Grade yourself

End of Module Self Evaluation

Which practical skills and methodologies have you developed within this module and how effectively do you think you are employing them within your practice?
I have learnt to use specific parts of reference imagery and interpret it my own way that is not copying the image directly, and use it to develop images from my imagination. Drawing in a loose and gestural way without being to precious has helped me understand how an image is constructed, meaning I can then manipulate it in my own way. Ive learn how to produce a range of rough designs that are quick and look at a variety of approaches to the subject. I have learnt how to use my own imaginative ideas to communicate a specific theme or meaning. I have looked at how drawing with different line qualities can change the effect the images give. Scanning my drawing and manipulating it on photoshop made it look much more professional and industry standard. Using character was a good way for me to explain a scenario or communicate a message. Finding things from reference to include in my characters was a good way to make them suitable to the theme or context.

Which principles/ theories of image making have you found most valuable during this module and how effectively do you think you are employing these?
Working against mandatory requirements has been beneficial to me, giving me an idea of how working for a client would really be. Working in a specific frame size has improved the way I think about composition, and how to use the space in the most effective way. Looking at communication through images has made me think about them differently. The way that we read an images content and how we can portray different messages in the drawings. I really struggled with the editorial illustration brief but now looking back it has taught be valuable skills in how I can communicate with my drawing.

What strengths can you identify within your submission and how have you capitalised on these?
I feel like I have taken a variety of approaches too each brief, meaning I have explored new ways of making images for each. Creating images that explain and communicate a specific message is something I am unfamiliar with, so I feel this is a good skill I have developed. Applying my experimental and imaginative way of working to a real product (book cover) is something I have learnt, I will look at solving briefs in this way in future. I think the aesthetic to my images has been more effective than the content, looking at appropriate content is something to improve on.

What areas for further development can you identify within your submission and how will you address these in the future?
I feel like digital imagery is something I need to work more with, looking at ways in which photoshop and illustrator can benefit my designs and exploring whether digital colour is appropriate. Because my outcomes have been mainly line based, I feel that tonal and minimal shape based imagery is something I should explore. Working with a variety of media is something to improve on, also looking for new experimental ways of using media. To get better outcomes in future briefs I will try being less precious with my final productions, to give me more fluidic and gestural results that look less crafted and precise. I think being more confident with way I produce images will benefit me as a practitioner.

In what way has this module introduced you to the Ba (Hons) illustration programme?
The coarse moves at a fast pace and the best way to get ideas is to throw out as many as you can, as quick as you can, figure out the ones that work best and develop them. The coarse makes you work in a way that is best for the illustration industry and is not just making nice pictures. The coarse has already made me think about illustration in a more commercial way, and I think is going to help me adapt my way of working to suit real life briefs. Also that the ideas and development process is just as important as the final outcome.

Study Task 2 - What do I want to know? What am I going to do?

What do I want to know, What am I going to do?

• Identify 10 questions that you want to find the answers to as part of your degree.
• For each question explain what you expect or want to learn by finding the answers to the questions
• What will YOU do in order to find the answers to each question

1. What process will best enhance my sketch designs? I want to figure out how I can produce finished illustrations to a professional standard. I will need to explore a range of different process and medias to develop my ideas.

2. How can apply my individual way of drawing to other images? I have developed an interesting way of drawing characters and faces, in a loose and gestured way. I want to know if i can apply this method to drawing to other things rather than just tribal faces or other characters.

3. How do I professionally promote my work? I want to gain more confidence in promoting my work and making it available to the public. I will explore what ways other practitioners promote their work.

4. How will I keep on top of blogging? I want to gain skills in time management and find ways to keep on top of all my work.

5. What processes and medias will  I enjoy most? I want to discover lots of new medias and process on the course and I'm excited to see which ones I enjoy most and suite my creations.

6. Will I be good at thinking of concepts for things? I know this course is going to need me to think of ideas and concepts for subjects that I'm not used to working with. I will need to be able think of a concept and also apply an appropriate aesthetic to them. I hope can do this in a way that brings out my strengths.

7. What type of illustrator will I be? Im unsure what type of illustrator my style is best suited to. Im interested to slowly realise what type of illustration and imagery my visuals work best for. I need to to be lenient with the types of things I experiment with and subjects that I approach.

8. How much will I use character in my designs? Im interested in character design and want to develop how well I can apply it to different concepts. I need to think about how different characters can suite a subject and help communicate things. 

9. Will I get along with digital imagery? I have used photoshop a little bit to colour some of my designs. Will this be a way that continues to work well for me. How will the way I use it change as I progress.

10. What will I do after my degree? Will I be able of to get enough work when I finish? What skills can I gain from the course that will help me gain work and promote myself. I should be aware and look out for the types of illustrations that are popular and currently being used.

Study task 1 - Who am I? Why am I here?

• identify 5 reasons why you chose to study Illustration.
• Identify 5 reasons why you chose this programme
• Identify 5 skills that you think are your strengths.
• Identify 5 things that you want to improve.
• identify 5 images that demonstrate your interest in illustration

- Im interested in making pictures.

- I enjoy drawing a lot.

- I feel it is most suited to the way I have been working and drawing.
- I think it will be a good way for me to realise how to use my skills in a professional way.
- I feel I have good drawing skills but I want to learn how to draw more things that aren't just from my imagination.

- I did Graphic Design extended diploma last year and the illustration briefs is where my strengths were and I engaged with best.

- It was recommended by tutors, and looked better than any other course I looked at.

- I like the city and know it fairly well and will be a comfortable place for me to work.
- It will be a fast pace course full on coarse but it think thats what I need to stop me being lazy.
- I really enjoyed extended diploma and felt like this was the most suited next step for me, I like how the program last year worked so wanted to carry on at Leeds College of Art.

- Creating images and Drawing.

- Sketching.

- Experimenting with character design and facial features.

- Pattern and line work.
- Being experimental with drawing and drawing tools.

- Digitally enhancing my drawn work.

- Making and retinal final finished work.
- Story telling and giving messages within my images.
- Become more confident with screen printing.
- Making finalised characters not just rough ideas.

Mike Mignola - I love his drawings, I like how he makes all the shadow solid black. The outlines are simple but have so much character, how they are are angular and sharp. This combined with the linear solid black makes  his work very characterful and unique.

The Walking Dead illustration by James Harren - I really like this image. I like the composition and colours I think It creates a nice image. 

Jon Kenn - This is from a book called Sticky Monsters that is all drawn on sticky notes in biro. I really like the line work. I think it suites the monsters really well and creates an unusual atmosphere with the yellow.

Phlegm - I think his work is really interesting, I like his line work and how surreal his creations are. I think the scale of them makes them exciting.

Diana Köhne - I really like the energy in her work. The gesture of her lines give them lots of character and makes them really unique. I like how she abstracts the face.