Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION OUIL603 Extended Practice
Level
06
Credits
60
STUDIO PRACTICE Statement of Intent Name
Jess Dawson
Blog Address
Date
21 / 10 / 2017
http://j-dawson1417-sp.blogspot.co.uk/
Rationale During this module I would like to take on briefs and projects that will help me to further develop and improve upon a range of methods and skills in keeping with the diverse nature of my practice. These methods in particular are my analogue printing skills (such as screen print and linocut), my 3D papercut / engineering skills and my digital skills (such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.) By developing my practice in these areas I will achieve higher quality outcomes adaptable for use across a range of contexts within areas of the industry that interest me, in turn focusing and professionalising my portfolio to gain the best possible interest from art directors, design agencies and prospective clients.
Themes / Subjects • Music • Nature & Environment • Publishing & Narrative • Educational • Factual, current issues, ethics • Craft, analogue, handmade, interactive Products / Methods of Distribution • Posters, postcards, fliers • Prints, printed products • Publication artwork (zines, book, covers, spot illustrations, educational) • 3D artwork, interactive art • Album artwork, music merchandise (CD, vinyl covers, posters, collectables) • Apparel • Stationary (journal, diary, notebook jackets, post-its, calendars, card & envelope sets...) • Accessories (stickers, key rings, badges / patches, tattoo transfer, stamps, tote bags...) • Products, Packaging, Branding • Collections, sets, campaigns • Exhibitions / galleries / shows • Sold / appear in: - Art, craft creative stores - Online stores (Etsy, via my website, big cartel, commercial sites...) - Art markets, artwork / zine fairs, book fairs - Competition sites & events - Bookstores
Practical Skills / Media / Formats Improve and develop skills in: • Analogue printing techniques: Lino cut, screenprint • Digital: Photoshop, Illustrator, Wacom techniques & application / printing • Pen and Ink: Dip pen, ink (acrylic, Indian), Rotring Rapidograph • Pencil, colouring pencils, graphite • Paint: Spray & stencil, gouache, acrylic, watercolour • Paper cut: collage, hand cut, 3D engineering, pop up • Mixed media • Colour, light, shape & composition • Problem solving and communication • Storytelling and narrative Brief 1: 1 Letter a Week
Deadline
9th April 2017
Rationale: Self-initiated brief / project Based on an international project brief I stumbled upon via social media (Instagram) called ‘36 Days of Type’, this typographical challenge is something I have always wanted to attempt. A lover of all things type as well as series / sets of work, I like the challenge of creating a new piece per week, committing to posting the final outcomes via social media and resulting in a working typeface which could be used across a variety of applications. An interesting way to approach work, explore the themes / subjects that inspire me as an illustrator (i.e. the ocean), improve and develop my digital skills in Adobe Illustrator and increase online presence. Note: Can see this leading to much larger project – Final Major Project? Educational publication / vignette poster / postcard & stationary collection? Brief 2: Illustration Friday - Papercut
Deadline
9th April 2017
Rationale: Competition / live brief – with elements of personal/passion/self-initiated project A weekly brief to get me moving and creating. I would like to undertake this with the purpose of building my confidence and improving my ability to create visual responses to briefs and subjects quickly, whilst adapting the brief to suit my personal aims for my practice this year such as developing my handcraft and papercut illustration skills. The brief itself provides me with a loose and open weekly subject which helps to form the structure and focus I feel I need to work at my best, each subject will then be approached using a variety of paper cut techniques which I plan to build upon for my portfolio, creating a media specific body of work appropriate to my practice. Weekly designs to be uploaded to Instagram and the ‘Illustration Friday’ website, to help professionalise my approach, work to deadlines and build online presence. Brief 3: Narrative & Print (‘About the Author’)
Deadline
February 2017
Rationale: Self-initiated brief / project I got stuck into this brief last year, with the outcomes being some of my personal best and the wellrounded structure appeals to the way in which I like to approach work. I enjoy attempting to convey narrative through visuals and the research aspect and opportunity to become an expert on an author and their life/works/legacy is really exciting. I want the chance to improve and develop my analogue printing skills by creating another (screen / lino) collection - set - series of pieces based on inspirational creative writing. Possible authors: Italo Calvino (Cosmicomics, Invisible Cities), Edward Lear (Nonsense Poetry, Cookery, Songs, Botany etc).
