experimenting with zine pages

level 5 and level 6 have been given the opportunity to create a 12 paged zine (+front and back cover) to go into this years thought bubble.

our brief was to create work over summer in a sketchbook (quick sketches) that could be added to this zine.

below i have played around with adding some illustrations from summer into the zine format (a4 paper folded in half) 

im not particularly happy with my zine pages. i feel it has no theme - its very mis-matched.
unfortunately i wasn't happy with many of my drawings from over summer as we had to produce quick sketches a day - something i do not particularly enjoy doing as my practice tends to be time consuming on one drawing at a time, therefore what i produced doesn't show my best work or is very recognisable to the type of work i would produce for clients.

Can i use illustration that were not created in summer?
this is something i will have to check with tutors, but i would much prefer showcasing work in this zine that i am proud of and nest represents me as a practitioner, i feel this will give potential clients a clearer idea of my practice. i don't want to waste a great opportunity getting my work out there if i am not happy with the images i choose to show.

i feel spending time creating more work for the zine that i might not even want to use will take up vital time i need to focus on other modules that are getting marked.

leftbankleeds.org.uk

left bank

discussion with john and PPP and general practice!

i mentioned to john how i feel i need to time to experience new things and places as i have been in education since primary school, i dont feel i have had a change to really have strong opinions or visit places to influence me and the way i feel and think. 

'will i forget what i have learnt if i don't do it for a while and travel?'

john; 

'you cant,  you are more influenced from what you are going to do depending on what you wanna do, if you want to go traveling and go to a completely different culture you will see the sky different, you will see colours differently, you will see cultures different, you will see peoples take on life differently.

be careful when you are traveling 

 i love south Africa, i love cape town, but i don't like Johannesburg and i dont like ….. i find them really frightening places, but why is it - its because of the experience i have had that puts me off a bit. - it does effect you, and then you will have a comment, weather its visual or sociable.’ 

you have to investigate yourself first- what makes me, ME. 

what i like to do when i quite - e.g day time tv- what do i like about it ?

ask my friends

listen to something 

what imagery comes to your mind.

finding time for to reflect on 'me' is something i don't feel i do. though i deal with my everyday life everyday i don't (i may subconsciously) think about how it is inspiring, effecting or influencing me. i feel i 100% need to get involved with other things other than illustration as this will inform my thinking and opinions on the world - influencing my illustration. it is nice knowing that i dont nesscessarily have to be particular about what i put on this blog, it doesn't need to be all about illustration and my course, it can also be about me, and what i find interesting. - again, what makes me me. 

i think reestablishing this in my head, i will find it easier to blog often as i dont really need to think about what i am blogging. 

http://www.shotopop.com

london based.
group of illustrators animators.
get in touch with them via twitter Instagram Facebook, Tumblr email

shows case studies, work etc

talking to 'heros'/ other illustrators 

if they won’t speak to you, need to do something drastic. 

email them to tel them you hate there work just to get a reply

send them a illustration.

point people toward my website!

try and makes everything cohesive; Instagram, snapchat, fb, twitter, website, with everyplace, every point of contact should be there. so when a viewer gets on/see one of my pieces I’ve uploaded, they can easily click and view my other platforms or email me.  

Using life as a educator

works for drop box 

never been to collage

'my names Justin and I’m still trying to figure it out.' 

talks about himself and things around him - this makes him makes him much more interesting, approachable and 'normal - like you and me 

‘i love waffle house’

‘im a husband and a father’

‘i dont like using big words’

nice to hear about how he’s journey to be a designer was bumpy- makes me feel that its not the end of the world to go through bumpy patches too - it will get better. 

learning to stay curious and learning to be aware of whats going on around you really gave me a lot to challenge myself outside go formal education. 

