UCA MA Illustration Publication by UCA Illustration

MA ILLUSTRATION UCA FARNHAM COURSE PUBLICATION

CONTENTS Introduction

Student Work

Documentary Discourses

Workshops and Facilities

Lion and Lamb Press

Overseas Study Trips

Alumni Case Studies

Staff profiles

Portfolio & Alumni Advice

Credits and thanks

Front and back cover credit to: Cathy Brett

INTRODUCTION MA ILLUSTRATION: ABOUT THE COURSE The MA Illustration course at UCA Farnham, offers students the chance to challenge themselves as well as the boundaries of illustration, both in how it is made and where and how it is seen. Contemporary Illustration has grown to include a broad range of ambitions and opportunities for image makers and story tellers. It requires flexible and adaptable practitioners with strong ideas as well as providing opportunities for the entrepreneurial illustrator. In depth research is at the heart of MA level study. It ensures that students are able to validate and contextualise their own work in relation to the leading edge practice in Illustration. The course provides students with the opportunity for extended critical debate, a high degree of critical reflection and integration of theoretical and practical concerns as part of the realisation of an ambitious body of work. In recent years Illustration is increasingly seen in many different contexts in contemporary visual culture, including Illustration for publishing, museum and archives, self publishing and artists books, installation, site specific work, artists residencies, ceramics and moving image. Although many of our students produce illustrated artists books, this diversity of practice in illustration can be seen in the variety of work, which the students have produced over the last five years. Illustration at UCA has a long tradition of original narrative and storytelling through images, reflecting staff expertise, research and practice in these areas. Our staff speak regularly at International conferences, exhibit work in the UK and Europe, work to commission, as well as have work in leading UK collections. The MA course supports students to identify and develop their own independent approach. However, collaborating with others is a distinctive feature of the course. In addition to their individual collaborative projects, they have been involved in several exciting external projects as a group. Producing collaborative publications and managing the Illustration departments table at various International UK based Book Fairs, as well as working with a local surgeon and his colleagues on an external research project. Graduates go on to work successfully as freelance Illustrators, University academics and designers. Two recent graduates were selected to be part of Talent 100 at Taipei Creative Expo in Taiwan 2018.

INTRODUCTION: WHAT WILL YOU STUDY ON THE COURSE? Successful illustration requires a combination of both good technical and production skills, as well as strong conceptual ideas and successful communication. An essential element of study at Masters level is independently identifying and using in depth research to develop your ideas and practical outcomes. The course is designed to help you develop all of these skills, through technical and practical workshops, seminars, group discussions, independent study and external visits, working through a variety of projects. The main focus of your study at MA level will be the development and resolution of a self identified Masters project, which you will start in semester 2. At the start of the course you will have a series of practical, technical workshop and process inductions, which are designed to introduce you to new processes and help you experiment visually and develop new ways of working, as well as ensure you know how to use some resources confidently and safely. This is likely to include a variety of printmaking processes, moving image, bookmaking and ceramics. Alongside these workshops you will have short projects which are designed to help you develop storytelling, conceptual and research development skills. You will also be introduced to a variety of professional practice contexts and practical guidance on successfully establishing a creative career.

WHAT DO OUR STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE COURSE? ‘Thanks to the course I am now more prepared to see my passion for illustration as a job, to respond to multiple projects at the same time and organise my time’ Joana Machado ‘the atmosphere of the classes is really unforgettable’ Xu Guo ‘I particularly enjoyed experimenting with new processes and techniques, and I think that strengthened my work approach’ Mauro Delli Bovi ‘The structure of the course helps us to become thinkers and be able to create research based projects’ Cheng – Yueh Lin 4

