As far as Extended Practice is going...
Small briefs and competitions / commissions from outside uni; i've been pretty prolific and have completed all the tasks outlined in my SOI to date.
Final Major Project;
Haven't really made a substantial start on a project that i'm not sure is even interesting enough to pursue. Would i only be making something that looks good? I do want to make a collection of bird illustrations which brings a more alternative, contemporary feel to the practice of illustrating birds.The Birds featured are all one ive spotted in real life, with my dad so there is a personal element to it. But is this enough to make anyone give a shit, beyond it looking 'cool'?
MAIN POINTS
• WHAT'S CHANGED - WHAT HAVE I DISCOVERED?
Using less colour and more considered palettes & composition.
Sometimes less is more - reigning in the amount of fine detail (in part).
• WHAT DO I DO?
"Clean digital (via hand drawn) imagery". Matt & I are in agreement; i'm good at tackling briefs that have been given to me by clients or in competitions and also making worked referenced from things that already exist (pop culture, birds, tv characters). However this is leading me to struggle with generating much of my own original material, and i'm simply recreating these things in my own drawing 'style'.
• THIS WORK NEEDS TO WIDEN MY EXISTING VISUAL LANGUAGE.
Although technically impressive, nothing i'm doing right now is very innovative. A damning statement, but i couldn't argue. I'm not taking enough risks with my output - this has mainly been because at this late stage in the degree, and with the FMP to concentrate on, i didn't think taking my visual voice in a drastically different direction, using unfamiliar techniques would be the way to go. It may confuse not only myself but the people looking at my work, having been used to seeing a certain style of process from me.
• WHY DO I LIKE BIRDS/WHY DO I WANT TO DO THIS?
Birds are something thats just always been with me - Dad would always have a pair of binoculars handy, and would give me a shout when he spotted an interesting looking one. Still does to this day. Like WWF wrestling, and Norwich City ive no reason to still be intersting in watching them, but i have done for years and years, and cant ever see me not wanting to (although Norwich City are pushing me pretty close at the moment!).
I want to introduce them an audience that is bored of seeing the typical watercolours, photo-realistic images of birds - and give them something fresh to look at.
The reasons i like birds are the same reasons i like particular art; Shape, pattern, bright colours, movement, charm. I'm ware (at its been commented on ) that my digital/vector work can lack character or personality at times. When i watch birds i see their different species personalities the way they jump about and behave, so getting that across in my work is something i need to try and do.
• Although id been hesitant in researching into other practitioner (bird and non-bird related) in case it lead me to get stuck in the research rut - Matt did give me some names i should look into. David Lemm was one, and i instantly loved his work. Minimal shapes and textures, with minimal colour schemes, documenting things he sees and places he goes. Couldn't be more down my street if he tried.
• MOVING FORWARD
Having created a substantial amount of work to this point with the smaller briefs Matt has suggested that i make the YCN Roald Dahl Brief my last one (due March 22) so i can focus fully on the FMP. I should spend the next 2 weeks in my sketchbook working on the bird characters/composition/content for my proposed images trying to experiment with my process more, use different tools be inspired by other artists, maybe get some narrative involved or my own feelings about the birds i'm drawing.
Even go SPOTTING! My parents are coming up in a few weeks on a Northern Tour, i'm sure Dad will bringing his Binoculars with him -so we could go for some twitching action.
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