- Look into different roles of illustration. This sounds very obvious but I've recently uncovered a few new formats and contexts I hadn't previously thought illustration to be a part of (eg, as pieces of Fine Art in a gallery? Tattooing? Large scale work?) I feel last year was so busy I didn't really have the time to explore 'outsider(?)' contexts of illustration. The notion of illustration living in places other than a piece of paper is exciting; continue to explore that throughout this year
- Make better use of the technical departments this year. I want to be inducted to ceramics and spend more time in the traditional print studio this year. This is my final year at LCA and I want a strong enough knowledge of these different medias to be able to use them post uni.
- Illustrator is a term I find empowering, it's something relatively new and thus largely undefined which means it can be applied to a broad range of contexts and functions. But which of these functions do I want to explore? There are synonyms that come with the word illustrator that I'm less keen on (making cute // pretty work with little depth or "Oooo I'm just playing around and having fun" do not interest me at all). An illustrator isn't the only badge I need to have when leaving this course. I can be a thinker and a feeler as well as a drawer and maker. What kind of work is available for someone like me. I feel a little lost, like a fine artist trapped in an illustrator's body, torn between the commercial world and self integrity. I want to make work that I believe in, but how can I make money from this? More research.
- As always, better time management. I'm buying a whiteboard. I'm staying on top of things and continuing to try my hardest. Try not to get distracted by netflix, and do not over-pressure yourself to a standstill. Remember to breathe this year.
PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH & OPPORTUNITIES UNDERTAKEN
- I feel as though I've undertaken a lot of live briefs & opportunities this Summer which have really helped in boosting my confidence in my practice outside of the university environment. I left second year feeling I'd learnt a lot, and was ready to put it into practice. Summer has given me the opportunity to do so.
- Working on live briefs has given me experience in dealing with clients, adapting work, working to deadlines, exploring new contexts for my work and given me greater confidence in what I do. It's also insane how much networking has helped me jump from one job to the next throughout Summer, this is something I will endeavour to keep up.
- Though I've looked at a few illustrators over Summer, I would really like to look more in depth at a more focused range this year. I'm a little unsure where to find the sorts of practitioners I want to look at which is something I need to address. At this point I feel I have two main avenues of interest in terms of my practice - fine artist - music illustrator. Though these terms are a little broad, I think they encompass a lot of what and where I want my work to go this year and further.
WHAT DO I NEED // WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT? (FURTHER RESEARCH & ACTIVITIES)
- At the moment I've got a couple of small illustration jobs coming up every few weeks, it would be great to maintain this professional practice throughout my final year. Time management is definitely going to play a large part in allowing myself enough time to do odd commission jobs as well as my uni work and be able to chill out and watch Netflix to rewind. I'm aware this is my final year of education, so maintaining a link with the working world is highly important. As beneficial as this degree is, I would hate to leave it having excelled at my course but have 0 contacts in the big wide world.
- I definitely need to do more research into practitioners, collectives and agencies this year. Though working for an agency has never appealed to me, it's important to keep my mind open. And if I want to go freelance (yes please) how am I going to be successful at it? Where can I find the sort of jobs I want to do? How will I work? From a home studio? Or a rented space? What scale of work do I want to create? These are things I need to investigate throughout level 6.
SELF PROMOTION & PRACTICE
- Website (currently under construction) to work as an online portfolio (tippy top professional)
- Web Store (currently using Etsy, very happy with the format, but needs updating REGULARLY and better branding)
- BRAND YOSELF; I'm forever changing my branding and I need to find one that fits and stick to it, so I can use it across multi-media platforms
- Business cards; something effective and well designed. If working freelance these will be a kind of 'face' of my brand, so important to get them right.
- Continued use of social media (insta, twitter ect). Do I want a facebook page for my art? My heart says no but my mind says maybe? To be considered!
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