'being normal is ok..but i wanted to challenge myself to not be normal and to think differently, and there something about getting your hands dirty and taking risk just to try new things and learn from the process….

challenge yourself to move away from the obvious and try something thats foreign and different to see f it work- don't be afraid to thing bigger and to turn a very normal project into something more. thinking out side of just the normal usage of something can be really effective and create a different experience.' 

through a lot of trail and error frustration with customers and just being a perfectionist i was able to walk away from 'failed experiences’ look back and grow from that experience. - chose to move on and put the darkness behind me , its good to move on from things'

be adaptable

'i initially found it really hard to accept change - project to project, job to job. as designers we just need to be ready to change and go at the flow. change doesn’t have to be a bad thing and even though its difficult there is always a brighter side at the end of that. 

just deal with it.' 

Get inspired

the world is full of free inspiration - and its away from your screen!

just disconnect and look around

have a conversation 

go for a walk 

listen to music 

read a book

play a game 

draw something stupid 

be rebellious

take a risk

DO SOMETHING NEW

its really easy to stay in the mode where your sitting at your desk looking at your computer, nose in your phone - your missing all the things that are going to inspire you and more then like going to influence your work 

learning somethings is never something you stop doing, and learning something from experiences in life can be a huge advantageto every project and everything that you touch.

LIFE CAN BE AMAZING -use this as your inspiration 

stay open minded. 

3rd year time managment

the last 2 years, i have found it very difficult to arrange my indepentant study along side required studio time (time tabled uni sessions) it has been very intensive, in the past i have found it difficult to be confined to the studio at specific times to get on with work as i find it very hard to concentrate on  work when i am not in the right frame of mind. i feel most comfortable and productive when i am in my own space with no distractions. Though this year comes with heavier workload etc, i am enjoying having more freedom to devise my time myself for specific modules, and not being timetabled into uni as often. saying that, i recently i have felt anxiety about weather i am doing enough work, if i am spreading my time out equally etc. i think this is because i perhaps haven't compared my progress to other people in the class. though i have identified how i prefer to work and the environment i work best in (my own space) i think it is still important for me to have contact with the university just to feel i am on the right track with everyone else and get influenced by others.

thinking about a selection of 6 images to send central illustration agency as the required submission for possible representation on their website.

'if you are interested in representation please email six lo-res images or a link to your work online to newart@centralillustration.com...We can only respond to illustrators or animators who we would like to meet' 

• which best represents my practice
• i have to remember not to confuse audience/client with too much variation so they can unstand my practice and be confident with what work i could produce for them (advise from Georgina Luck 

My final 6

i have decided to choose these 6 illustrations to send to central illustration agency. i think they best represent my practice and breadth of my skills.

even though these illustrations use different techniques, i still think they show similarities and liknesses to each other which will be recognisable to me - detailed, delicate, emotive. 

instead of choosing 6 illustrations produced in the same tone of voice i felt by choosing slightly different techniques will allow potential clients to choose which style they like- i was influenced to do this from a brief i am working on at the moment, a client chose a style that i have not developed/chosen to promote as much as other recent techniques i have been working on (loose watercolour and detailed pencil/pen) showing that my opinions of what is effective is not allows right, and certain styles work better for certain briefs and themes. 

experimenting with blog header design to make my blog more personalised and professional to my practice.

thinking about changing elements of my personal branding.

one thing i think i would like to change about my personal branding this year is my brand name. last year i decided to brand myself 'R.E.W illustration', the initials of my name. however considering the type of work i do, i think using my real name instead of a brand/nickname, will make me appeal more approachable and more professional. i think it will adapts to my  more sincere, sensitive and detailed work ethic.
i also think by using my full name will avoid any confusing when/if clients are trying to search for my work/website/contact details online, as naming my networking sites as 'R.E.W' when people may be searching for my real name may reduce the chance of my getting a commission due to the client finding it hard to find me.

things i would like to discuss with john during my individual pop tutorial

• i have created a personal website on cargo-collective - how to i attract attention to it?
• How do i used linked-in effectively!?
• how do i improve my personal branding?
• i dont think i want to go into to further education (MA) what sort of jobs should i be looking into for my practice? should i apply for studio spaces?
• what illustration agencies would be appropriate to contact?