Brief 4: Penguin Random House Student Design Awards
Deadline
March 7th 2017
Rationale: Competition / live brief I regret not taking part in any "book cover" illustration briefs last year despite being really inspired by the texts, therefore would love the opportunity to broaden my communicative skills and focus on narrative. The Penguin Random House Student Design Award has been announced, and I find all 3 texts interesting, inspiring and full of potential. This is a chance to get stuck into a full on, "high status" brief and produce a beautiful set of functional illustrations, with the possibility of gaining contacts, acclaim etc, from major publishing houses. Exciting! Brief 5: Secret 7
Deadline
March 2017
Rationale: Competition / live brief I really enjoyed this brief last year and had some success with one of my 7 designs making into the exhibition. I like the structure of the brief as a whole, find the diverse music choice exciting and varied to respond visually to and music illustration/merchandise/album artwork is something I am really interested in exploring further within my practice. The chance to have another go, create a collection of pieces fit for exhibition, sales of which go to a really great cause and a lovely opportunity and really current / relevant within the industry I aim to be a part of. Brief 6: D&AD, YCN
Deadline
March 2017
Rationale: Competition / live brief Introduced to both YCN & D&AD competition briefs last year, I was inspired by them all and being given the opportunity to create work for huge names in branding and advertising is something not to be missed. Having only attempted one of the briefs (John Lewis) as part of a collaborative effort last year (and having a bit of a disaster), I would like the challenge of giving one (or more) of the briefs another go in the hope of creating fresh, new, industry relevant work, gain a better understanding of the industry, push my application of skills as an illustrator, hopefully be successful in the awards and improve my portfolio. A great opportunity that I can undertake solo OR a chance to collaborate again with other colleagues.
ACTION PLAN – use this section to identify specific tasks that you need to complete in order to resolve the brief. Brief What do you need to do? 1
2
3
4
5
6
Deadline
• Decide on ‘oceanic life’ subject matter specific for letters A through to Z (A is for Anemone, etc) • Draw up detailed roughs ready for Adobe Illustrator: - A-E - F-J - K-O - P-T - U-Z
23/10/16
• Begin weekly challenge starting with the letter A • Have alphabet complete by (latest...) Notes: Mandatory 1 letter a week completed using Ai (26 letters = 26 weeks), however try to complete more than 1 to finish sooner than April!
23/10/16 09/04/17
• Sign up to Illustration Friday newsletter to receive weekly subject matter as soon as its announced • Order more card / paper stock • Begin brief: 1 papercut design a week • Create & finish designs on dedicated EP day: Thursday & upload to Instagram, Illustration Friday website & my EP blog • Complete brief / body of work by
21/10/16
• Research authors & works I am interested in (Italo Calvino, Edward Lear…) • Choose 1 author & their works I want to focus on • Draw up brief (decisions on print deliverables, print size/scale/format, how many, media, colour) • Scamp & media experimentation/development • Finalise roughs and designs ready for final artwork • Brief complete by… • Research all 3 texts (covers, artwork, story synopsis, ‘spark notes’) • Decide whether to approach all 3 covers, or just 1 and extend project and body of work into further self-initiated outcomes (products, promotional etc) • Buy text/s in full, read and make notes • Scamp ideas and experiment with media • Finalise roughs and approach • Brief complete and submitted to Penguin by…
30/10/16 13/11/16 27/11/16 11/12/16 25/12/16
21/10/16 20/10/16 Every Thursday April 2017? 23/10/16 30/10/16 30/10/16 30/11/16 22/01/16 Feb 2017 01/11/16 01/11/16 07/11/16 Jan 2017 Feb 2017 07/03/17
• Research & collate examples of album artwork, relevant practitioners, media and approaches that inspire me • Review & analyse previous Secret 7” winners – what makes this work successful? How can I use / capitalise on this? • Wait for the 7 tracks to be released • Brief complete and submitted to Secret 7 by…
30/11/16
Dec 2016 March 2017
• Review current D&AD briefs just released – ideas & shortlist • Review YCN briefs (released 24th October 2016) – ideas & shortlist • Advertise / find collaboration partner (illustration, graphic design?) • Decide on 1 brief and draw up collaboration agreement • Meet weekly to discuss, scamp ideas, experiment with media • Finalise artwork, blog & boards etc • Brief complete and submitted to either YCN or D&AD by…
23/10/16 30/10/16 Nov 2016 30/11/16 Dec & Jan Feb 2017 March 2017
18/12/16