PORTFOLIO
I think from the beginning I had a strong idea of which images I wanted to include in my portfolio, and I also managed to update and add new images in as the modules progressed and I created new work.
I think I could have experimented with paper more and explored different layouts for the images, but in the end it was important to get a portfolio ready for London Book Fair. I think the art directors meeting at the fair was a great step forward to getting someone other than a tutor/friend/family member to see my portfolio, and although I did not receive a lot of feedback that I could utilise it was a great experience to get over nerves and speak to someone about my work. I also learnt a lot from my mistakes at London Book Fair, and I took what I learnt with me forward to the Big Book Crit.
Although our meeting in Bristol was 100% successful, we still learnt a lot. Although aimed at a marketing/advertising audience, we still went in with a positive attitude. I spoke about my work in a lot more detail then the London Book Fair, and each person I saw had a lot more to say to me about my portfolio. Some gave useful critical feedback, some gave less useful critical feedback, but all had very positive things to say about my illustrations.
From this module I have learnt how I can arrange my images, what to show and what not to show, and how I can talk about my work. In the future it is important for me to remember to constantly update my portfolio with current work, putting my best work at the front. It is also an good idea to give items a context so people viewing my portfolio can see my work in situ- which will help them imagine how my work can be used. To avoid showing a jumbled and unorganised portfolio I should also remember to arrange work into specific themes, such as characters/ book covers etc. When talking about my work I also need to not just describe what's on the page, but to say how and why it is successful.
As an added extra, in the future I would like to grow the costume/props side of my portfolio, so I can show off the 'maker' side of my skills. Once I build up some images that I can use, I will split my portfolio in two like other students have done when presenting two different styles of work.
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PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
For my promotional items I produced 3 different business cards, a risograph calendar with two different colour ways, a mini concertina book with envelope, snake postcards and Moomin prints. Together they create a set of illustrated paper goods, which is exactly what I wanted to create.
First of all I mainly wanted to target/aim for children's book publishers, quirky illustration websites and also have items that I could take to shows (such as Bristol Comic and Zine Fair and East London Comic and Arts Festival). I think I have succeeded in creating promotional items suitable for those audiences. I wanted my work to show that I love what I draw, and the themes that I enjoy exploring show through my illustrations.
The bright colours and bold characters would be at home in a children's book, and the slightly darker themes (the bad omens book) and the unique style of my drawings would I think appeal to quirky illustration agencies. The items I have made are a combination of practical and collectable items; the calendars and postcards serve a purpose whilst being beautifully illustrated, and the prints and books are also a great promotional item to keep.
Early on in the module I knew that I wanted to make my promotional items myself- it emphasises my 'maker' quality that I state on my CV and business card, and I also wanted to be in full control of the items. I think I did enough research into getting promotional items made through other companies, such as Awsesome Merchandise or Zazzle, but I knew that I didn't want any bulky items such as mugs or t-shirts. I think my items reflect the fact that I like storytelling, and that is important to me and my work. If I could have gone back I would have made sure that my name and contact details were printed on everything- I got around this by applying stickers to items which worked well in the end for the calendars, as I didn't want my name on every page of the calendar and it would have been difficult to print them on the back using the risograph. The design of the stickers also highlight the overall aesthetic of my work.
I am however, glad that I got my business cards printed at MOO. It meant that they look very professional, and I think it was worth the money to get them printed with an outside company. I enjoyed researching and designing my business cards, but if I could do the task again I would have had more than three designs printed- just to get a wider range of colour and different illustrations on there. I would have also explored using the thumbnail designs I drew for business cards, as I think I had some interesting ideas that could have progressed into well rounded illustrations and promotional item designs. I can always look into producing these in the future.
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As I wasn't in university much near Christmas, I missed a couple of the workshops. One of them that I managed to catch up with was the £5 Apprentice task, and I'm really glad that we set up a team of stragglers to complete the workshop.