Facebook post appreciation.

i have tried to upload the majority of things i have been working on (mostly the finished pieces) to my Facebook page and professional Instagram at-least. it is always great when i get likes off friends and family, but the last few post i have put up i have received likes from strangers and positive comments! this is really confidence building and though it isn't much, it is great to see that my work is reaching people i don't know or have no mutual friends with. 

the jealous curator

http://www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/

live hard - how to talk to your hero's (illustrators you admire)

 you’d probably be very surprised how easy it is to meet/interview/get advice from people you respect. Here are two simple rules I’d suggest for actually doing that:

1. Be sincere

Most people who genuinely care passionately about a thing  will respond well to other people who care passionately about the same thing. 

 If, when you approach someone, you can say, ‘Look, this is what I’ve already done, on my own,’ they’ll know you aren’t just some dude who’s got into the thing in the last ten minutes, looking for a quick fix.

Show that you’re inquisitive and committed and not just looking for a handout, and you improve your chances enormously.

e.g email:

‘I run a website called Live Hard, which is about working, living, drinking and partying…as hard as possible. I don’t make any money from it – it’s mainly a way to try and inspire people to actually live harder, and it works for at least a few people. One girl emailed me to tell me she’d taken up Roller Derby because of it. Another guy told me he’d lost 4 stone and met a nice lady. Well done that man. 

As you can probably guess, I’m hoping you’ll agree to an interview – in many ways, you’re the inspiration behind the site. Hope it sounds interesting, although I understand if it doesn’t. Either way, all the best.’

 2. Don’t be a dick

 If you want to chat to someone, then chat to them – don’t ask them for stuff straight out of the gate, just interact with them like you would (hopefully) any other human. This could be anything: from a link to something they might find interesting (not your stuff, unless it’s super-relevant) to an area of expertise you can help them with.This can be simple, or complicated: comment on someone’s blogposts, letting them know which ones you like (and why). Drop them a Tweet about something they might find interesting. Be sincere – people can (in my experience) tell when you’re doing it.

A Commission!

first commission from my Facebook page! 

from setting up my Facebook illustration page, at the end of last year, i was contacted by a woman who liked my page asking me to draw a picture of her two dogs after seeing my post i uploaded of a drawing of my sisters dog. 

this was the picture i was sent to work from. this was a challenge for me as i usually like to work from photographs which are high resolution so i can capture as much detail i can to make it realistic. becuase it was in black and white, i was also restricted to the media i could use. 

i decided to go for a ink wash, which i then added detail to with colour pencil - because the ink dried browny bluey colours, i had to then match these colours up with colour pencils, this was hard to reference from the black and white photograph. however i do like the overall colour effect as it is quite rustic and wholesome. 

editing the colour to black and white to see if it looked better / a better match to the photo.

pricing worries:

because the client was someone my sisters knows, i was worried about pricing the commission incase they felt i was pricing to much, i didn't want this to reflect badly on my sister (though my sister wanted me to price it as much as i wanted). i thought about how John told us to think about it per hour, however because my work is detailed i tend to spend a long time on things and felt this could mount up. 

though i will beed to inquire about how to price my work better next year (level 6) i decided to ask for £60. i told myself to allow myself no more than 5 hours on the illustrations so i would be making at-least £10 + a hour. 

although i do spend a long time on work, it is usually when i do other things in-between as i am in no immediate rush or thinking about how much i will get paid for it, so something i should take from this commissions for further commissions, if i focus on the commissions and the commission alone, i think i will produce the final piece faster. 

