PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE BY
Why I am an Illustrator Breakthrough Inspiration Level 6 Evaluation Competitions Exhibitions Online Presence Self Promotion and Portfolio Presentation Student Community After Graduatution CV Personal Statement Relevent Links
WHY I AM AN ILLUSTRATOR Ever since I was young I have had a fascination with people, drawing portraits and figures. I remember sitting at my grandmas house for hours with a massive pile of paper, a pencil and a rubber and sketching out faces of an imaginary family tree. With years of experimentation into still life, landscapes and seascapes I have taking a full circle back to what I love.
I am extremely interested in all aspects of fashion, beauty, surrealism and the figure and this is reflected in my illustrative work. Although my work is not targeted directly at fashion its-self, my style is derived from the delicacy, texture, colour and beauty of those associated with fashion. I am interested in a small section of illustration, that falls somewhere between fashion and portraiture. I like to explore what fashion imagery as a visual language conveys other than its premeditated commercial use in a consumer society, playing with what it can offer other than the promotion of the garment itself.
Marc Marc Anthoney Anthoney
My investigative study was a real breakthrough in terms of knowing who I am as an illustrator. Understanding theorists ideologies of how fashion imagery works on the unconscious mind of the viewer. As Richard Martin describes in fashion and surrealism’ the love affair between the two,
...’this can render an image or even product enticing’ Reading in depth texts on Psychoanalysis has also been profoundly influential, gaining an understanding of its capacity to add layers of meaning to an image.
To some clothing is a way of expressing your personality, however I believe that people are more interesting than the clothes that they wear.
Rather than focusing on the clothes like most fashion illustrators, I think it is much more interesting to take someone as they are, analysis their clothing to understand who they are as a person and work from there.
TIM WALKER Tim walker is one of my main influences, his work fully embodies the late fashion photographer, Irving Penn’s observations that,
Tim Walker’s photoshoot with Helena Bonham Carter Although his work is mostly photography with a small hint of fashion film, his content is similar to what I inspire to produce. His work undoubtedly has an element of surrealism with his distorted worlds, quirkiness, visual puns and paradoxes.
Tim Walker and Alice in Wonderland
One statement that Tim Walker made will influence my practice for years to come,
His influence can be seen in my work in terms of the idea of pairing the real with the imaginary, although I still have a fair way to go in terms of where I would like to be as an illustrator, I believe I am on the right path.
Mustafa Soydan
Caroline Andrieu Aitor Throup Goggle Suit
Robert Ingpen Alice in Wonderland
Caroline Andrieu
Two other illustrators that have caught my attention are Robert Ingpen and Aitor Throup, It is yet again the dark fantasy worlds within their work that catch my eye. Although my work is not there yet I inspire to produce work to their standard in the near future.
Recently Ive been keeping an eye on street-style blogs such as ‘The sartoralists’. I think what they set out to achieve is similar to my aspirations as an illustrator. Each photograph is individual, a documentation of character, personality and activity through fashion and style. I like to keep up to date with their posts for inspiration and keep my work fresh. www.thesartorialist.com
MY PRACTICE AN EVALUATION OF MY WORK THROUGH LEVEL 6 I have been on a long journey from who I was as an illustrator at the start of my final year of degree to who I leave as. My work at the beginning of the year was very flat and lacked content, I was caught up in style and aesthetics and all I knew was that I liked drawing the figure and that I was interested in fashion. With the help of Joel Lardner, Marcus Oakley and Lisa Richardson I have been able to find a content and adapt my style to fit accordingly. It has been a real eye opener, a bit of a struggle but I can see the huge improvement in my work. I now have a developed interest for urban fashion illustration, documenting personality, characterisation and also stills from narratives, I feel like I have a more solid foot on the ground as an illustrator, however I still have a fair way to go.
COMPETITION ENTRY Entering Competitions is a way of showcasing my work to broader audiences, if successful it could be a very good way of promoting my name. It also gives me a chance to step outside my comfort zone and create work for different clients in a way I wouldn’t choose to do myself.
Linkin Park asked designers and artists to submit their best original artwork inspired by the music and words of Linkin Park’s new single, Castle of Glass.One grand prize winner will have their winning design produced into an official Linkin Park t-shirt. Working for a client as large an Linkin park gives you the incentive to get it right. My entry to the t-shirt competition was definitely a massive leap away from what I would call my ‘normal’ style. It was a challenge to work with a more graphic approach, but the final design still has clear aspects of style that I have adapted as an illustrator.