MA ILLUSTRATION: STUDENT WORK

Eunjeong Park

Cloudie Chang

Boonyapat Deedenkeeratisakul

Harry Burry

Mauro Delli Bovi

Sara Huang

Dujuan Zhang

Jackie Kirk

Cheng Yue Lin

Jen Yan Guo

Joana Machado

Cathy Brett

Alex McEwan

Chelsea Brown

Jayesh Sivan

Zhuyi Li

Jackie Kirk

Sara Huang

Meng Yun Chuang

Yen Min Hsu

DOCUMENTARY DISCOURSES CONFERENCE In November 2017, the Illustration course team celebrated its rich history and engagement in documentary illustration by convening the Documentary Discourses conference. The event brought together researchers, practitioners, theorists from illustration, animation, photography, film, journalism and comic studies. The event aimed to draw together the different debates, views and experiences around documentary practices, in order to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue that could inform future directions of practice and discourse in documentary illustration. It was an exciting and packed filled day starting with Gabrielle Cariolle and Paul Roberts analysis of illustration reportage of the Jungle Camp in Calais in UK and French newspapers. Dr Nina Mickwitz discussed how documentary comics are used as a mode of advocacy for refugees to tell of their experiences. Alys Scott-Hawkins talked about the importance of mark making and drawing in her practice and animation. Vanessa Rolf, Mairead McClean and Birgitta Hosea discussed the significance of materiality and memory in their documentary practice. The conference coincided with the Transcriptors exhibition held in the James Hockey Gallery which included work from documentary practitioners from the USA, India, Germany and the UK. These included the exquisite sketchbooks drawings of military trade fairs by Gill Gibbon, work by Oliver Kugler, Veronica Lawlor, Nina Sabnani, Vanessa Rolf, animation and original drawings from Kaputt/Broken produced by Volker Schlecht, Alexander Lahl, Max Moench. Jim Walker

WORKSHOPS AND FACILITIES Trying out new processes is a valuable part of your learning. You will have workshops in a variety of different printmaking processes, as well as bookmaking and working with sound and moving image. These are all designed to help you develop your image making and creative thinking skills. However, you also have the opportunity to try other new processes in order to enrich and develop your practise, such as ceramics, papermaking, photography and drawing with stitch.

THE LION AND LAMB PRESS The Lion & Lamb Press was launched by the Illustration course in 2012, as a publishing venture to support interesting projects from current students, recent graduates and staff alike. The press encourages experimentation as well as collaboration between individuals, other courses and small presses in the UK and abroad. MA Illustration students represent the Press each year at UK based International Artists Book and Illustration Fairs. Every year they have collaborated to produce a joint publication, as well as producing their own work in the form of books and prints, to sell at the fairs. They gain professional experience in presenting, selling and promoting their work, as well as the experience of discussing their work with prospective buyers and collectors. In previous years, students have shown and sold their work at PAGES, the International and Contemporary Artists Book Fair in Leeds, as well at BABE, the Bristol Artists Book Event. Some have been lucky enough to sell books to large UK artists book collections. In 2017, the MA students, represented the Lion and Lamb Press at UCA Canterbury’s ‘All Inked Up’ Book Fair in the autumn of 2017, selling their prints and books as well as books by recent alumni Daisy Lee. Following this, in May 2018, the MA students also managed and organised the Lion and Lamb Press at Turn The Page Book Fair in the historic city of Norwich, where they launched their collaborative narrative publication ‘Secrets’.

OVERSEAS STUDY TRIPS Every year there is the option to join an overseas study trip to a European city. These trips are joint undergraduate and postgraduate Illustration events, with a mixture of students from all years, as well as course team staff. They are a great way to make new friends, visit a European city and sample its visual and social culture. Last year, MA Illustration students visited the beautiful, historic Italian city of Bologna. The trip coincided with the international Bologna Childrens Book Fair, which was impressive by both its size and content. An enormous display under glass, of original illustrations, gave the students the opportunity to view work from around the world and reflect on the competition. It provided opportunities for illustrators to make potential connections with publishers and was ridiculously busy. Students visited the cities famous art galleries, sampled plenty of Italian pasta and went on day trips to Venice and Florence, as well as taking the opportunity to do plenty of drawing on location.In previous years, the Illustration department have visited Berlin, Lisbon, Paris and Barcelona.