sending the illustration:

as this was a commission for a solo piece, i had to send the original. this was also a challenge for me as over the last 2 years of uni, i have used photoshop etc to clean up my drawings to make them more professionally presentable (erasing dirty marks, using levels to improve the contrast and colours etc) so sending a 'sketched' original, made me feel very exposed! however it made me more precious about the handling of my work and the area i created it in - not to have dirty surfaces, and make sure my hands were clean!

i also send the client a email with my edited versions in to she could see the difference incase she wanted to print it out with the edit or even at different scales. 

linkedin = for asking questions, networking

travel!- experiencing all the time
glimps into your life

how you charge for things
contracts

dont do things free

jack vetreono

consider an agent! - talk to matt
dont just get one- get one in loads of places
you dont start paying them until they get you work.


blog post - explain why you've looked at it, what you find interesting

email illustrators about ideas, what they think
'i value your opinions.'
use first name: makes them feel at ease

minimum- £40 a hour
OR

main worry is copyright ©
'who owns the copyright?' discus this with them
'full and final payment copyright will be signed to you'

dont believe anything anybody says to you in business - make them your friend - friends wont lie to you
'circle of friends'
communication and networking is something you should be doing everyday

saltaire gallery

biggest growth area in print- childrens book

inustration friday
http://illustrationfriday.com

live hard - how to talk to your heros
http://www.livehard.co.uk

add signature to email - can change a illustration per week.
-or a giff that changes - a way of seeing who you are

include/concider the creative cloud free in costs

stick things on linked in!

ETSY

angus's book:
work our how many illustrations there are price per illustration.
have them per illustration for £ or can do the whole lot for £



portfolios : something that you love, about you. show you have contact with the outside world not just collage briefs

My summer presentation

http://eaststreetarts.org.uk/studio/

Applied illustration

its really encouraging to see  illustrations being used a range of products, it reminds me that a nice illustration can be applied to anything easily and sold. 

YCN Awards night

-       great experience to be amongst other creative

-       faith in future collaborations

-       felt like a professional. Potential taste of future

one thing i regret was not having the confidence to go and speak to people at the awards night, i felt that people stayed together and didn't really mingle so i was very hesitant to interrupt people.  i also didn't really know who i could talk to! i feel like i was not ready or prepared to bring up my practice as i am not 100% sure myself of who i am as a illustrator or what path i would want to go down in the creative industry.

Exploring London

though going to London for the YCN awards was a fantastic opportunity, it was also daunting to me as i have only ever been to London once for a school trip, and because i won as part of a collaboration, i was not able to bring a guest therefore had to travel and stay over on my own! as i am from a small town in the country, london seems like a different planet!

BUT...

i survived!... and i actually really enjoyed touring London on my own, i was able to go where i wanted and felt very independent. my confidence has definitely grown since this trip, allowing me to see i can deal with the complexity of the tube, getting from place in place in the busy city.
it definitely made me see that London definitely has it 'all going on' and is a essential place for networking, establishing yourself...however could i really see myself there? i still dont know the answer the that question. i can see it as a lonely place to be if you dont establish that network of people. - i get the impression, as like most capitals, it is either make it or break it.

We accept submissions in the form of website links sent via email to mail@heartagency.com. If no website exists please provide printed samples by post. If you would like your samples returned, please supply a stamped self-addressed-envelope in your package.

Submissions

If you are interested in representation please email six lo-res images or a link to your work online to newart@centralillustration.com.

We can only respond to illustrators or animators who we would like to meet and please note that we do not accept and will not view or return printed samples.

Hannah Sawtell

Hannah observes the relationship between locality and community. Interior and exterior is given meaning through use and aesthetics; fleeting moments are celebrated. More recent work has explored continuing such observations, but through the prism of mixed media pattern and design.

duke studios

http://duke-studios.com
 £85 per month for co-working studio space - first come first serve basis

'The College has formed a unique partnership with Duke Studios, a creative co-working space in the heart of the unofficial cultural quarter in Leeds. Our studio space provides a nurturing environment for recent graduates to establish their own businesses.  This space is primarily suited to screen-based ‘clean’ activities such as digital media and design, but the College is planning to expand its portfolio of incubation units to support business activity and practice related to our full range of degree programmes. The space comes with 8 hours a month mentoring, provided by the College and support from creative industry professionals'.

