Visual Language - End of Module Self-evaluation

Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION	Level	04
OUIL404 Visual Language	Credits	20
End of Module Self Evaluation

NAME	ISAAC SMITH

1.     Which practical skills and methodologies have you developed within this module and how effectively do you think you are employing them within your own practice?
I feel that my confidence in using wet media like ink has been developed directly because of the initial tasks in Visual Language and how we were restricted from using methods that were overtly familiar to us. I feel that this restriction allowed me to be able to rely on a different form of image making and my confidence has increased because of it. I have also gained a better knowledge of 3D work and the nature of collage in this module, as I never really considered it as a way of making my own illustration but the task on collage in particular helped highlight to me that illustrations don't need drawing in them in order to be successful.
2. Which principles/ theories of image making have you found most valuable during this module and how effectively do you think you are employing these within your own practice?
I see the theories on composition frame and arrangement as influential in all the work I have done since those presentations, as learning about these principles allowed me to look at image making in a different more complex way, and appreciate other work because I have a greater understanding of all the different elements that make up an image and the importance of how they work together. The importance of things like perspective and line of sight have improved my understanding of the mechanics of an images construction, and I feel that I have a greater appreciation for illustration as a whole by being able to identify and discuss these elements within an image. I think that I am starting to employ these theories in my own work as I'm much more conscious and appreciative of them than I used to be when constructing my own work.
3. What strengths can you identify within your Visual Language submission you capitalise on these?
I think that my stronger tasks have been the ones where I have tried to embrace a new way of thinking and making, such as the line task where I tried not to rely entirely on pencils and pens as I might usually do, and the screen print task where I tried to create an image with a consciously formed composition to create a certain atmosphere, which is something I wouldn't have fully considered before in my work. I have also consciously tried to evaluate my progress and what has and hasn’t been working so I am quite happy with the content of my blog.
4. What areas for development can you identify within your Visual Language submission and how will you address these in the future?
I think that my collage based and 3 dimensional work is an area for development, as I don't feel confident in this particular way of working and I would spend more time in the future familiarising myself with the method to create a stronger set of ideas and therefore better work. I also had to go back through my blog and add some photos of work, so in the future I would make sure to finish all my ideas before putting my thoughts on the blog.
5. In what way has this module informed how you deconstruct and analyse artwork (whether your own or that of contemporary practitioners)? Thanks to this module I think a lot more visually when analysing images, rather than just solely talking about line or colour I try to think about how all the parts of the image work cohesively to create a certain mood or tone. I also am much more conscious of the arrangement of images and how this can affect the meaning of an image, purely through where everything appears and in what order the viewers eye is brought to it.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance			x
Punctuality				x
Motivation				x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced			x
Quality of work produced			x
Contribution to the group			x
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

A copy of your end of module self evaluation should be posted to your studio practice blog. This should be the last post before the submission of work and will provide the starting point for the assessment process. Post a copy of your evaluation to your PPP blog as evidence of your own on going evaluation.

Notes