Berlin study trip

Students drawing in Lisbon

ALUMNI CASE STUDIES Cathy Brett My first commission after I graduated, was a community project which evolved from contacts I made during my MA Collaborative assignment. Several local organisations and charities saw my work and I was invited to be ‘Artist in Residence’ for Rye Meadows Wetland Trust. My research for the final MA project, inspired a graphic novel, my current work-in-progress ‘Who Killed JoJo?’ which was a Finalist in the Laydeez Do Comics Prize 2018 and a Finalist in the Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel Prize 2018. This was a huge boost to my confidence and led to the decision to really concentrate on promoting this work to prospective publishers by the autumn. The experimental work I undertook as part of the Masters encouraged me to move away from my previous professional work and indulge in projects with less of a mainstream commercial focus. The surprise development was how much I enjoyed exploring printmaking and have introduced several print techniques to my current studio practice One of the most useful things I learned on the course, were research techniques! All my recent projects have benefitted enormously from better research – planning and editing. The discipline needed to complete an MA has had a real impact on my work, I feel more confident and articulate in communicating my ideas. I’ve delivered several lectures this year and even appeared in a documentary, which I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have done before the MA! www.cathybrett.co.uk

Jackie Kirk Through the MA in illustration I rediscovered printmaking, specifically linocut and revived my passion for image making. Before undertaking the course, I felt my practice had become stale and uninspired, so I appreciated having the encouragement to try different approaches and the opportunity to experiment with new techniques. I also felt I personally benefitted greatly from having the time to think through and develop projects, as well as take advantage of extra opportunities that came up over the course, such as different workshops, artist talks, selling work at the Leeds book fair and being a contributor of an image in a published art book. Reaching the end of the course I certainly felt that I had been pushed to explore my ideas beyond my comfort zone and as a result created work that was more varied and accomplished compared to what I had been producing previously. I currently work at a creative arts centre where a part of my role involves curating and assisting in the installation of small exhibitions. Undertaking the MA not only changed the focus of my practice to printmaking but has increased my confidence in pursuing it. I now produce editions of linocut prints to sell. Whilst I still see myself as at the beginning of my creative journey, completing the MA has been pivotal in getting me to where I am now. Website: jackiekirkillustration.co.uk jackiekirkillustration.co.uk

Mike Halliwell I am currently a self employed Illustrator and a University Lecturer. Part of the driver for pursuing the MA was to give myself the confidence to call myself an Illustrator and look for work in the field. I wanted to build and develop my portfolio and validate my arts practice for myself, which I did. I also wanted to distance myself from my architectural background to allow for more diverse job opportunities The MA qualification has also given me credibility and variety in academic terms which has been useful in looking for University work, and working towards a PhD proposal. What I learned on the MA course was to apply creative concept development to something other than a building design, and the confidence to experiment with different mediums and representation methods. Having worked primarily in digital collage prior to the MA, I was encouraged to develop my own analogue and cross-format methodology which has helped me find my own voice artistically. My MA final project was featured on the online version of ‘Eye’ magazine and in ‘Deep Ends’ a publication showcasing cuttingedge research into the author J.G. Ballard. This project is forming the basis for my PhD proposal. www.mikehalliwell.net

Jayesh Sivan I am currently working as a part time lecturer at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology at Bangalore – India, alongside continuing my practise as an Illustrator. The Masters degree has given me new confidence to accept more challenging projects to explore my skillsets as an illustrator. I regularly work on commissioned projects and also share my knowledge to aspiring art & design students. The MA illustration from UCA has opened new ways of creative thinking for me & increased my confidence to take up challenging projects. The learning at UCA has changed my perspective on certain subjects, and helped me in developing a visual style that can best express my ideas. I may not have achieved the same in this short timespan without my MA . This course has given a new direction to choose what is best for my career and what is not. The MA changed my work process to give more time for research to understand the subject/context. It helped me in developing an iterative process rather than going in linear direction. Studying in UK showed me a different world of professional practice and practitioners. Learning from the experts and their different approaches to projects were additional benefit. I had been selected by Google U.S for illustrating the google doodle that celebrated “Sam Selvon’s 95th birthday”. www.jayeshsivan.in

