Local Art Groups

In this task we looked at various groups and classes that took our interest in and around the Plymouth area,

it was actually quite difficult as I couldn't find that many, in particular centered around illustration

but here's a list I created anyway

- Creative writing, Tuesdays, Mutley Plain
- Life Drawing classes, at Plymouth Art College

- Saltash Art Group, Thursdays

and finally a group local to my hometown which sounded really fun

-South West Illustrators (between Bath and Bristol) 

I think they meet once a month to see what each illustrator is working on.

My Kitty

Initial painted characters for the start of my children's storybook 

this is the main character Kitty, I've painted Kitty using watercolour (at the top)

and Gouache (at the bottom) throughout the story I haven't referred to the character

as being male or female I think it makes the story simpler.

My 2 Colour Screen Print

I decided on having Black and Red in this screen print, I was so happy with the outcome however long it took! I know there are speckles on it, but I think that has given my self portrait a bit of character.

My Plan For 2 Colour Screen Print

This is just a double page of my sketchbook with my plan of what I'm going to do for the 

2 colour screen print, we had to do a self portrait; this particular picture I've drawn was from a photo which

had 2 very vibrant colours in it, red and blue, so that's probably what I'll use when I do the actual print.

My Ghost Collage - Death By Kitchen

Through a combination of paper and photo collage I created this.

In this particular task we had to create a haunted scene, without actually drawing a ghost

more so suggesting that there's one there.

I was so pleased with the outcome of this, it can be perceived either as a playful ghost or once you start looking at the various other aspects of the picture, you start to see the ghosts' more sinister side, it was thoroughly enjoyable to make and is a style of working I would use again.

My Christmas Cards

We were given a task in Work Based Learning to make and draw a Christmas card

suitable for craft fares etc. the card would contain some information about how to contact you as an illustrator, so it's another promotional tool in order to get noticed.

The first drawing I did I forgot it was meant to be Christmas themed! I corrected it and added snowflakes to the girls dress and a Santa hat to the frog. The frog seemed to be a good character to represent Christmas, a very round ball-ball shape, with Christmas greens and reds. 

I made two final images, the one of the frog and one focusing on the elf girl.

I am currently in the process of colouring the final images in.

We also had to look at local Christmas art/craft fairs, this is the list me and a small group created.

My Lino and Dry Point Prints

 

These prints were made using a brief of 'view from my window' 

there had to be two different designs for each type of printmaking

the lino print had to be quite bold with interesting shapes, so literally the view

to the back-garden from my window was interesting enough to create definition and striking lines/shapes

the second image was for my dry point print, very similar to an etching, we scratched onto 

acetate and from that continued the printing process.

Both outcomes I feel have worked well, I especially love the ghostly blue Lino Print.

My Flock, Foil & Metallic Binder Prints

Using 'My Owls' design I created these different prints using: Coloured Foils, Flock and Metallic Binders.

Some have been trial and error but it just shows what you can do with these prints.

The first is a mixture of flock and foil on brown paper, I used two different coloured foils but one of the colours didn't show up as nicely as it had done in it's original state. The next is two coloured foil print on fabric which turned out really nicely. The last was originally a one coloured foil print but was quite faint so I overlapped it with a silver metallic binder, giving it a an interesting outcome. The last is a simple metallic binder print, it has a very similar printing technique as a screen print.

My Ghost Story

Some say we become ethereal spirits.
Others believe we go to heaven or hell.
I say we become the animal that most reflected us in our past lives...

...She lounges by her Grave and keeps watch.
Her rich umber hair tumbling in the wind,
now lost from this world,
midnight blue eyes looking as if searching the horizon, it makes no difference.

All you can see of her now is the Dark, Lone,
Raven.

small story by me ^-^

My Dust Cover

During the module 'Me, myself and I,' we had to draw, sketch and paint

things about ourselves in an old book, in addition to this, we then made a dust cover which associates and reflects one page of that book.

I chose to do something similar to that of the secret garden, but in a more fantasy/imaginative way.