EXHIBITIONS ANDFUNDRAISING Organising and participating in exhibitions is a valuable way of learning about presentation aswell as well as the general publics opinion on your work. Over the past four years I have been taken part in quite a few exhibitions around the Bournemouth area. In 2010 I was involved in two exhibitons, one at 60 Million Postcards in Bournemouth and one at the Hayloft Gallery in Christchurch which saw a collaboration of work from a group of textile designers and fine artists. Since attending the Arts University Bournemouth I have been involved in ‘Bespoke’ at the Cafe Boscanova in Boscombe where I designed and sold christmas cards to raise money for an upcoming exhibiton at the Rag Factory in London July 2013. Flirt cafe in Bournemouth was another venue used to sell christmas cards and framed illustrations to raise money for the London Show. In December 2012 I took part in a month long exhibition with fellow illustration students at a surf shop in Bournemouth triangle for general self promotion as well as having a permanent space in a gallery at the Bookends art centre.
HARRIET FELICITY ONLINE Having a good online presence is essential in promoting a business In todays economy. Social networking is a very effective tool in advertising my work as most people of our generation use multiple sites such as Facebook, twitter and blogger each day. On the flip side it is important to remain professional whilst using such sites, so language, information and photographs is always carefully thought about and personal social sites kept completely private or even invisible to the public.
My blog at present is a more informal presentation of my work. It is split into projects that I have undertaken whilst studying for my degree in Illustration. Although the presentation is thoroughly thought about in terms of the site being open to public view, it is basically a documentation/diary of my thought processes and work plan. In hindsight after graduation this will be adapted into more of an informal way for clients and the general public to follow my day to day activities and get up close and personal with my work and even contact me about general discussion topics they would like to raise.
I created a professional Facebook page in May 2011, I use this more regularly than my blog as my work automatically can be viewed on the news feed and shared to a wider audience. Just like my blog my presence lies somewhere between professional and social, It is slightly less formal to suit the atmosphere of the social networking site, and appears just like a documentation of my activities. This style seems to be working as I have received several commissions through my Facebook page including a logo for a up and coming make-up artist ‘Face Trends’. Recently I have also set up a twitter account for ‘Harriet Felicity Illustrations’ to promote recent work, activities and also my website, blog and Facebook page.
I have also set up my website within the last year as a more professional portfolio and online promotion. I used Wordpress to build my website as I was excited by the endless amounts of plugins that were available. It is quite difficult to get a unique website without understanding Html and Css, this is something I plan to understand more after University. Branding and consistency is a huge part of promotion and professionalism. I have created a logo for myself that can be seen on all of my online sites and on my business cards.I have chosen to keep the consistency across the board as my work then becomes personal and memorable with my hand rendered logo and use of grey type. You can also see a favicon in front of my url on my website and this will be used for small promotion in keeping with my larger hand-rendered logo, simple and memorable. A timeless logo that will suit any change or adaption I make to my work. Development of a Logo
Website,Facebook and twitter Logo
Blogger and Business card Logo
Favicon
SELF-PROMOTION AND P R E S E N T A T I O N
At present I have a physical portfolio which can be easily updated when more work is produced as well as an Online portfolio and PDF’s of my work either on CD or accessible though email. After graduation I plan to create leaflets/ handouts of my work to promote myself personally as an illustrator as well as my work which would work in a similar way as my business cards but more in depth.
My business cards Are quite simple and elegant on the front with my main logo featured in the centre, on the back there are four different examples of my recent work. At the moment due to funds I have the wrong coloured logo on my business cards, however this will be changed with the next batch. This is also a design that can easily be updated when more work is produced. I also plan to expand my online store, introducing merchandise such as packs of cards, bags, t-shirts, badges and much more. Packaging is also something I plan to look into, in keeping with the theme of my website and logo, simple, modern and memorable.
The logo On my business cards will be updated with the next batch.
In terms of presentation I am aware of its importance and that it could be make or breaking piont for a client. All of my work is hand-rendered with fine pencil work which has proved difficult when trying to photograph or scan for my online portfolio. However over the past three years I have developed my skills on photoshop and am now quite comfortable with scanning or taking photographs of my pieces and working into them to create clear, crisp white images for online use. My work is also set to be showcased in the last edition of ‘bumf’ magazine, which is a magazine set up by the student union to showcase the many talented students at AUCB.
