All we have to do now is present it. Hooray!
Also here we are as Power Rangers for the last slide in our presentation. Always good to end on a laugh.
Wednesday 29 March 2017
Preparing for Presentation - Life's a Pitch
We met again today to sort out the ins and outs of which parts of the presentation each of us will be presenting & talking about. It's been a challenging and interesting experience working as a group towards this presentation, as its easier to be confident as a group compared to presenting a pitch alone. We all have quite similar ideas towards how we'd want this publication to work so creatively its been easy to produce ideas and ways of solving the problem.
All we have to do now is present it. Hooray!
Also here we are as Power Rangers for the last slide in our presentation. Always good to end on a laugh.
All we have to do now is present it. Hooray!
Also here we are as Power Rangers for the last slide in our presentation. Always good to end on a laugh.
Monday 27 March 2017
Life's a Pitch - group meeting + rationale
Here we are working beautifully as a lovely team. Our group for Life's a Pitch is focusing on children's publishing, mainly on improving all those tacky colour explosion magazines we all had as children, usually to get some sort of toy or gobstopper. We thought that we could suggest a publication that encourages creativity in its audience, and active participation with things like dot to dot.
We made a rough plan of our rationale (and Ben made a sweet logo):
PUBLICATION FOR KIDS AND A WEBSITE
Sports page
Music
Activities and games – colour in pages, dot to dot, wordsearch
Stories
Kids send in their drawings – competitions
Animals
History
Boys and girls
5 – 9 year olds
NAME: ArtyFacts
Rationale:
Audience: 5-9 year olds, their parents, teachers
Delivery: a magazine available in shops or from our website, free copies in libraries? – workshops in kids events, shops, libraries, school visits and educational stuff, parties,
Potential partners: publishing companies, shops…?
Marketing communication: Instagram, website, facebook
Working with others benefitted
PLAN
Arty-facts
---- about us – meet the team
--- the magazine,
PURPOSE AND AIM
-guest illustrators
Future themes
--- research into existing stuff
anorak
match of the day magazine etc
------ promotion
Website
Social media
--- marketing
shops
toy shops
newsagents
stationary shops
--- events
libraries, schools etc educational sessions
history drama workshops
sports
music
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Creative report Ruby Elliot interview
These are the questions I chose to ask Ruby Elliot for my creative report:
How much does music influence your ideas?
In the past couple of years music has become more and more important to me, and I don’t enjoy days where I haven’t listened and sung along to anything. In the immediate sense I find music more affecting than art, so I use it as inspiration to get in the mood to create. In terms of my actual ideas, I can’t pinpoint how much of an influence it has, but I know various bands/artists have crept into my comics. I should listen to the lyrics of songs more.
What do you think the purpose of illustration is/can be in today's society?
To communicate something/anything in a way that is accessible to whoever is looking at it.
What is your typical process for producing a narrative for a piece of work?
I have a thought, and I draw it or write it down as soon as possible, even if that’s just a note in my phone. I’m very scatter-brained so I know I won’t be able to hold that information in my head for very long! Then I may go back to it a few times and rough it out when I’m in the mood. All my my work remains very rough, so if I do go to ‘finalise’ it, that will still mean drawing in pen without drafting. If it goes wrong I’ll start again, and again and sometimes again, until I’m happy.
What advice would you give to a spooked second year illustration student like myself, (in many ways similar to a lemming nearing the cliff edge) regarding the real world of illustration?
Oof, the ‘real world of illustration’ – well I’ll say that it won’t matter how far you get, or how seriously people appear to be taking you and your work, the feeling of mild fraudulence about your abilities will remain. Knowing that absolutely everyone feels this way to one degree or another is useful and comforting to bear in mind! Ultimately making pictures and asking for money, like many creative outlets, is a rather silly thing! It’s a great thing, but silly. So continue to stare off that cliff edge and laugh your head off (figuratively)
Those questions are all quite serious so I included three optional gag questions to end with and break the tension: Shepherds Pie. Yay or nay?
I am vegetarian so unless it’s that weird Quorn shit then nay. Even if it is the weird quorn shit probably nay too, actually
1) How did you get started using comedy and comics to make sense of the world?
2) How much does music influence your ideas?
3) What do you think the purpose of illustration is/can be in today's society?
4) What is your typical process for producing a narrative for a piece of work?
5) What advice would you give to a spooked second year illustration student like myself, (in many ways similar to a lemming nearing the cliff edge) regarding the real world of illustration?
6) Those questions are all quite serious so I included three optional gag questions to end with and break the tension:
Shepherds Pie. Yay or nay?
What is the most terrifying aquatic beast?
Do you have a favourite member of the X Men?
Shepherds Pie. Yay or nay?
What is the most terrifying aquatic beast?
Do you have a favourite member of the X Men?
I tried to ask professional questions but without being overbearing or deadly formal, as I didn't think that was an appropriate stance to take with a practitioner with Ruby's portfolio and personality. She actually got back to me really quickly as well which I didn't expect because she's probably really busy. These are her answers:
How did you get started using comics and comedy to make sense of the world?
It was pretty organic! I started drawing when I was very unwell, and without any pressure from anyone else I was able to do exactly what I wanted/needed at the time. This meant that after a while drawing became a reflex whenever I experienced something, mental or physical. Even though I’ve moved on a fair bit career wise, I try and retain that way of working because I find it makes for the best drawings.
It was pretty organic! I started drawing when I was very unwell, and without any pressure from anyone else I was able to do exactly what I wanted/needed at the time. This meant that after a while drawing became a reflex whenever I experienced something, mental or physical. Even though I’ve moved on a fair bit career wise, I try and retain that way of working because I find it makes for the best drawings.
How much does music influence your ideas?