Dujuan Zhang I am currently an Illustrator at a growing shoe business based in Shenzhen. The first job I got since graduating was being an illustrator for a Chinese charity which supports Chinese veterans from WW2. In the future I am aiming to start working freelance, so I can work around myself and really use my imagination and skills to my full potential. I feel doing a course at Farnham really helped me improve logical thinking and reasoning. This also helped improve my English skills which I utilise to help brainstorming because our company reach out to a more international community. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also learnt to try different materials different methods of creation, using software, tablets, screen printing etc. The course helped build my confidence and my open-mindness. As a result of the MA, my work has more depth now and more thought to it. I found a method and process which suits me and continues to improve ever since doing the MA. Studying in the UK, I gained language skills which have helped improve my understanding of different cultures and people. I started to broaden my horizon and feel happy to try and learn about new things. Instagram: @juans_illustration www.dujuanzhang.com

Meng Yun Chuang When I first graduated, I collaborated with different cafe and art studios, holding illustration and watercolour workshops. Currently I am working freelance, promoting myself and working to commission. The MA course helped me prepare for my career both in terms of knowledge and technical skills to become a better illustrator. The critical review of our work help me the most however. Even after I graduated I still use the method to evaluate my work or rethink how can I do things better in my job. Recently I was commissioned to do a packaging design for a local beverage company. The final outcomes are selling in the convenience store in Taiwan area. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made me really proud to see some random people that holding the coffee cup which was designed and illustrated by me. Instagram: @zoe_ chuang_ Illustration

Sara Huang I’m currently working in an art gallery in Macau, and work as an freelance illustrator in my free time, trying to build up my portfolio, and gain more experience. Since I graduated Ive been trying to build up a network in my hometown. Ive made connections with quite a lot of people who work in the creative industry, and slowly i’m receiving invitations for joint exhibitions, creating opportunities for me to work on commissions. This is quite similar to when I was doing my MA projects, pushing me to think and to challenge myself in my creative practices. The MA course prepared me in developing the mindset for problem solving, and some key skills such as printmaking, knowledge in book making, creative research etc. I think it would be very difficult for me now if i hadnt done the course. The most useful thing I learned on the MA course was how to solve problems; How to think outside of the box, and to work on a theme in different ways. Studying on the MA in Farnham, I made some really good friends, and got to talk with insightful people. I visited many fairs and galleries. The experience of living abroad trained me to be a more independent person. Recently, I’ve been invited to teach illustration in a university as extra curriculum course. And I’ve been invited to exhibit in several joint exhibitions. www.yangillustration.com

Weien Lee My first job since graduating has been working as a freelance illustrator, I started this career as a result of an agent finding my work ‘Happy Family’ on a illustrators Facebook group. He contacted me and introduced himself as the co-founder of a Taiwan social media company ‘FLiPER’, with experience of crowdfunding to publish books. Studying on an MA Illustration degree was a really good chance for me to develop my style and work. When I returned to my home country, I was able to show my best work to the people in the Taiwan illustration industry. My work attracted attention and as a result I got a job and made lots of illustrator friends. Before I went on the course, I didn’t have time to really build a mature work of illustration. But by doing the course, I had a year to develop my drawing skills, discuss my work with tutors, learn the process of how to create a work, and also attend helpful workshops. The MA course will teach you ‘how to make a work with a deep concept’, most of the time will be spent discussing with your tutor or other classmates about how to develop your work, it is really a good time for creative development. I was lucky enough to participate in a couple of major Taiwanese exhibitions this year, ‘Creative Expo Taiwan’, ’Handmade Korea Summer’ and ‘ Taipei Illustration Fair’. https://mei4025.wixsite.com/weien1109 https://www.facebook.com/weien1109/ https://www.instagram.com/weien1109/

