WHAT'S THE PROJECT ABOUT?
The core of successful illustration practice resides in the continuous development and refinement of image-making techniques, whether they are digital or analog, traditional or experimental. This module is dedicated to delving into the technical and practical aspects of illustration, with the goal to explore, challenge, and enhance my understanding and hands-on experience of various image-making methods and processes. Through engaging in practical projects and workshops, I will have the opportunity to investigate a diverse range of image-making techniques within the context of contemporary illustration. I will undertake reflective analysis, research, and experimentation with methods, processes, and materials.
Week One: PEN AND INK
This week was all about developing our skills in the mediums of pen and ink.
RESEARCH
Research began with creating a collaborative Padlet with pen and ink artists found from books in the university library. This gave a good base knowledge in a range of artists to look back upon and helped show how different the medium can be approached.
LUCINDA ROGERS
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One of the artists I took most inspiration from and found most compelling was Lucinda Rogers. Her use of varied line quality and simple shapes really makes her work pop and even though it lacks tone, it doesn't feel flat. Her
AUBREY BEARDSLEY
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HELPFUL VIDEOS
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Throughout any project I find YouTube videos helpful in seeing other artist's live approach to working in mediums.
PORTRAITS
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These two self portraits were created with brush and ink. I wanted to make more expressive bold lines. I tried to create a greasy texture to the hair on the left image by leaving white space combined with the harsh black.
The image to the top was the test for the image on the right. I used it as a chance to experiment with the brush strokes, watering down ink to get different tones and using a combination of applicators including dip pen, fine liners and brushes in one image. This helped me get used to the medium.
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STILL LIFE
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I thought drawing a collection of objects on my desk using the same would help get used to the medium. I used fine liner for the main lines of the images and then light washes of watered down ink to show tone. I tried to use thicker lines to depict tone and light direction.
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I wanted to use the combination dip pen and brush technique from my self portraits on a still life. I think this helps create depth and visual interest within an illustration without looking over worked.
A ROOM IN MY HOUSE
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This was the final ink drawing I created. I chose to draw the toilet in my house as I thought the room was long and narrow and would make for an interesting composition. I also thought the flower tiles would add interesting texture. The one point perspective played into the flat but expressive lines I had learnt to like through research into Lucinda Rogers and my own experimentation with materials.
I think this is my strongest ink drawing, which makes sense as it was the final one I created. I think the persepective, line work and tonal contrast works really well and creates an effective piece. 
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WEEK TWO: WORKING IN 3D
This week was about creating 3D conceptual sculpture. We were told to start looking at cats and dogs and move onto other animals if we wished.
TASK IN LECTURE
The first forty minute task was to create cats and dogs out of materials found in the studio and upload them to Padlet. This was a quick exercise to get in the zone of making things.
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RESEARCH
HELPFUL VIDEOS
These videos helped making 3D sculptures more approachable. I knew after watching the first video that I wanted to use paper mache.
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LISA LARSON
I have been a fan of this artist's work for years and thought she would be perfect research for this project. Her flat, abstract ceramic work is simple but effective. I was inspired by her cats to create my own.
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REFERENCE IMAGERY
IDEAS AND DEVELOPMENT
I deceided I wanted to create a cat sculpture inspired by a Persian cat. I wanted to dramatise the evil and grumpy look of them. I also wanted to play on the "flat faced" look of them by making the face of my sculpture flat.
SKETCHES
DEVELOPMENT
I cut a net out for the body with cardboard and paper mached over it. I built up a nose bridge of each cat with extra cardboard to exaggirate the nose and add dimesion to the flat face. I then planned the paint job for the cats by digitally colouring a photo of the body. I used layers of watered down acrylic to paint them.
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FINAL PIECES
WEEK THREE: PAINT
This week's task was to experiment with paint. I haven't painted since secondary school and had a strong dislike for the medium at the time. I will use this time to try and get to grips with it.
EXPLORATION WITH THE MEDIUM
I created these two paintings before doing any research or learning of the medium. I wanted to know what I could produce myself without any imput. The answer was quite crude work. I tried to show tonality and make the objects seem like they're actually in a space. While I liked the naive look of the cup and felt it could have some use as a stylistic choice, I want to try and develop my skills further through research of the medium.
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RESEARCH
As I was uncomfortable with the medium, I spent time looking at resources in techniques before jumping in and while I was painting.
HELPFUL VIDEOS
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BOOKS
I found the book "Colour and Light" by realist dinosaur painter James Gurney very helpful at learning the very basics of the medium.
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MARY CASSATT
I looked at the work of Mary Cassatt. She was an impressionist painter and print maker but I focused on looking at her paintings for this project. Later in her career her work started having more firm outlines while still keeping an impressionist feel with the brush marks.
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DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS
After the research, I attempted a self portrait, a still life and study of a cube in lighting. I focused on monochrome black and white paitings to so I could focus on the tonality of the pieces. I feel like my skills in the medium have definety developed in the right direction! I would like to be able to control the brush better, but that will come through practice.
FINAL PIECES
These are the final pieces I developed for this part of the project. I think my skills have really developed in paint through the week. I painted two portraits (one of me and one of my boyfriend) and two still lifes of cups. I am particually happy with the cups, as I think the paint application and tone are very well done. While I still dislike the medium, I definetly feel more comfortable in the medium and my try and use it for my practice in the future.