In the past couple of years music has become more and more important to me, and I don’t enjoy days where I haven’t listened and sung along to anything. In the immediate sense I find music more affecting than art, so I use it as inspiration to get in the mood to create. In terms of my actual ideas, I can’t pinpoint how much of an influence it has, but I know various bands/artists have crept into my comics. I should listen to the lyrics of songs more.
What do you think the purpose of illustration is/can be in today's society?
To communicate something/anything in a way that is accessible to whoever is looking at it.
What is your typical process for producing a narrative for a piece of work?
I have a thought, and I draw it or write it down as soon as possible, even if that’s just a note in my phone. I’m very scatter-brained so I know I won’t be able to hold that information in my head for very long! Then I may go back to it a few times and rough it out when I’m in the mood. All my my work remains very rough, so if I do go to ‘finalise’ it, that will still mean drawing in pen without drafting. If it goes wrong I’ll start again, and again and sometimes again, until I’m happy.
What advice would you give to a spooked second year illustration student like myself, (in many ways similar to a lemming nearing the cliff edge) regarding the real world of illustration?
Oof, the ‘real world of illustration’ – well I’ll say that it won’t matter how far you get, or how seriously people appear to be taking you and your work, the feeling of mild fraudulence about your abilities will remain. Knowing that absolutely everyone feels this way to one degree or another is useful and comforting to bear in mind! Ultimately making pictures and asking for money, like many creative outlets, is a rather silly thing! It’s a great thing, but silly. So continue to stare off that cliff edge and laugh your head off (figuratively)
Those questions are all quite serious so I included three optional gag questions to end with and break the tension: Shepherds Pie. Yay or nay?
I am vegetarian so unless it’s that weird Quorn shit then nay. Even if it is the weird quorn shit probably nay too, actually
What is the most terrifying aquatic beast?
They are all lovely and I wish I could breathe underwater
Do you have a favourite member of the X Men?
Yes, Magneto who I refer to as Cornetto much to everyone else’s irritation.
They are all lovely and I wish I could breathe underwater
Do you have a favourite member of the X Men?
Yes, Magneto who I refer to as Cornetto much to everyone else’s irritation.
The opportunity to get Ruby's perspective on things that bother me everyday has been really beneficial and interesting, as it reassures that all of us in this field have difficulty and its okay to struggle sometimes. I think that this discussion of the reason behind her work is the most important factor to me, as with all my work this year I've really tried to make a conscious effort to have strong ideas first, before entangling myself with aesthetics. Just got to sum this up into the creative report now, then sorted.
Thursday 2 March 2017
Creative Report - first contact
I've just emailed Ruby Elliot and it was quite terrifying. Progress!
I spoke to Molly beforehand and she spoke to Ruby in turn who said she'd be happy to help, which is brilliant. I didn't want my message to get lost in the ether of tedious black and white messages, and its always good to be remembered, so I peppered the email with some really dreadful memes containing seals, as Molly let me know those are two of Ruby's favourite things. I think I have a similar sense of humour to her, so hopefully this irony comes across and she'll be up for answering my questions. Progress!
I spoke to Molly beforehand and she spoke to Ruby in turn who said she'd be happy to help, which is brilliant. I didn't want my message to get lost in the ether of tedious black and white messages, and its always good to be remembered, so I peppered the email with some really dreadful memes containing seals, as Molly let me know those are two of Ruby's favourite things. I think I have a similar sense of humour to her, so hopefully this irony comes across and she'll be up for answering my questions. Progress!
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Industry Research - Ruby Elliot
In keeping with the left of centre comics that have been influencing me over the last few months, I came across Ruby Elliot, a London based illustrator who uses comedy and brutal honesty to explore the ups and down of her experiences with mental illness, and how it affects everyday life.
I immediately fell in love with her erratic style and the honesty of her content. I find myself understanding a lot of her content as there are issues in her work I experience basically every day. Using creative expression to understand situations, feeling overwhelmed and inferior in the face of the massive amount of talent in our class alone, not even counting the whole enormous practice of illustration. There is a personal element to Ruby's work that I find really human, it doesn't try to provide some self important advice on how to cope with feelings of depression and anxiety, but instead takes a completely raw look at it and basically says that sometimes you feel horrible, and it's okay because you aren't alone.
Her whole outlook on her practice is massively inspiring and personally helpful to me. I try to inject elements of comedy into my work and life in general to help cope with feelings of inferiority, fear of failure and lack of self confidence. Seeing that Ruby is doing the exact same thing and reaching out to thousands of others struggling through her work is the main reason I really want to interview her for our creative report.
Luckily, I noticed on Ruby's Instagram story a few days ago that she's actually friends with Molly from third year! Which is really lucky and hopefully will mean I'm more likely to be able to interview her.
I immediately fell in love with her erratic style and the honesty of her content. I find myself understanding a lot of her content as there are issues in her work I experience basically every day. Using creative expression to understand situations, feeling overwhelmed and inferior in the face of the massive amount of talent in our class alone, not even counting the whole enormous practice of illustration. There is a personal element to Ruby's work that I find really human, it doesn't try to provide some self important advice on how to cope with feelings of depression and anxiety, but instead takes a completely raw look at it and basically says that sometimes you feel horrible, and it's okay because you aren't alone.
Her whole outlook on her practice is massively inspiring and personally helpful to me. I try to inject elements of comedy into my work and life in general to help cope with feelings of inferiority, fear of failure and lack of self confidence. Seeing that Ruby is doing the exact same thing and reaching out to thousands of others struggling through her work is the main reason I really want to interview her for our creative report.
Luckily, I noticed on Ruby's Instagram story a few days ago that she's actually friends with Molly from third year! Which is really lucky and hopefully will mean I'm more likely to be able to interview her.
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