STAFF PROFILES

Jane Cradock-Watson Jane’s personal research focuses on the production of limited edition hand-made artists’ books. Much of her work uses photography and printmaking. She has exhibited regularly since 2009. Many of Jane’s books are in major national and international collections such as the Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Yale collection of British Art. The selection of paper and material of the book, its texture and physical properties, are a primary consideration in her work. The metaphor of the landscape, the garden and nature have been a major theme in the creation of her books, providing an intimate and sensory experience with nature, and engaging the audience in reflecting on the garden as a metaphor for life. More recent work combines print, drawing and photography to explore the potential of illustration as documentary to communicate both visually and physically, through the form of the hand held book. Research Outputs – Exhibitions, Symposia & Book Fairs: Nov 2016 - ‘Looking for Ophelia: An illustrated visual and sensual exploration of the Hogsmill River ‘; - Shaping the View: Understanding Landscape through Illustration’ Illustration Research Network Sept 2016 - Contributing writer to ‘Sustainability’ article in Varoom Magazine ‘Well, Well, Well’

April 2016 - Contributing Artist in the CFFPR @ UWE World Book Night ‘Serena Joy@ collaborative publication Dec 2015 - ‘The Haptic Book” Livres D’Artistes: The Artists Book in Theory and Practice, Cardiff University Dec 2014 - Artists Books, The Riverside Gallery, Richmond

May 2014 - Turn the Page Artists Book Fair, Norwich July 2013 - Highlights of the Sheffield Book Arts Collection at The Last Chapter Bookshop, Sheffield June 2013 - ‘Stories on Paper’ New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham June 2012 - ‘Cultivation Field’ Group Exhibition, ‘The Keep’ Readiing

May 2012 - ‘Udkant’ Exhibition - Doverodde Book Arts Festival, Denmark 2010 -2012 - London Art Book Fair – Whitechapel Gallery, London 2010 –2016 - Small Publishers Fair – London 2009 –2016 - Leeds International Contemporary Artists Book Fair 2010 -2015 - BABE / Bristol Artists Book Fair – Arnolfini Gallery Bristol

2010 - Handmade and Bound Atists Book & Zine Fair – Whitstable Biennale

2009 - 2nd Sheffield Artists Book Prize Exhibition, Bank Street Arts Sheffield

2010 - Handmade and Bound, London 2010 - ‘Emotive’ Exhibition of Artists Books at University of Northamtonton

2009 - ‘Edit’ Donlon Bookshop, London 2009 - MA Book Arts Show Camberwell College of Art July

2011 - 2012 - Handmade and Bound, 2009 - Exhibition of a selection of St Brides Foundation the Tate collection of Artists Books at the Tate Britain 2009 - 4th Manchester Artists Book Fair MMU

James Walker James’ current research is engaged in different forms of visual narrative in relation to personal, cultural and social memory. In part this research relates to issues of memory and trauma post 9/11 and the representation of “self” in graphic and sequential narrative forms. Particular focus and critical theory has developed around the writings of Roland Barthes, Hal Foster, Paul Virilio and Slavoj Zizek. This research is a further development of previous essays in ‘Art in the Age of Terrorism’ (2005, Paul Holberton Publishing, ISBN 1903470412) and research paper ‘Cartoon Wars: Appropriating culture and the destruction of Imagination Land’ (presented at Screens of Terror: Representations of War and Terrorism Since 9/11 in Film, TV Drama and Documentary). Other areas of research relate to issues of archiving and heritage of animation - in particular, British animation. This area has led to a number of research outcomes (exhibitions at Sidney Cooper Gallery Canterbury, film retrospectives at Bradford Animation Festival, Canterbury Anifest, Cinephilia, London) focusing on the creative work and influence of the British animator Bob Godfrey. Current research interests in animation are focused on the work of Bob Godfrey and the British Animation industry in the 1950s in relation to consumer culture and commercial television. James is the editor of the International Journal for Illustration Research.

