website and get a sense of my work.
05/12/2013
Lecture - Ric Frankland, Dwelle
This months Tuesday Club Lecture was from Ric Frankland, the Founder and Managing Director of Dwelle. Dwelle is an eco- architecture design, and his role is to create these sustainable buildings.
The lecture took us through his life in the industry and there were a lot of lessons from his story. The most important being that you should never give up on something you care about.
Another surprising part of his tale is the stage of his career when he worked from bars and cafes in the northern quarter and mixed with other creatives in this way, developing important contacts and peers. I found this amusing as I always imagined this kind of lifestyle as fiction, just from movies, and it made me really want to venture into the northern quarter in the day with my sketchbook.
Also, Rics lecture highlighted how necessary it is to get your work out in the world, and even though our disciplines are completely different, it applies to everything. You can't get hired if no one knows you exist. Also, putting your work into context makes the viewer able to imagine your imagery what they need. Rics way of doing this is photoshopping his designs into different spaces. I plan to work with live surface and experiment with this as there's so much you can do that I haven't even began to come to grips with.
Some quotes were included in the presentation that really hit home with me as they described the way I need to start thinking when I'm struggling. The lecture was really interesting and inspiring (I really want a Dwelle-ing), so I'll end this with a quote from Robert Brault.
"Making a different mistake every day is not only acceptable, it is the definition of progress."
The lecture took us through his life in the industry and there were a lot of lessons from his story. The most important being that you should never give up on something you care about.
Another surprising part of his tale is the stage of his career when he worked from bars and cafes in the northern quarter and mixed with other creatives in this way, developing important contacts and peers. I found this amusing as I always imagined this kind of lifestyle as fiction, just from movies, and it made me really want to venture into the northern quarter in the day with my sketchbook.
Also, Rics lecture highlighted how necessary it is to get your work out in the world, and even though our disciplines are completely different, it applies to everything. You can't get hired if no one knows you exist. Also, putting your work into context makes the viewer able to imagine your imagery what they need. Rics way of doing this is photoshopping his designs into different spaces. I plan to work with live surface and experiment with this as there's so much you can do that I haven't even began to come to grips with.
Some quotes were included in the presentation that really hit home with me as they described the way I need to start thinking when I'm struggling. The lecture was really interesting and inspiring (I really want a Dwelle-ing), so I'll end this with a quote from Robert Brault.
"Making a different mistake every day is not only acceptable, it is the definition of progress."
Business Card Workshop
Things to think about when designing your business card.
Does it give the right impression?
Does it accurately communicate your details?
Why do we need a business card?
-Promotion
-Reminder of your work/style
-Mini exhibition
What needs to be on it?
-Your name
-Job title
-Logo or image
-Contact info
-email
-phone numbers
-studio address
-Website
-buy a domain www.123-reg.co.uk
How to design your card.
-A good representative image
-Keep type legible
-Text must stand out from the background
-Font no smaller than 10pt
Format
-landscape OR portrait
-A6?
-Standard size 85x55
-Foldover/"tent"
-Bespoke
Possible promo items
-patches
-USBs
-Moo.com sticker books
-jewellery
-crafts
Does it give the right impression?
Does it accurately communicate your details?
Why do we need a business card?
-Promotion
-Reminder of your work/style
-Mini exhibition
What needs to be on it?
-Your name
-Job title
-Logo or image
-Contact info
-phone numbers
-studio address
-Website
-buy a domain www.123-reg.co.uk
How to design your card.
-A good representative image
-Keep type legible
-Text must stand out from the background
-Font no smaller than 10pt
Format
-landscape OR portrait
-A6?
-Standard size 85x55
-Foldover/"tent"
-Bespoke
Possible promo items
-patches
-USBs
-Moo.com sticker books
-jewellery
-crafts
02/12/2013
Hopes, Fears and Opportunities
Aims
This year is my last chance inside of education, and therefore, in my eyes, the last real opportunity to find a style for myself with some direction. I hope that doing this will make me more connected and proud of the work I do. I plan to try and get this done in time for my Final Major Project.
I also really want to gain more skills to do with the broadening field of illustration, as I enjoy learning new things and think it is necessary to survive in the industry.
Finally, I want to work with topics that I am interested in, which I'm currently doing with the Non Place/Consumerism project.
Objectives
Experiment with different ways of working.
Gather feedback from peers.
