Where Am I Now? Kat Williams | OUIL402 | February 2016
Practical Work Fashion Project, 2013
Cover for a photo album (I later added colour), 2015
Media: Whilst researching for this presentation I came across my old work from my Art & Design Lv 3. I was surprised at how adventurous I’d been with using different media and techniques, compared to the following year when I got stuck in a fineliner rut. I think this risk-taking with media is still something I’m struggling with now, but I plan to address this through the practical work within the second term.
Picture Book Project, 2014 Summer Project, 2015
Observational drawings from 2013, 2014
Practical Work
and 2015
Drawing Skills: Since starting the course I’ve been drawing a lot more, and through drawing the same thing again and again I can develop and refine my drawings. I feel that my confidence has also improved and I’m less nervous about showing my work to others.
Character development from October vs the same character in the current project
Study Skills
Understanding a Brief: I’d worked to briefs at college, but outside of education I had no set briefs and I lacked motivation. The briefs on this course give me a problem that I can then go and solve . I feel like I can now read through a brief and understand how it is structured and what is required. I’m finding it easier to think practically about the solution to a set brief.
Study Skills
Contextual Knowledge: Through the COP lectures I have learnt a lot about Illustration’s role throughout history. Not only is it interesting but it also informs my practice. In particular it has had an effect on my consideration of ethical issues. I’m aware now of the responsibility of the designer as a communicator.
Viktor Papanek
Professional Skills
Understanding the Industry: The Bigheads programme has been inspiring for a number of reasons. Mostly, though, it has given me a chance to hear directly from those who are already ‘out there’, making real work for real clients. It’s given me an idea of what to expect when I graduate, as well as a push to work harder and aim to achieve the success that they have.
Professional Skills
Understanding of Illustration: Since starting the programme I’ve developed a firm understanding of the purpose and context of illustration as a discipline. Now I could confidently answer the question ‘what is Illustration?’, which was the one that I got stuck on at university interviews.
Personal Development Quentin Blake
Jon Klassen
Oliver Daveys
Personal Taste: My taste in illustration hasn’t changed much but now I am beginning to analyse how practitioners make work and begin to use them as inspiration for my own. I also really like pictures of monkeys.
Personal Development
Time Management: I’m the kind of person who likes to be busy all the time and I went a bit crazy picking up new sports and hobbies when I first came to Leeds. Despite this constant running around doing things, to keep up my interests without compromising my uni work I have been relying on a monthly calendar which I have taped to my bathroom door, so that I see it every day. I write my lectures, appointments and tasks for the day in each box and tick them off as I complete them. I’m finding it really effective and plan to keep it up.
My first evaluation was ‘lacking’ - I hadn’t fully understood what was required of this piece of writing, but I tried to improve on it in the next module.
Personal Development
Commitment: I’ve always tried hard to commit myself fully to the course however I didn’t realise at the start how much work would actually go into this. After the feedback I received from the first submitted module I tried to get my head down and improve on the issues they raised. I hope that this will be reflected in my future grades!
Personal Development Motivation: Similarly to the previous slide, I have been trying to improve my motivation towards the course. I’ve found a useful strategy of being ready to start work at 9am and working through until 6pm, even if I am at home. Then I can relax during the evenings and in theory, I don’t feel overworked. In reality, sometimes a project completely takes over my life for a bit, and I find myself cancelling plans and staying up into the night to get it finished, as happened with the Picture Book project. At times like these it becomes really difficult to stay motivated but learning to keep focused is something everybody struggles with and I just have to remind myself of the reasons I chose to leave everything, come back to the UK and do this course in the first place.