MY ILLUSTRATION COMMUNITY
When I started my course at AUCB in 2010 I was very shy at talking about my work and very stubborn to change. Being involved a large student community and being encouraged to present and debate my work with others has completely revamped my work effort. It has helped my own reflection and development of my work even without the input of others now. Having a close student community also helps to learn from each others mistakes or achievements. Working along side other students has also helped my work ethic, time management and helped me to get involved in projects that I would not have been able to participate in without other budding young illustrators. Working in close proximity with other developing illustrators has helped everyone learn off each other, and by example. I have witnessed everyone improve both in their practice, style, work ethic and in their professionalism and we inspire to work with each other and help each other on a regular bases.
POST-GRADUATION THE BIG WIDE WORLD I used to have a slight alienation from the idea of being a free-lance illustrator due to the hardship that had been described to me. I saw Illustration in a similar category as singing and acting, hard, opinionated and working towards a break. However three years of illustration and critiques with positive and negative feedback have hardened my shell a little. With inspiration from peers and professionals I now how masses of entrepreneurial ideas flowing to keep me busy after graduation. I now know that becoming a successful free-lance illustration will be extremely difficult, but promotion and merchandise are key. As my technique is quite adaptable to appeal to different sectors of the public I plan to get as much work in Galleries around the south for income and promotion and hold as many events as possible. Collaborations are also a wise idea to continue the peer inspiration and sharing audiences. I aim to keep an online shop running as in todays generation internet buying is soaring. Whilst I am improving my management of work flow to galleries and controlling online sales and commissions I will have to keep a part-time job to keep my income steady and fund my illustration activities. If it is successful I may then apply for an internship, in hope for a chance to work my way upwards from there. At present I have a lot more improvement and development to do as far as my work goes so at the moment I am open to which internship path I take within the subject of Illustration.
Peter William Brown
Harley Brown
Harriet Felicity Schofield 6 Preston Lane,Burton,Christchurch,Dorset BH23 7JU 07518826348 hfillustrations@hotmail.com harrietfelicityillustrations.co.uk I am a passionate, friendly,hard-working individual with a creative flair highly capable of individual work or working within a team. I am versatile, keen to learn new skills and adaptable to new t echnologies and methods of working. I am Extremely interested in fashion, beauty, surrealism and the figure and this is reflected in all illustrative work. Although my work is not targeted directly at fashion its-self, my style is derived from the delicacy, texture, colour and beauty of those aesthetics associated with fashion illustration. With a passion for fine pencil drawing and multi media techniques,psychoanalysis and characterisation.
Photoshop
Bookends Art centre and Gallery Christchurch
Indesign
April 2006
working to a brief
working with customers, products and original art work.
Time Management Problem solving creative flair Advanced computer skills
Bookends Art centre sales assistant and Framer May 2006-present Working with customers, products, original art work, prints and framing. Also Able to use a till and phone. Stand in Manager.
Office Applications Framing and presentation Photography
Illustrator and Fine Artist Present Working on individual briefs and commissions
BA (Hons) Illustration The Arts University Bournemouth September 2010-May 2013 Foundation In Art and Design The Arts University college
Twynham 6th Form A-levels Art- A Applied Art- A
Bournemouth September 2009-July 2010
History- C
GCSE Art- A* Textiles- A English Literature- A English Language- B Maths- A Science- AA History- A Drama- B French- B Religious Education- B
60 Million Postcards March 2010 A collaboration of work from a small group of fine artists’ Hayloft Gallery September 2010 A collaboration of work from a small group of fine artists’ Bespoke December 2011 Designed a series of christmas cards to raise money for a London show in 2013. Surf/clothing shop exhibition November- December 2012 A series of fashion based illustrations selling to raise money for a London show in 2013. Flirt Cafe December 2012 A series of christmas themed Illustrations and cards to raise money for a London show in 2013 Upcoming Exhibition Rag Factory London 15th -22nd July 2013 A show featuring all the best work from the illustration graduates of The Arts University Bournemouth.
References available on request
Harriet Felicity Schofield is an artist and illustrator, located in the south of England in Bournemouth. Currently in her final year of University, studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Illustration at The Arts University College, Bournemouth. Her work has been exhibited in many local galleries and her latest work is set to be printed in the last edition of the ‘bumf’ magazine created by the University Student Union. She is extremely interested in fashion, beauty, surrealism and the figure and this is reflected in her illustrative work. Although her work is not targeted directly at fashion itself, her style is derived from the delicacy, texture, colour and beauty of those associated with fashion. Her style is diverse, realistic and uses multi-media techniques.
http://harrietfelicityschofield.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harriet-Felicity-Illustrations/221300734564108?sk=wall
https://twitter.com/HFIllustrations
www.harrietfelicityillustrations.co.uk
“The life of an artist is a continuous journey, the path long and never ending.� Justin Beckett