CONTACT US

+44(0)113 245 9487

HELLO@DUKE-

STUDIOS.COM

DUKE STUDIOS
3 SHEAF ST
LEEDS
LS10 1HD

if i decide to stay in leeds after uni, this is a pontential studio space i could look into renting.

artist threads

my friend helena told me about a competition brief she had been informed about which she felt would be suitable for my taste and way of working. after finding the website with this competition is on, (artist threads) i was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a website you can use as a platform to showcase your own work with a personal profile, it can also be used to network with other creatives with a account. this is great as i really need to make my self known to as many people/creative platforms as possible.
the benefit of this site is that i can also see what creative events are happening, and keep informed of any up and coming competitions.

summer brief guidelines to prepare for level 6

In your recent PPP presentations you outlined what you intended to do in order to build on the progress that you have made. We want you to record and reflect on your continued progress over the summer.

●Post your experiences , observations, activities and reflections to your PPP blog (label your posts OUIL602prep)

●You should be researching and contacting agencies, studios, practitioners and collectives that interest you.

●Research into further study, MAs, PGCEs,training and development opportunities.

●List the professional skills and knowledge that you want to continue to develop over the next 12 months and research into how you will develop them.

●Write list, action plans and timetables your activities….and stick to them!

ppp module briefing - john watters

travel is the most important thing
- you look at things differently
-new experience
- stored in memory bank

experiences make you a professional

my aspirational image
if you set yourself a task - it will happen

who are you talking to, if none, why not?
dont just think you have to talk to illustrators
if its something that interest you - i.e shoe designer

speak to agents now!

prospective employers
prospective collaborators - contact people if they want to 'try' you idea together

financial insinuations
investors
look at studios!
linkedin!

what should you have by now:
online presence

• behance
• linkedin
• fb

print items

network connections 

a 'wish list' of potential contacts and reasons why - if they've had a influence of you.

• what do i wanna know
• if you just want to tell them you like there work
• be carful what you put in the subject list - make them open the email!

making contacts now will pay dividends later

ppp is something for ME

ppp 3 briefing

being aware of what the futures going to bring

21 / 04 / 2016 - 13.00 20 credits quick briefs i.e commissions developing an understanding of how you work in a independent practice aim: reflective approach of previous levels contextual location of my practice what i see my practice being audiences, functions etc identifying own opportunities progression into employment: document traveling with my practice further study teacher professional level of practice how i present myself and my practice how much do you know about illustration who are the movers and shakers who I'm i getting in contact with During this module students will engage with, develop and demonstrate: You evaluation of work related practice. Identification of projects or progression opportunities. Evaluation of your own practice within an identified context. Their analysis of your own progress. The presentation of physical (or virtual) promotional collateral includes: Contextualisation of practice and future career direction. The definition and analysis of a target audience or market. Production and refinement of actual marketing collateral. Communication of the concepts and context of their final year work to an audience. Personal marketing materials. Career or business plan and 12 month marketing plan as appropriate. Reports on visiting speakers, exhibitions, conferences, networking events etc. look back at lifes : look at different sectors  show your thinking more then just illustration - business mind work placements events trade fares people  places anything that you are putting yourself out too creative strategies:  As Part of this brief you will be required to identify and contact at least  10 practitioners,  agencies and/or people that you think will have an impact on achieving  your future  ambitions - going to thought bubble to tale to specify guest speaker actively  engage creative presence portfolio, business cards, promo pack  making the most of internal and external briefs creative networks  http://estudio.leeds-art.ac.uk/course/view.php?idnumber=ppe_creative_networks bring statergy/plan for next monday!