ARE WE THERE YET? MICA MFA ILP 2014-2015
MELISSA CROWTON
ON THE ROAD IMAGE HARVEST LET’S GET PACKING BOOK BINDING PAPER FOLDING LETTERPRESS LASER CUT STOP MOTION LETTERING PATTERNS MAKING A PIT STOP ALPHABET BOOK ART MARKET WORDS ON WHEELS SELF DIRECTED SKETCH PROJECT WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
EVERYBODY STARTS SOMEWHERE Coming to MICA has been a big journey. During my first year in the Illustration Practice program, I’ve attended classes and workshops and each project has brought me closer to developing my illustration work into a more cohesive practice. Since moving across country, I’m discovering new skills, communities, and processes of working which have once again allowed me to discover the things that get me excited. I have packed all the tools in my suitcase and I’m ready for a new trip.
ON THE ROAD Every beginning has to start somewhere and for our first semester at grad school the Image Harvest Project was the catalyst for personal discovery. By beginning to semester with a question we were able to determine what inspires our personal work and where it can take us.
IMAGE HARVEST Our first project for the first semester was developed around the idea that as artists, we have multiple themes we tend to repeat in our work. By taking a moment to “harvest� our previous work, we were able to have a clearer vision of where we were and how we can go forward. In my personal evaluation, I looked at people I had always admired: Maurice Sendak, Mary Blair, the Golden books-illustrations with interesting perspective and flat, graphic shapes. After sketching and experimenting with several ideas, I decided to make an image based on the idea of a map. I wanted to emphasize the elements that I loved in other illustration work I always admire, but at the same time make it my own. I also mimicked that same sentiment in the accompanying piece, Underground. Overall, I am happy with the results. I altered my process slightly to increase productivity for a larger result. I think it became a great starting off point for the rest of the semester.
1 & 2 Preliminary sketches and idea exploration
3 City, 17� x 26�, Digital. This was the final image that hung in the Image Harvest Gallery Show.
4 Underground, 17� x 26�, Digital. This is the companion piece to the city map.
LET’S GET PACKING Each workshop during the first year of our graduate experience is designed to do two things. One--teach us a new skill, and two--allow us to develop ideas that can be added to our illustration practice. We are encouraged to use these opportunities to think outside of the box. These techniques are practiced so that we may use them in future work.
BOOK BINDING WORKSHOP Book binding was one of our first workshops. She gave us instructions in folding, bookbinding, and other various techniques that could be used to enhance 2-dimensional work. I ended up using a folding technique that focuses on accordion folds. I decided to incorporate imagery I developed during my image harvest that was based on women and their sometimes lack of representation in sports. By using the accordion fold I wanted to emphasize the movement of the ball in each panel that was created with the fold. I also designed the band that wrapped around the image. This project was a good workshop to start with; it was helpful to ease into thinking of illustrations that could contain different aspects other than 2-dimension. With this project,, I would have liked further time to enhance the project, but it set me up for further exploration.
1 Sketch for figures 2 Final folded product 3 Match, Detail
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PAPER FOLDING WORKSHOP Because my work in the previous workshop was more about the illustration and not the form itself, I wanted to push the technique more than the content. I was intrigued by a lot of the paper cut examples, so I decided to make shadow puppets. I was able to concentrate on shape and craft, but center it around a loose story/theme that referenced my grandfather, a true horse-training cowboy. As an addition at the end of the semester, I also created packaging and scenery to enhance play. This project was successful because I embraced the form and allowed myself experimentation instead of strictly adhering to my comfort zone. Although I have since created work that doesn’t reference this, aspects such as shape and form exploration has carried over into my other illustration work. I would definitely revisit this idea again in the future.
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3 1 Shadow Showdown 2 Inside Puppet Background 3 Shadow Puppets
LETTER PRESS WORKSHOP Letterpress is not a new technique for me, but is always something I’m happy to revisit. I have only worked with typography in the past, so I was happy to use it to express illustration imagery. After our instructor’s suggestion that the project could tie into future projects such as promotional purposes, I decided to make my plate into a set of six letter pressed business cards. Although I was happy with process, the cards weren’t as successful because in my mind they represented more of my loose line-based sketchbook work and don’t match up to my portfolio work. However, it was a good project and I was happy with the experience. I enjoyed working at the Baltimore Print Studios and look forward to using the texture and look of printmaking in future projects.