Iro Tsavala Iro is an author-illustrator based in London, where she maintains her artist’s studio. She is interested in the expression of ideas through narrative, the playful relationship between words and images and the function of the book format. Her work embraces the use of found ephemera, drawing and printmaking, resulting in both playful and sometimes enigmatic imagery. Alongside her self- initiated projects, she works with Illustration commissions for clients such as The Poetry Society, the Guardian and Karnac books among others. Her books can be found in bookfairs such as ELCAF, Bristol Artists Book Event, PAGES Leeds and the Small publishers’ Fair. Symposia, Talks and Events: 2016: SHAPING THE VIEW : Understanding Landscape through Illustration 7th International Illustration Research Symposium, Edinburgh College of Art 2014: Pick Me Up, Live drawing event-Somerset House, London 2012: The Function of Folk, Illustration symposium, Ethnographic Museum, Krakow, Poland Exhibitions and Bookfairs: 2016: All Things Animal Exhibition, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA 2016: Pages- Leeds International Contemporary Artist’s book Fair, Leeds 2015: Elcaf-The Laundry, London 2014: The Chocolate Factory open Studios, London 2013: Stories on Paper-New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham 2012: The Function of Folk, Ethnographic Museum, Krakow, Poland 2012: Elcaf-Village Underground, London 2012: Comica Comiket-The Great Hall, Bishopsgate Institute, London 2011: Small Publishers Fair-Conway Hall, London 2011: The Magic Theatre, 2nd Illustration & Writing Symposium-MMU, Manchester 2010: Allotments-Swartz Gallery, London

PORTFOLIO ADVICE We are looking for evidence of a range of skills and experience in an applicants portfolio. Everyone is different, therefore, no one portfolio is the same. In principle we are looking for evidence of: • • • • • • •

Observational Drawing Skills – an ability to observe life and your surroundings Sustained Visual Idea Development – the visual journey from the start of a project to its final resolution Mature Visual Storytelling Skills Visual Experimentation with a variety of different media / visual approaches High Level of Technical Skills Understanding of Contemporary Illustration and its Contexts Evidence of a sophisticated ability to clearly articulate your ideas

MA ALUMNI ADVICE Become familiar with all the facilities and expertise available early and use them as much as you can, the time goes quickly and you want to make the most of it. Try to run your study as if it were a job, with set hours to allow you to work to your full potential and build-in down-time. Mike Halliwell If you feel that you are lacking something, find out what it is and develop ways to overcome that. And that will be the greatest discovery in your practise. Develop your drawing skills further and make it a habit. You will discover many more things as you grow with your practise. Jayesh Sivan Work as hard as you can right from start, avoid doing assignments or work just before your deadline. Dujuan Zhang Be curious, and try out more different things. Be patient, you cannot see the result immediately, but after some time the result might surprise you. Meng Yun Chuang When you’re working on your projects, don’t waste any moment hesitating, just jot down any idea whenever they come to your mind. Try to make sketching, journal writing and research as your habit, which is really helpful. Go out and explore different exhibitions, near or far, big or small, since there are so many exciting things going on every day. Sara Huang

CREDITS AND THANKS MA ILLUSTRATION Designed, Art Directed & Edited by Emma Mills and Jane Cradock-Watson All Photography by teaching staff and students on MA Illustration With thanks to all the MA Illustration Academic staff team, including: Jim Walker, Mike Nicholson and Iro Tsavala, as well as BA tutor Robin Chevalier, the students and alumni who contributed articles, Cathy Brett, Meng Yun Chuang, Sarah Huang, Dujuan Zhang, Mike Halliwell, Jackie Kirk, Jayesh Sivan, Weien Lee and Weiyun Chang. All Farnham support teams especially: Altea Grau Vidal, Tony Lee and Katie Prendergast. Published by: The Lion and Lamb Press

Credit: Weien Lee

Instagram: ucamaillustration Twitter: @IllustrationUCA Issuu: https://issuu.com/ucaillustration/ docs/uca Course Leader contact email: jcradock-watson@uca.ac.uk

Front and back cover credit to: Cathy Brett