Process book FMP Harley Young
Coming up with an idea…
After brief research during Christmas break thinking of 3 possible routes, Workshops like Jane’s creative thinking were helpful in the way of getting thoughts out in the open, with this bubble map… I just wrote down the first things that came into my head when contemplating this project and then we were told to join any that might link or work well together. We then later in the day started experimenting with Oblique strategies to get out of our normal ways of thinking and working. Although this can be helpful when having a creative block and experimenting, I’m not sure how useful this was in regards to the project. Especially for those of us who had already an idea of where they wanted to go.
As much as I know you shouldn’t settle on the first idea you have. I knew since being told about the FMP and the creative freedom we would have, that I wanted to use my alien style characters that I have been working with in my private illustration for years. They are something I really enjoy drawing and I’ve wanted to work them into a project if I could but hadn’t been able to the last 2 years. Because of the versatility of being able to make my own characters or base on existing ones, I thought this was a good starting point. The topic would come to me. Although after the first week back I’m pretty set on Music.
Proposal I found writing my proposal quite difficult, I suppose it’s not wanting to commit to something. However I had narrowed my topics down to 2, music or fashion. After doing a little research in order to write my brief I found a lot more in the market for music based stuff, books, musician art, iconic stars as dogs etc. I am interested in perhaps trying fashion illustration at some point but perhaps too much of a bargain on my final project.
After my tutorial, me and Iro had discussed perhaps looking back at Fashion, just as possibility but I think it’s right to stick with my guns. I’m sure my project will still evolve and change as I go, as it normally does. But I don’t feel as inspired when thinking of the fashion possibilities as I do when thinking of drawing musicians or illustrating lyrics etc.
During my early research I stumbled upon a book that was not dissimilar from my original thoughts, of course I won’t be able to complete over 100 drawings. But the main focus is musicians, and conveying and presenting the people in your own unique style‌ separating you from the others out there selling similar products. As much as it would make it perhaps more difficult to sell a finished product if there is already things alike on the market, I do think it’s a positive as it means there is clearly demand for things such as this.
Experimentation
Experimentation
STRESSFUL RESEARCH There are so many sites, books and opinions on who the greatest artists of all time are and the amount of information I’m finding is a little overwhelming. Most list’s I have been able to get my hands on are ‘Top 100’.How am I suppose to decide? I attempted doing a survey on my instagram but didn’t get an enormous amount of responses… however. It was slightly helpful in that way that the answers that were given, were often doubled up with someone else’s. Common denominators could be a point of interest. I do think I may have to make my project a little more personal though and cherry pick artists I like or can admire.
Getting started
Initial sketches
Listening to the artists whilst drawing them is creative process I thought I would play around with, I normally listen to music anyway so I’m not sure it’s anything ground breaking but it gives me a better understanding of who I am interpreting I supposeespecially the ones I don’t listen to as often (sorry Dolly).
Time keeping!!!!!!
COVID-19!!!!!
My team keeping is definitely better than it use to be and using the timetable 100% helps focus, however I still struggle to stay on track completely. I take too long with my work. I need to improve my computer and digital art skills as mentioned in my PP unit as I think it’s a hindrance that I don’t feel comfortable to edit and create on there. Definitely now uni may be closing!! Panic stations.
Too far
Complete illustrations
Draft
AHH I’m really quite terrified about having To submit everything online, my scanner is definitely not up to scratch but I am lucky to have one at least. I have photographed the original drawings for my sketchbooks/development folder as with the scanned ones, although it’s much flatter and smoother- the colours get distorted and the pencil marks become very apparent. Slightly frustrating when trying to make my final piece. Was banking on the uni scanners and the print Bureau, but life goes on!
When playing with layout I printed them off to see how they will look when I can make this more professionally. I thought they looked a bit too empty.
Experiments
Background/text accompany ideas
Final Zine
Summary
This has been a crazy project, I must admit I really struggled towards the end. Having to isolate 1 week before uni closing and then trying to finish this from home has been a real challenge. Normally the most technical thing I do is work the scanners at the library and after 3 years, I 9 times out of 10 still need to ask for a help. As mentioned 1000 times this year I definitely need to improve on that moving forward as I think I will really struggle to find work without more basic tech skills.
Not having the university facilities and staff there has also been quite difficult, I fell behind on my timetable and ended up illustrating 8 artists instead of 10 as proposed in my sketchbook plans. However, given the circumstances and how long the shading takes on each drawing, I am very pleased with my final zine.
The fact that I even made a zine in the first place shows I have come a long way since 1st year as I use to hate the mini zine projects we would get set, and now I really think it is a practice I will continue to use to build my experience, confidence and continue creatively thinking when we’ve left university.
If I could do this project again I would definitely have started creating the final drawings sooner. I of course would love to print this zine professionally when the world is back to normal, I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed but giving the circumstances I feel I did the best I could with what I had.
I also think I may attempt to sell or display some of the background try out illustrations as prints alone. As much as they didn’t work within the zine (I preferred the more refined, minimalist look) I do think some of them are quite striking.
All in all I am very proud of the work I have completed in this unit although it’s not as much as I would like it to be, and I have been very stressed with the hand in and finishing process, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the work I was able to do.
I’m viewing this project as the beginning of something, I want to carry on drawing and building this zine up. When researching and seeing other zines and books like Ricardo’s , I was envious I didn’t have more time (and wasn’t afraid of the computer) but it has inspired me to use this as the beginning of a personal project. Once I am happy with the end product and can scan and print it more professionally, I definitely want to submit this to ‘Family store’ in Brighton, which is something I spoke about in my career plan. Of course it hasn’t quite worked out in the time frame I’d originally thought. But it’s a goal!