1 Proof sent to the plate maker. Each plate incorporated hand lettering and black and white playful imagery.
2 Example of the final product
LASER CUT WORKSHOP This became on of the hardest workshops for me. The process of laser cutting was slightly overwhelming because the laser cut machine required knowledge of the program illustrator which I am not as confident on. I tried to think of a project that was within my limits. However I ended up being more concerned with the technical difficulties that I lost sight of the original intent and lost out on developing an interesting project. Although I wasn’t happy with the final result, I was excited to create a repeat pattern for the first time in my work. I based each design on the dietary intake of a specific animal (duck, rabbit, and turtle) and used that pattern to fill an outline that turned into a tag to be used in gift giving.
1 & 2 Repeat patterns created for gift tags. Each was based off of the animal’s primary diet.
3 Example of the final tags
STOP MOTION WORKSHOP Stop motion has always intrigued me—I love the work of animation studios like Laika. They are able to push the medium on a large scale but still prize narrative above all else. I was excited to attempt stop motion, but again, because of the technical aspects of the form, I became too focused on making deadlines and as a result, not enough time was spent on the concept. I chose to illustrate a simple circus theme that increasingly became more chaotic as more characters entered on the screen. The manipulated pieces were inked and painted by hand, something I haven’t attempted in a while, so I was happy to push myself in that area. While everyone seemed to like the design, the motion and acting lacked some creativity. While the workshop showed me my weaknesses, it also helped to pinpoint potential problems in future projects that hopefully I can avoid in my other work even if it isn’t experimental.
1 Final Stop Motion Puppets
2 Workshop animation room, day one
3 Stills from the animation “The One and Only Tiny Circus for a Tiny Audience”
LETTERING WORKSHOP Hand lettering became one of my favorite workshops. To begin with Whitney Sherman led us through a day of exercises that helped us to loosen up and think about letters as forms and not just as typefaces. We were assigned to design a book cover that referenced a title in the “Imaginary Library”, a collection of books that are mentioned in movies, television shows or other written work s that are actually false. I have always been interested in book cover design, so I was excited to combine the two elements in this assignment. I learned a lot about typography and design elements during this workshop. While I have done work on imagery that can be included in a book cover, I haven’t yet been able to have control over every part of the cover’s structure. Overall, a great workshop and a successful project that helped me prepare for future work.
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1 Hand Lettering Workshop Alphabet 2 & 3 Preliminary Sketches for Book Cover 3
4 Finished Front Cover
PATTERN WORKSHOP Hand lettering became one of my favorite workshops. To begin with Whitney Sherman led us through a day of exercises that helped us to loosen up and think about letters as forms and not just as typefaces. We were assigned to design a book cover that referenced a title in the “Imaginary Library”, a collection of books that are mentioned in movies, television shows or other written work s that are actually false. I have always been interested in book cover design, so I was excited to combine the two elements in this assignment. I learned a lot about typography and design elements during this workshop. While I have done work on imagery that can be included in a book cover, I haven’t yet been able to have control over every part of the cover’s structure. Overall, a great workshop and a successful project that helped me prepare for future work.
1 Workshop instruction with Leah Goren
2 Final critiques on workshop pattern exercises
3 Sketches for bug pattern
MAKING A PIT STOP Every pit stop became a chance for me to take a moment and spend time on one project to try to understand how I could make it my own. However, I also needed to learn the process of idea making and committing to various ideas throughout a longer amount of time. While each project had its own positive and negative results, I feel as though I have arrived at a more realized idea about my own interests and my personal method of image making.
ALPHABET BOOK The Alphabet Book project began with a workshop by Rachael Cole, art director of Schwartz and Wade. She taught us about the children’s book market and where our work could reside within its industry and led a “mock” book cover assignment. I enjoyed her talk because I am interested in the children’s market, but also because she was able to excite as well as educate us about illustration in general. Next we were presented with a project around the theme of an alphabet book. Choosing to write my own content, my alphabet book had letters with double meaning such as “F is for fly/fly,” or “C is for curl/curl”. I enjoyed being able to create my own content and illustrate it in a way that matched with my intent. I tried to push myself in composition and color,which are elements that are also being pushed in my future work.