Take advice from one to one tutorials with tutors and group crits.
Make contacts with people from the industry.
Look into workshops.
Experiment with animation, photoshop, illustrator, and printing.
Get help from peers who have different skills.
Research my different interests and look into what I can turn into a Final Major Project.
Reflection
This semester has been a big learning curve for me. I feel a lot more confident about my own ability and my work as I think I am finding my place. I have experimented and have found that my drawing has grown since last year a lot already in that I'm no longer afraid of the blank page, so to speak. Working with backgrounds, thanks to the advice of my tutors, has really given my drawings depth and they look much less "tentative" as referred to in my last assessment. I would however like to experiment more in the next project, not with drawing styles but animation, print, and making things, which will also help me to achieve my objective of learning new things which I have started but not got far in.
While making work I often ask for advice from people around me as I think an objective view always helps me make design choices. It is this that makes me think I would like to work in a collaboration way or in a studio with other creatives in the future as bouncing ideas of other people, I think, is the best way for work to grow.
Overall I'm really happy with the way things are going and I hope to keep improving through the next project.
Themes for Major Project
I have learnt from the project that I'm currently undertaking that having a broad theme, although interesting to me, can leave me a bit lost at the start of a project and cause me to lose some time pinning down a topic. Over christmas I plan to research the different ideas I have to narrow it down before actually beginning the project to ensure this doesn't happen again.
Current Ideas
WANDERLUST/SERENDIPITY - these are my favourite words and I love their meanings, but I am unsure of how to get a project from Serendipity. Wanderlust would be interesting as travel is my main ambition but I'll have to do some thinking to narrow it down.
POETRY - I have a poetry book by Bob Dylan called Tarantula that always makes me want to draw, however I wouldn't like to just make more from the imagery as the work is quite abstract and I might struggle with it as I have with my project on the mind. I may look into some other poetry that I like and find someone with a more clear narrative as I find these more accessible and enjoy finding the running themes.
This year is my last chance inside of education, and therefore, in my eyes, the last real opportunity to find a style for myself with some direction. I hope that doing this will make me more connected and proud of the work I do. I plan to try and get this done in time for my Final Major Project.
I also really want to gain more skills to do with the broadening field of illustration, as I enjoy learning new things and think it is necessary to survive in the industry.
Finally, I want to work with topics that I am interested in, which I'm currently doing with the Non Place/Consumerism project.
Objectives
Experiment with different ways of working.
Gather feedback from peers.
Take advice from one to one tutorials with tutors and group crits.
Make contacts with people from the industry.
Look into workshops.
Experiment with animation, photoshop, illustrator, and printing.
Get help from peers who have different skills.
Research my different interests and look into what I can turn into a Final Major Project.
Reflection
This semester has been a big learning curve for me. I feel a lot more confident about my own ability and my work as I think I am finding my place. I have experimented and have found that my drawing has grown since last year a lot already in that I'm no longer afraid of the blank page, so to speak. Working with backgrounds, thanks to the advice of my tutors, has really given my drawings depth and they look much less "tentative" as referred to in my last assessment. I would however like to experiment more in the next project, not with drawing styles but animation, print, and making things, which will also help me to achieve my objective of learning new things which I have started but not got far in.
While making work I often ask for advice from people around me as I think an objective view always helps me make design choices. It is this that makes me think I would like to work in a collaboration way or in a studio with other creatives in the future as bouncing ideas of other people, I think, is the best way for work to grow.
Overall I'm really happy with the way things are going and I hope to keep improving through the next project.
Themes for Major Project
I have learnt from the project that I'm currently undertaking that having a broad theme, although interesting to me, can leave me a bit lost at the start of a project and cause me to lose some time pinning down a topic. Over christmas I plan to research the different ideas I have to narrow it down before actually beginning the project to ensure this doesn't happen again.
Current Ideas
WANDERLUST/SERENDIPITY - these are my favourite words and I love their meanings, but I am unsure of how to get a project from Serendipity. Wanderlust would be interesting as travel is my main ambition but I'll have to do some thinking to narrow it down.
POETRY - I have a poetry book by Bob Dylan called Tarantula that always makes me want to draw, however I wouldn't like to just make more from the imagery as the work is quite abstract and I might struggle with it as I have with my project on the mind. I may look into some other poetry that I like and find someone with a more clear narrative as I find these more accessible and enjoy finding the running themes.
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