A New Commission

Ok so this commission came to me at the start of summer. During my second year I produced some wedding illustrations such as the order of service and invitations etc. One of the guests there became interested in my work and spoke to the bride and groom about me. A few days later he called me! It was quite confusing what he wanted me to do to be honest and the strong Scottish accent didn't help! So it wanted to meet! In fact he was willing to fly me out to Glasgow (all paid for) and have me meet him there! Crazy! Anyway, in the end I was too busy so he flew to Nottingham instead.

By that point I had some sketches to show him and he loved them! So, I'm still currently working on them now. I've been informed by the groom that he's a very wealthy business man that has a lot of contacts so this could be a big thing!

The brief??
Well, I've been told it's a secret! Hahaha! It's something political, which to be honest isn't my thing a all but I'm giving it a go. Why is it a secret? I guess he thinks this might be a big thing and he wants to keep in under wraps until it's done. He also said that it could piss off a lot of people! Haha! For that reason I think it's best I use a different name. I don't want the rest of my work to be associated with it.

The images I produce will be blown up and go on his kitchen wall. No idea why but ok. And then he wants to sell them off as prints. He already has people interested! So cool!

Meeting with new client

I just got from meeting with a client. We'd spoken over the summer via email but I was still a little nervous. It was really laid back and they were so friendly. They talked me through the project and asked if I was interested. Of course I said yes. The project sounds just up my street, so I hope I'll find it enjoyable. What's also great is that Fred has said this will count towards my extended practice module.


For this brief I must create a logo and branding for the nature trail. I must also create a map which can work both in printed form and on an app (digitally). I will also illustrate things that you can identify and walk past on the trail such as certain flowers and animals.

He then wants to create some merchandise for the shop. He would like me to create cards, gift wrap, tags, prints etc to sell. These will all have my name on them yay!


Collaboration?

They spoke about getting a team together as they want to make an app, so there will be others involved also. This will give me some experience with working with a group of people as a collaborative. After not being a great collaborative partner last year, this will show me what it's like properly.


Apps?

It would be good to look in to anything on designing apps. I won't be the one making it but it'll be good research.

Travel Journal

It was getting close towards the end of summer and I hadn't drawn enough as I'd liked or really drawn what I wanted to draw. I always liked the idea of haven't a travel sketchbook so you can see my journey. Sadly I wasn't going on the most exciting holiday. It was just a lazy beach holiday rather than a jungle adventure haha. However, I had a lot of fun drawing people around the pool and noticing the funny things people do. Here are a few of my favourite pages:

I was limited to what media I could use as I could carry all of my drawing materials. The sketchbook just included illustrations in pen and pencil. I really like the looseness of the line as I quickly tried to draw what people were doing before they moved. Then there's the more detailed studies of cactus' for example where I could sit and draw for a long time. 

I'm happy with the drawings I produced and it really got me back in to drawing for fun again! I'd love to actually go on an adventure worth drawing, where there'd be more interesting things to draw than just a pool view.

Drawing on signs!

I don't really know if this is something worth putting on my PPP blog but it's something I did over the summer haha. It's not very exciting but as I've said before I work in a fruit and veg shop. The prices are displayed on slate boards so they look old fashioned and no one writes on these except for the bosses. However, after trusting me a few times I'm now the only other person who can write on them woo! Not very exciting I know but I feel special haha. Anyway, he also got some coloured pens so that I could draw pictures of the fruit on them which was fun! Much more interesting than serving customers haha.

MA? Not for me.

I already kind of knew that I wasn't interested in doing an MA but I was curious to see what was out there to see if I'd be persuaded. I wasn't. Once I get to the end of 3rd year I'm just going to be itching to get out there and do work. You also have to pay to do and MA and I don't have the money to do that so I don't want to use money on something I'm not interested in doing. perhaps it's an option for the future? But for now I'm too eager to get out there and work as a professional.  

I know that for some people a PGCE is an option but I'm so bad a public speaking and I've always known I don't want to be a teacher. I'd be terrible!

Last Year's Alice Brief- Turning point

Last year I entered the Pan Macmillan brief for the responsive module. I originally chose this brief as it seemed the most 'illustrative' and thought it would be fun. I was wrong.

The artwork I produced (above) was a turning point for me. I truly disliked my work and the brief by the end of it. So much so that the cover was rushed and lacked thought and care.
Why was it a turning point? Because I realised book illustration wasn't for me! I struggled so much. Looking back, I think the project lacked research and experimentation but I got no enjoyment out of it. I'm not proud of this work. I'm not ruling out book illustration as a whole and I will give it a go again, but I don't think it 's where my practice lies.

I think it's the fact that I'm drawing whole scenes. I prefer drawing object and motifs. Composition and narrative is something I struggle with.

Small Commission

This was just a small commission I did over the summer. As a wedding gift the bride and groom were going to be given 3 frames. In in frame I had to illustrate a small map including locations special to the happy couple (their new, first house together, the church where they were getting married, and the school they went to as children). CUTE! The brief wasn't very exciting as I was asked to do it quickly. I could only do a simple line drawing. I'd have loved to do a digital map to make it more exciting. The client and newlyweds were happy with the illustrations!