Milk X Final illustrations

I played around with colour and composition but couldn't decide what I liked best. Simon gave no idea of which option he preferred so I cleaned them all up and sent them all. He said they look great and thank you but didn't say which he preferred. I'll have to wait and see if he'll use one!

Martha Mitchell Design

This is just a sample of Martha Mitchell's work. 

Martha specialises in applying intricate fine-line drawings onto homewares including ceramics and textiles, as well as producing prints, tile frames, cufflinks and other related products. Her work stood out to me because of the detailed line work. Loose, yet details line work is something that is often a feature in my practice. I also like drawing objects and motif's so this is perfect. Her work is very simple yet put together well and looks great on products. I also like the way it's just black and white. I usually work in colour but recently produced some black and white work and surprisingly liked it. I would usually work black line on white paper but I like the way the white line stand out against the black on the apron. This is something I'd like to try myself.

Milk X- Reference Images

I want sent this image above as an example of the kind of thing they want illustrating. I have to illustrate 4 artists looking at their work in the frames. The artists' work will be added to the frames later by them. Simon from Milk X also sent photos of the artists and their work as reference.

Milk X

I got a reply from Simon at Milk X magazine. The project sounds pretty straight forward, however I wouldn't be getting paid. I emailed John and arranged a meeting with him today to discuss the project and if I should do it. I was advised to take the job if I have time, as it could be good exposure and would be something to include in my portfolio. It's just one illustration so it shouldn't take up too much time. 

I replied saying that I would do the job, however if they wanted any future work doing, I wouldn't be able to do it without being paid. 

Possible Commission

I received this email yesterday about a possible commission. How exciting! I was contacted my a by a fashion reporter at MILK X, a Hong Kong based fashion magazine. How cool is that?? He's seen some of my work, my guess is from my instagram, and wants me to do an illustration to go with one of their articles! Omg!

I emailed back to express my interest and ask for my information:

I did a little research into MILK X and found that the website states that:

MilkX Monthly Magazine (Hong Kong) is a leading magazine, born in year 2006, also comes in Taiwan and China version. MilkX Magazine shares things in very broad sense with different vision, including fashion, beauty, art, photography, luxurious accessories and everything with exquisite sense. We collaborate with high end fashion brands to publish special edition of covers, and also provide giveaway of limited edition of souvenirs to our readers, as a token of appreciation for the longterm supports. We hope that you have a special journey throughout the reading.

Paperchase

I've become really interested in illustrated stationary, gift wrap and products. This has come through within a lot of my work during that past year, and I intend to carry out working within this area during level 6. Somewhere we I feel my work may be appropriate is Paperchase. I searched for any information on internships and submissions but I wasn't too successful. I found a few bits of information that might be worth looking further into. 

In term of commissioning work, it isn't something they tend to do unless they find you through studios or trade shows. Although they don't accept submissions, I did find that I can send sample of greeting cards. I currently don't have any cards but it's different something I'm doing in the next few weeks. I'll definitely email them. It's worth a try!

Possible jobs? I can't imagine I'd be an idea candidate as I have little experience which is something they'd like. Worth a try though right?

Work experience and submissions aside, I think I might try email and ask if they have any advice or any information on what they generally look for when looking for designs.

Ana Zaja Petrak. pt.2

I emailed Ana yesterday and asked her a few questions and if she had any advise for me. She replied today and this is what she said:

Ana Zaja Petrak

I found this graphic designer and illustrator on pinterest. In terms of texture, there's some elements similar to Alice Pattullo's work. I love the subtle texture that I keep bringing in to my own work. I'd love to contact them post as part of my PPP, and find out how they do it. This textured look in my work is something I'd like to take further. 

I love the simplicity of her work, in terms of block shapes. In the second image, the way she's used line ages the block shape and colour is something I really like as line work is something I've always been strong at. I think maybe I stick to using a black line too often and need to change up the colour in order to push my practice.

She has worked for brands such as Jamie's Magazine, Whole Foods Market, Fairtrade Foundation UK, IKEA, which I'd love to do. I'd really like to work for companies like them and draw lots of lot of food! 

Update!

I emailed Ana and asked her a few questions. Hopefully she will reply!

What do I want? - Answering John's Task

Happiness, What makes you happy and why?

Good work. What kind of work do you feel happy/excited by?

Great people to work with What kind of clients/collaborative people you wold love?

Earning money. What do you want money for?

Travel. Where would you love to go and why?

Happiness

- Drawing. Seeing that I’ve made someone else happy because I feel like I’m doing a good job and that I’m good at something. Being with my family-Although I want to travel, I want a base near my family.


Good work.

- Stationary. Product and packaging. Education materials. Objects and motifs not scenes. Wildlife. Food.


Great people to work with

- People that work with product and packaging.

- Enthusiastic people

- Cleinets around the world


Earning money.-

to live on easily. Buy dream house. Be able to afford to look after a few pets. To be able to still go skiing with my family. To buy my mum nice things. To be able to travel.



Travel.

- I’d like to travel everywhere so I can to get everything out of life. See and experience everything. Travel for work and holidays.


I want to feel like I’m getting the best of life and doing everything I can do.