By coming up with a business idea and a plan for how we wanted the product to look, we made a cohesive set of party items that would look at home in any home-ware store. I think we worked well as a team, shared out all the tasks among ourselves, and most importantly had fun making the items.
We made enough bunting that can be sold at the end of year show, and the photos we took of the party gear in action was very popular on my Instagram account.
On reflection in made me realise how much I enjoy working in a team with like minded people, and how I would like to carry on making collaborative work like this in the future. We all had a clear idea of what we were going to make, but we were also laid back enough to let happy mistakes happen and to go with the flow. Because we were not there on the day I'm sure we missed out on some parts of the task, but I'm still proud that we decided to complete the task and do so to a pretty high quality- of I saw our party bags I would definitely buy them! In the future we would like to create more patterns and print our own cards and wrapping paper as well as the party pack- experimenting with different designs and colour ways- possible something seasonal that can be sent out a few times a year to art directors.
One thing I would have done if I had handled my timings better was the Christmas card/gif workshop. I think something that is important for portfolio work is showing that I can work to a brief, and this task would have shown that. If I get chance in my spare time I might make something so it can go into the portfolio, as I think creating a promotional item for a business with a specific description and brief would be beneficial.
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TUTORIALS
Tutorials were always very useful to check in with what I was doing as well as get ideas from the tutors. Early on Dolores stressed that I had to try and focus on one thing, and find an application for what I like doing. Seeing as how I still don't have a definite direction, in the end I focused on making illustrations that I think reflect the themes I love exploring and the style that I enjoy creating.
I found the tutorials useful as George helped me with what I should put on my CV, but I wished I asked more questions about if my work was suitable to send out, and how I should approach agents. I will do this anyway post- module so I am prepared for when I am ready to submit work and send my portfolio to agents.
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COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
I think I had good input in the collaborative project, I made my voice heard and I wasn't scared of speaking up and asking questions when needed. Working in a large group is always difficult as people may not always want the same thing or come to the same decision, but a select few made an effort to produce a successful set of prints.
I think if we could do it again we should have researched materials first. That way we could have either sourced reasonably priced card for the postcards, or decided early on that we would do prints or something different entirely. I think the Facebook group for the project was successful, it was the easiest way to ask a question, create a poll and share an opinion- as well as share any photos taken of the process and postcards.
I was especially pleased with the outcome of my postcard for 'The Bell Jar'- I think it is an expressive image which utilises the process of screen printing successfully. I would be happy displaying or selling these, and in the future would either consider making them into proper postcards or enlarge them into bigger prints.
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MY AIMS
Overall I think I met most of my aims. to reflect on them from the original post:
Practical wise I would like to produce business cards, a website and work on other promotional items that I can make and hand out to people. Confidence wise I will create a portfolio of work that I am proud of- I produced all three of these things, and I also put together a portfolio of strong images that was complimented by creative directors.
For now I would like to pursue the idea of finding an agent, and also promoting my work towards children's illustration- I think the portfolio I have and the promotional items I have made reflect a children's illustration style portfolio- and although I have not thoroughly researched how to find an agent or looked at many different agents, I have researched the pros and cons of an agent and have looked at a couple of clients I would like to target with my portfolio and promotional items.
I think I also need a better understanding of how things happen within this profession, especially learning about publishing and other industries- I definitely achieved this with help from the Q&A panel at the London Book Fair and attending the Big Book Crit. I got to hear first hand what art directors do at a publishers and I learnt more about the advertising and marketing industry from a creative point of view.
I think I need to research companies/ artists/ groups that are making stuff I like- I looked at several different companies that I had heard of and liked the look of, from looking at their websites and reading about them I am encouraged to submit my work to them.
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THE FUTURE AND IN CONCLUSION
For the future I would like to pursue updating my portfolio, pursue my costume/prop making, approach agents with my portfolio, keep attending illustration fairs, submit my work as much as possible and KEEP MAKING THINGS!
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