My Owls

This is a part of my development for the next print workshop

(flock and foil)

the design had to be a significant object from the house you live in.

I started playing with designs using my keys & key-ring as the main focus hence the owls!

The design also had to be very bold as the style of printing would work better that way.

I just finished this image in Photoshop, originally I did a pencil drawing, I then scanned it in and using various tools coloured it in, it has taken me quite a while though even using a graphics tablet.

My Letraset People!

As a part of the Me, Myself and I brief, we were all given tasks to complete,

this included the use of Letraset (transfer letter sheets) in order to create people.

The people represent the first week of university and university life,

this is what I came up with.

My House - Screen Prints

       

This is a small selection of my screen prints I completed on the topic 'My House.'

Photoshop, Photograms and Illustration

This piece of artwork was created by first making a pencil sketch of the girl, I then scanned it in and uploaded it in Photoshop, also opening a photogram file and combining the two. I finally edited the various colours/layers/filters and Black/White modes, such variations which has created these dramatic mixed media pictures.

My Photography

This photography work shows my various abilities and skills such as: using a digital camera, making and producing photograms and using Photoshop. The idea behind this was Portraits and Illustration, I combined the two to create a mystical, fantasy style scene which told a story.

Usually I don't like playing around with photos but I wanted to try something new. Using Photoshop I played around with the colours of the photogram, then added several layers of the digital photo to pin-point the girl creating a sense of ethereal movement.  (The first photo above) The photo's I took also helped the model as she made the dress. The photo to me recreates a curious forest ent with a dark story behind her.
 Additional photos...

My 'Top Trump'

In addition to researching Illustration artists, we were told by our tutors at University to make 1 top trump card representing one of the artists, I used my research from Philip Harris to create this.

Research into Illustration

 I have always admired Book illustration CD Cover Artwork and Film/Game concept illustration, both are very demanding and competitive areas of illustration, I did some research into them in order to find out how you get into these specific areas, so overlooking on questions such as: Do you need an agent? Is there a lot of self-promotion involved? What type of skills you will need... In terms of agents there are many firms that can help promote your work and to help find clients for it, self promotion can be involved with making your own Blog for example and showcasing your work. Through this research in terms of skills I have found Game Illustration and the pathways leading to it includes very complex and precise comic book work which is amazing, but a certain field which I'm not as inclined to, however to be the best you need to explore and experiment with your work.

 

The Link below shows how Book Illustration can be combined with other fields of art and design such as CD covers, t-shirts, comic books etc.  Artist Philip Harris has captured this, I also admire his originality and how he links his images to a Victorian Style theme.

http://philipharrisillustration.blogspot.com/
http://philipharrisillustration.co.uk/

My Notebook

These are just some little sketches from my notebook I carry round with me, if I think of anything or if I see something that inspires me, I will either write about it or draw it.

I'm not sure what triggered these pictures, but I seemed to just imagine the basics of what it would be and here they are now...

...enjoy!

My House

One of my modules at Uni is 'My House', this will allow me to explore different print techniques which I will upload to my blog as final or developmental pieces are achieved.

This fine liner free hand drawing will be used to make a screen print.
When starting the image I made a few sketches from photos, from which I developed drawings best expressing the characteristics of the house. The slanted angle almost makes it look unnerving,
however this is not the case inside the house.

^-^

My First Post

As a part of putting up my first post, I am supposed to demonstrate my artistic abilities, I have chosen one of my digital art pieces recently finished. It was purely for experimentation as digital art has always been an interest of mine but I've never really attempted it before. I created this using Photoshop and with the help of my graphics tablet. It is inspired by the beautiful Gothic images Victoria Francés so expertly creates.

Coming into my illustration course I would say I have a basic understanding of Photoshop, I know how to use digital and film cameras, I'm computer literate, I love using different paints/inks and experimenting with mixed media. I chose illustration because it allows me to use all of these techniques, combine them and also learn lots more to do with digital or non-digital processes.

This is my very first Piece of Digital art (Digital art in terms of the Human Form)