Printed Image
T H E E N D
As i had a 'few' newsprint tests knocking about i made sleeves out of them for
each print, to give them a bit of protection.Also gives it that extra, personal,
hand-made touch. Signed for good measure, its piece of art in itself!
Strengths:
+ My persistence in trying to achieve the best rests possible with an analogue printing techniques despite only being a novice at it. Plenty of times i felt like it had beaten me and i want to throw it all in the bin, but my desire to make prints as high quality and professional looking as they did in my head spurred me on.
+ My thorough development of concept sketches before attempting any final drafts. Although i was a slow start i did eventually enjoy the repetitive sketching and tweaking of the same elements in order to fins a way of making the whole composition work well together.
+ Finding a middle(ish) ground of using Digital and Hand-drawn imagery. Starting of as doodles and developed roughs then into the digital realm for polishing, composing and making print ready - then back to analogue for the final product. When the screen printing wasn't going so well, where i once would've fallen back on my digital know-how to make things things right i stuck it out and tackled the problem with my real-life hands and mind.
+ Due to going back to the 'drawing board' a few times i've created 3 separate images that finally work well as a set.
Again, on closer inspection, these photos are abysmal.
Apologies, on behalf of Apple, and myself.
Weaknesses:
- I was pretty slow out of the blocks with the initial researching of the author, and also formulating any ideas or sketch work. My dislike/poor reading ability more than likely effected the final outcome, as if i'd read more of Murakami's titles then i would had more material to work with. Not that I'm unhappy with the content of the final outcomes.
- Lino cutting is something that was new to me on this project ,and something i enjoyed doing. I would've liked to have experimented with it a bit more given another opportunity as it may have helped me simplify some of my work with the technical restrictions it has - but the imagery i had been making didn't really suit the lino cutting methods, and i probably wouldn't have had enough time to get good at it and adapt, only to decide that i didn't like what i was producing.
- After the initial sketchbook media experimentation the colour all but disappeared from my development work. Maybe i could have tried some different techniques, but then again, if id decided on my printing method, and colours then there'd be no real point to trying out loads of paints or crayons etc in my sketchbook work
- Getting every aspect of the final screen prints to go right all together. Good screen exposures, even paint coverage, accurate registration never seemed to happen as a team.
- If i hadn't changed my mind about my imagery so much then i could have easily made 5 prints instead of 3. Although it was a mental and physical battle enough to get these 3 bastards done if I'm honest!
- This project has taken over everything (and I've let it), as i just wanted to make something to the levels i expect of myself. However this has lead me to neglect a lot of the work on the other modules. Delegating my time evenly is a big issue for me, more so as I'm having to try and my delegate time to doing things i really, really don't want to do.(no names given)
Final Thoughts:
Although quite happy with the final prints and what I've learnt, i do have the nagging feeling that i could've made them just a bitter better and 'sellable' and that one final go in the studio and i could nail it. Alas, I'm out of time. But ill take what I've learnt onto future screen printing outings, no fear.
After having the final mega peer crit, i do feel a lot happier with myself and with my final prints, and its left me thinking that maybe I'm being too hard on myself and too negative. I'm so wrapped up in considering what clients/onlookers will perceive as 'perfect' or professionally acceptable looking work, that i forget to actually step away and get the view of an onlooker.Fresh eyes looking at my work haven't noticed the streaks and imperfections, and mis-registrations that have been nagging away at me. They welcome it, and wonder what I'm making a fuss about. Just because a bit of paint has printed out exactly how i envisioned doesn't mean i should be labelling them up a 'REJECTS'. I feel bad for those prints now, i might go and re-word the labels. I need to constantly remind myself that people aren't always looking for flawless art (unless they really are looking for it).
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FINAL PEER REVIEW
After having the final mega peer crit, i do feel a lot happier with myself and with my final prints, and its left me thinking that maybe I'm being too hard on myself and too negative. I'm so wrapped up in considering what clients/onlookers will perceive as 'perfect' or professionally acceptable looking work, that i forget to actually step away and get the view of an onlooker.Fresh eyes looking at my work haven't noticed the streaks and imperfections, and mis-registrations that have been nagging away at me. They welcome it, and wonder what I'm making a fuss about. Just because a bit of paint has printed out exactly how i envisioned doesn't mean i should be labelling them up a 'REJECTS'. I feel bad for those prints now, i might go and re-word the labels. I need to constantly remind myself that people aren't always looking for flawless art (unless they really are looking for it).
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Moving Image
T H E E N D
Strengths:
+ When we were first set the task of making an animated sting to accompany our author prints i straight away knew i wanted to make a 'living' world out of my static print designs - and i feel I've done what i set out to achieve with this.
+ My first outing on After Effects and I'm fairly pleased with the results and what I've managed to learn, through the AE class sessions, and off my own back by watching lots of youtube tutorials on the basics (and the not-so basics) of using the program.
+ I've pushed my self to making something a bit more complex than maybe i should of, as someone with no prior knowledge of After Effects. But i felt i had a clear image in mind of what i wanted to try an accomplish and knew it'd take a little bit extra to see through.
+ The movements & transitions in the animation are largely how i had planned them to be, without having to compromise or go for a simpler option. If i came across something that was stunting my progress i'd seek out online help or specific tutorials until i was back on track. Frustrating at many times, but I'm now the wiser for it.
+ I feel the music works well with the moving imagery, as do the layers of sound effects & background noises that are also going on in there. I took into consideration the audio levels, increasing and decreasing at appropriate times to coincide with specific image movements.
Weaknesses:
- I couldn't really do a whole lot of work on the sting until after my printed work had been designed, which wasn't until a coupe of weeks shy of the deadline. I'd considered composition and transitions and what i envisioned it all to look like, but without getting them out of my head and making them into lots of story boards.
- The story boards i did make were probably a bit too detailed and complicated to follow,or even execute with my skill level on AE.But they did lead me to trying out other options that were within my reach.
- I wanted to make a sting based around all 3 of my final images, but left myself a bit short of time to really experiment with that idea. Also, realistically 15 seconds wouldn't have been long enough for me to fit in everything that was required.
- My documentation about creative stages leading up to the finished product could've been more in depth. I didn't really do a whole lot of test versions, i just worked away on the main sting, solving problems and adding new features here and there until i got to the point where it was how i wanted it. The screenshot taking slipped my mind when i got into 'the zone'.
Final Thoughts:
The introduction to After Effects and what it can do (even at Entry Level) has been one of the highlights of my course experience so far. Just hope i can make the most of what I've learnt and build on my knowledge with projects in the future. Even though the main bulk of the sting work didn't happen until towards the end of the module i don't feel like it's been rushed or the final product has been affected by lack of time spent on it or on development. I'd say the only thing that's held me back is my skill level. The ideas in my head and storyboards were far grander (and grander than they really needed to be probably) so i had to reign it in a bit. But would've loved to make it extra 30 seconds longer - and i may even do that in any spare time i get, so i don't end up forgetting everything I've learnt,
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