I got really excited about the feedback received for this Part 3 overall as it really helped me see the progress I have made and I definitely feel like I got into the way of the work process which my tutor is saying is becoming really robust, which sometimes had me blocked previously!
The exercise on ‘reading an image’ and the one on ‘client visuals’ where I had to break down other illustrations into the barest elements I found particularly useful as it has helped me think more about colour and composition and flow of the image and gave me a real appreciation for the time and thinking that goes behind other peoples illustrations. This is indeed a crucial element, as noted by my tutor, to be able to learn from others which I have really actually realised myself now through doing these exercises.
In the ‘visual properties’ exercise, I admit that I was a bit worried that I got carried away with the narratives I created around the different cropped image of my dancing ballerina but this is one of the exercises I got the most positive feedback on so this is really useful to build my confidence around my imagination and idea building where I doubt myself too much sometimes and don’t let my imagination flow.
My tea cup illustration for instructions for green tea was also received very well as ‘unusual and striking’ in the materials I used. I admit I had a lot of fun with this, using tea and paint to make coffee mug stains and using these in the illustration etc. I also tried to really make this personal as I love tea so I drew from my favourite mug at home and used my favourite colours etc. and perhaps that ‘personal’ aspect is what helps make illustrations more remarkable!
I am really pleased about how the actual final assignment went and the feedback I got. It is clear, as per previous observations, that when I really enjoy and get into an exercise or assignment, it helps it turn out really well. My collage of textile and paper for my lighthouse poster, for me, really took me out of my comfort zone and into a technique I had never used before but that I really enjoyed. Playing around physically with the composition, papers, cutting and swapping and trialling mock ups were lots of fun and I kept wanting to try out more ideas and materials and thus I was not getting stuck on one idea – which I am really happy about as it has been one of my difficulties.
I’m looking forward to the next challenges!
Jo's Illustration Learning Blog 