This year and unit X especially has been a time I have
really used to question my practice and my overall approach to my work and the
outside world. I feel it has really changed and refined me as both personally and
a creatively. In this last year I
have developed more confidence and self-belief, which has caused my work to
progress into areas I would of never of, considered before.
Unit X has been a opportunity for me to refine my work and
prepare myself for graduation. Overall I feel I have succeeded. I wanted to use
the body of illustrations I had been developing in the Previous Practice Unit and
experiment with how they could be applied to different contexts. I found that each area applied to different
areas of context for instance my gothic dark art would be applied to heavy rock
album covers or products such as tarot cards. But my more innocent
illustrations would be applied to book illustration and large scale. I discovered I am very hybrid artist. I take my imagination and
drawing skill and adapt it to whatever opportunity I find inspirational making me adaptable to many contexts.
One context i really investigated this unit was large scale installation art for galleries and to make my work three dimensional. During the practice Unit I used that time to gain more understanding of my
work and refine my illustrations but in Unit X I wanted to take that
knowledge and start to experiment with how I could take the characters and
places I imagine and make them visible for others to experience.
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Tarot Card Designs |
Developing this idea has been a very enjoyable experience
for me. I started to work with 3d design in Unit x last year collaborating with
a 3d student and I really enjoyed it. I have always enjoyed visualising and
making 3d objects so it seemed like a logical step. Reflecting on past years I
realised I had not done enough experimenting and testing and everything was
very 2d. This Unit have made a large number of 3d models in a variety of
materials and ways to really test and trail applying my drawing to surfaces.
These included Ceramics, special papers, card, Perspex, chalk pens etc.
The testing has taught me a lot of new skills and also
things that work and don’t work. For example drawing with chalk pens on Perspex
worked well but after a while it started to rub off very easily therefore if I
ever did an illustration on a shop window etc. I would have to find something
else to use that would also rub off. Also through making it helps me see if
making what I imagine is as easy as first thought. For instance I chose the
pyramid because I thought it was a easy shape to make quickly and neatly
however through making I have had to alter the template many times to get the
folding accurate and the corners smooth. I also found that having no base on
the pyramid made folding them neater easier. Also when testing suspending them
for the Installation idea for the degree show, I found they were too light and
the fishing wire was not staying straight therefore I had to find a way of
weighing them down but using something decorative because they would be visible
when suspended inside the pyramids because they will have no base covering.
The testing and making in this unit has definitely taught me
the importance of trying ideas because there are many little obstacles that
come up which need design solutions which you only discover with testing.
Although I feel overall the Unit has been a really important
turning point for me I know there is always things to improve on.
Firstly I think Unit
X is just the start of taking my work larger scale. The degree show will be my
first step at attempting an installation piece and I want to carry on refining
and improving to eventually create these Worlds I imagine in galleries. I have only just started touching on the idea
of ‘stepping into my imagination’ and I really want to carry on pushing this
concept and collaborating with other practitioners in other areas of design to learn
new skills to apply to my work. For instance I really want to learn how to make
glass because I feel it is a skill I really want to incorporate into my work.
Networking has also been a dominant part of my practice this
year. I want to carry on improving and creating contacts because my efforts so
far have offered me some great opportunities and possible work experience for
the future. For instance I would not of got the experience I will with Andy
singleton and Richard Sweeney if I not for my networking. I feel this
experience with them is going to transform my work to a whole other level and
answer a lot of questions I have about getting my work in galleries and
becoming more adventurous with the Installation art. I will continue to refine
and develop my online presence with my Instagram and website growing an
audience for my work. I also want to Use my experience of the Vertical gallery
pitch and carry on improving my presentation skills and confidence talking
about my work to others.
And Finally I want to really use the time after graduation
to carry on refining and improving my artwork because drawing is at the core of
my whole practice and I feel it is very important for me to continually improve
my art so that all the areas I apply it to will improve as well.
Although I feel I still have a lot to learn this year and
University in general has been a very life changing experience for me and my
work. I look forward to my final degree show and New Designers as my first steps into the Industry.