Trip to Ingleborough

Today I went to Ingleborough in the car with John and Shauni for the Natural England Project we're working on. I felt like I was going on a trip with my parents sitting in the back haha. The aim the trip was to get a chance to discuss the project further with all the partners involved and do a bit of research. Until today I'd only spoken to John and Shauni from Leeds Uni so it was great to see people working for Natural England and what they thought of the project. I was asked to take some work along with me, including my wildlife pack from CoP2. They absolutely loved it!! I'm so happy!! They were so impressed, I can't believe it. What stood out to them were my birds (everyone seems to like the birds). He said I'd managed to capture them really well and get the proportions and markings right, yet they still has an illustrative feel through my line work and digital editing. It meant so much to here them say that.

Until today I've not really understood what John and Shauni are during in terms of the project, and although I do now, it's a bit hard to explain. They're looking at branding and media and bringing in visitors. Shaun's also looking at bringing in the use of the 3D Google Cardboard.

It was really interesting to see how this project is going to develop. The Natural England partners were really impressed and are keen for us to maybe be involved in a much bigger 4 year, £4million project, but this is just an idea so we'll see! I was given some very ugly leaflets to take home and I gave them my email so that they can send a list of species over for me to draw. Can't wait to get started!

After a very long meeting in the coldest office EVER, we went and had a pub lunch next to this lovely warm fire. Perfect! 

Commissioned Work - Weasel

I've had such a nightmare with this stupid weasel! I never want to look at it again! In terms of the weasel's character design and form, I was reasonably happy with it. However, then the client wanted wanted me to draw it wearing The House of Lords coat. I tired for sooooo long to make it look good but it didn't! The collar didn't look too back but when I added the red rape it looked messy, and just a bit stupid. I rang him up and explained and suggested that I perhaps we keep the collar but not the rest of the red cape. This with the words 'His Lordship' written on it (another requirement he asked for), it should still illustrate the same ideas he wanted to get across. He agreed. Woo hoo!

I added the top had with 'you can trust me' written on the inside and some money labelled 'uni fees' around him. Suggested he actually can't be trusted and he's using all the high uni fees for his own financial gain.

Hallmark Placements

I've become really interested in illustrated stationary and gift wrap etc which I showed during my OUIL505 response in level 5. Something like a Hallmark placement would be really good for gaining something experience in this area of work. The briefs that they set will be based on my strengths shown in my portfolio, so they tasks will all be work I'm capable of doing. The creative placements themselves are unpaid but they will provide accommodation (if requested) and if there is a room available. However, any work that is subsequently selected by Hallmark as a result of the creative placement will be paid for. so not all too bad!

Commissioned work - Mouse and Rat

I've completed the mouse and rat! I think out of all the animals these were going to be the quickest and easiest, so I'm dreading the rest. I've sent them to the client and he loved them, especially the rat! The idea is that they all work together and the mouse and the rat work together particularly well. The rat is supposed to be seen as a robber and stealing from the public purse. The mouse, blinded by money, is a back stabber and is stealing from the rat. This is supposed to suggest that politicians are back stabbers and too busy thinking about financial gain. These illustrations are simple and too the point. I have a feeling the rest is going to be a to harder. I don't know much about politics and character design isn't my strength, so this is already proving to be a challenge!

Contacting Leeds City Council

I contacted Leeds City Council as part of my CoP3 research and I received some great responses back. Through doing my dissertation I'm beginning to really see how important primary research is and I'm actually finding it really interesting talking to people about this subject. I think it's really strengthening my research and overall making my work more interesting.

I sent over a few questions to the Leeds City Council and the lady I spoke to really took the time to give me a great response. It just shows that people are willing to take the time to took to me and help with my research.

Travelling Man Exhibition

The Travelling Man Exhibition is up! Here are a few photos ft Olivia. The exhibition looks great, I think it was a really good idea to choose a colour scheme as it pulls it all together and looks coherent.  I'm also glad however that we got to illustrate whatever we wanted. It was suggested that maybe we should have a sic-fi theme or base it on reading books. To be honest I just wanted to use to opportunity to do something a little different that wasn't intended for anything. However, I do feel that drawing a musician probably wasn't the most appropriate for the people that shop at Travelling Man. If I was to do it again I'd perhaps do a film poster.

Fred Aldous

I found out about this shop the other day from someone in my group and was so excited to go! Aggie and I decided to go on our way home from Thought bubble. It's amaaaazing. I felt like I was in heaven. It was like when I'd go to Hobbycraft when I was younger and got so excited looking at everything. I love places like this, it reminds me how much I love drawing.

Chris Thornley

Chris, also known as Raid71, is actually incredible! He's a screen printing wizard!!

This has to be my favourite illustrator that I spoke to today. His work is unbelievable. Aggie and I first spotted his work, not realising they were screen prints. They were printed at a really large scale too, making them more impressive. The level of detail within these prints is just amazing and the amount of colour involved and the understanding of colour is great! What made it even more impressive is yet to come. After speaking with him about his work, he learnt that the secret is to prints was that he printed on coloured paper even if most of the coloured area is black! And similar to how a CMYK would be printed, the black is printed last. This ensures that the colours remain bright and pop out against each other.  In person, these prints are crazy good, and the colours really stand out and the black is very very black! So to turn them over and see that it's printed on to bright yellow paper is so cool! I wouldn't have thought of that! This guys work stood out to me by a mile!