1 Workshop Thumbnails for mock project
2 & 3 Rachel Cole during workshop critique
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4 C is for Curl/Curl, 8” x 8”, Digital 5 T is for Tale/Tail, 8” x 8”, Digital 6 F is for Fly/Fly, 8” x 8”, Digital 7 N is for Night/Knight, 8” x 8”, Digital
ART MARKET One of the first larger projects we tackled after Image Harvest was the Art Market challenge. The challenge was to make something that was well considered among our personal work but also viable as a conceivable and profitable project. Although I had previously done work that was more focused on the children’s market, I wanted to again revisit a sketch I had produced during Image Harvest. I decided to do a book based on the idea of Greek and Roman mythology. Although I enjoyed the process overall, I felt I strayed away from the intent of my previous work which was good for the sake of exploration, but a hindrance to my overall illustration vision. However, this let me experience the joys and pitfalls of such a project. I enjoyed the exploration of mark making, texture color, and shape expansion that added to my illustration practice. It became something I was able to include in further details of my work despite the divergence of material.
1 Preliminary thumbnails
2 Finished product with second cover
WORDS ON WHEELS Words on Wheels was a good opportunity for me to work on a project for actual clients. Poems were chosen by the MTA facility for MICA students to illustrate as banners that would be displayed on buses throughout Maryland. I received poems from an 8th grader and a 2nd grader. It was fun to come up with imagery that was specific but also universal in approach. I personally liked the image I produced that accompanied the 2nd grader’s poem better, but I think both images have their own valuable points. I learned to work with many colors in each image and I tried to balance that out with graphic shapes so the main message wouldn’t get lost. Each piece was created digitally. If I had more time I would have liked to incorporate more media exploration, but those practices will be explored in other projects in the future.
1 Thumbnail sketches for poster project 1
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2 Finished poster for “Rise Like the Sun�
3 Finished poster for “Early Morning Riser�
SELF DIRECTED My self directed project was an opportunity to focus my time on elements I had previously explored in other studio work and really prefect the way I wanted to use it. I chose a project that would reflect work I could theoretically receive from actual clients. I illustrated three young reader books, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Swiss Family Robinson. I chose to design the jackets, end papers, and interior spots. I was really happy to explore pattern and hand lettering again and I look forward to using that more in my work. During this process I tried to explore digital and traditional materials and how I could incorporate those into a final project. While I was frustrated at times by not getting results that were up to my personal standard, it was important for me to discover materials I could begin including in my work.
2 1 Thumbnail sketches for final project 2 Spot illustrations for Swiss Family Robinson 3 Interior end papers for each project 1
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4 Finished book jackets
SKETCH PROJECT The sketchbook project began as a continuous project throughout our first year that pushed us to explore variations on a theme. Each student was assigned a main theme and then each week a new prompt and sketchbook was passed along for us to illustrate. At the beginning I tended to use materials I was more familiar with, such as dry media (pencils, colored pencils, pens, etc.). However, at the suggestion of Joyce Hesselberth, our class advisor, I was able to incorporate other media such as collage, paint, and text to further push myself. Although it was hard at first, I really enjoyed myself which I think helped me to loosen up in my other work, which is something I have always wanted to do but had a hard time implementing. Although the project was hard at first, I think it has improved my other personal and professional work.
Winter
Iconography
Wanderer
History Book
Upside Down
Shark
Bows and Arrows
City Lights
Astronaut
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? To say this year has been a journey is to put it mildly. It was a roller coaster, at times calm and other times fast-paced. My metaphorical suitcase may have arrived dented and road worn, but it is also full of experiences, tools, and ideas that I can further use as I continue down my illustration path. A huge thank you goes to Whitney Sherman, Joyce Hessleberth, and other classmates and teachers who have helped me and given me suggestions that allowed my work to constantly improve. Thanks for an amazing year MICA-- I’m looking forward to more.