Notes:
My practice and how it has evolved (Creative ethos)
- After really enjoying printmaking and illustration-based projects on the foundation course I seemed to suddenly find myself here back three years ago commencing a degree in illustration.
- I have always enjoyed drawing and communicating ideas visually so it didn’t come as much of a surprise to me.
- However, getting to this point in life seemed to send my head in a spin and I started to question over the following two years whether or not this was something I genuinely loved or whether I was simply here because I was capable.
- This knocked the confidence I had in my work for a while which was difficult to get back. But I have gained it back.
- I struggled with the fact that I don’t enjoy trying to fill up piles of sketchbooks with pretty hand drawn images and thought that as an ‘Illustrator’ this was what we were supposed to do.
- At some point in second year I began to have the realisation that I simply don’t need to work in that way if it doesn’t suit me. And that also I don’t know whether or not I would class myself as an Illustrator anyway.
- I’ve got a big appreciation for Graphic design and at many points throughout the course I caught myself wondering whether that was the degree I should have applied for.
- I’ve come to realise that it doesn’t matter so much as I have been able to explore the graphic design elements of my practice in most briefs, we have been set over the years but being able to do so from a more illustrative approach has been a real benefit.
- It was my 504 project last year where I really found my groove again. I collaborated with a graphic design student and started to really see my work fitting into a context which was fantastic.
- I hadn’t before been able to envisage where I might place my work in a professional setting and so producing a real-life book polished with blood sweat and tears got me really motivated.
- From that moment onwards I have had so much more faith in my work as a result of feeling like my practice had a sense of direction that I wasn’t able to see prior.
- Third year I have been pushing all of the elements of my practice that I enjoy the most. This being, graphic and poster design, digital and screen-printed processes and exploration of shape and form. I also really want to win some money on a scratch card and get myself a risograph printer…
- I have a vaguely routine process where I will use my sketchbook for initial and rough idea generation (have finally learnt that it doesn’t need to look pretty and bad drawings lead to great finals!) from there I generally head onto illustrator where I will explore the shapes and structure of my images. From this point I would either take the design to screen-print or straight into photoshop where I will create a sense of texture and tone to incorporate some zest which I find adds a tactility. I like creating prints as my finals; however, I can never help myself from scanning them in and just messing around with them even more on photoshop.
- This process can be sometimes never ending but it’s honestly just through play and trial and error which I enjoy making work the most.
Freelance work that I’ve done outside of Uni
- This year I had a few of my first commissioned projects which I really enjoyed.
- Doing creative stuff, that has up until now been a purely educational activity, and getting paid for it is the best.
- Feel so validated!
- The first project that I was asked to help with was for a new podcast called the ‘Honeycomb Collective’
- I was commissioned to create a brand identity for the new series. One that visually encompassed the ethos of the podcast.
- I do really enjoy working with quite a lot of restrictions in place as it challenges me to think outside the box. A bit like an obstacle course.
- The second commission of the year was for me to create two posters for a club night being put on by Das Haus.
- The brief was one of my favourites to date and I am so proud of the outcome. The back and forth process between the client and myself was a valuable learning experience. Fortunately for me they were super nice and liked all the ideas I was sending over.
- Creating posters is one of my favourite ways of working. Working to a graphic design brief from an illustrative approach is what really gets me going. I love to organise things which I think is why I get such a kick out of this (Photo of my neat and tidy bedroom!)
Freelance
- Is this something I want to do in the future?
- Freelancing was absolutely not on my list of potential career paths if you’d have asked me a year ago. However, I have been toying with the idea more so recently, definitely since having such good experiences on my commissioned projects this year.
- Most of the practitioners that I look up to are in fact freelance. With Aaron Lowell Denton, James Lacey and Jamie Muck being some of my favourites.
- I find it a very daunting prospect due to the financial side of things, I’m not sure how many more customer service roles my mental well-being can take…
- I also still find giving myself structure and routine quite challenging without the help of some sort of higher power (i.e. PAYE job or education) to keep me on a leash.
- That being said, it’s something that I would love to continue doing but more of an odd job situation rather than trying to make it my main source of income. At least at this point in my life.
How has this led me to potential career options?
- For this reason, I am currently considering applying for in house roles after uni.
- I haven’t made contact with any agencies or companies just yet as I’m still not sure exactly what it is I want to do.
- But I have been researching into places that I could apply for.
- Something that I am desperate to do in the near future is move to another country for a year or so. And possibly get a real job out wherever I go. Killing a couple of birds with one stone.
- I spoke with an Illustrator, Julia Laskowski recently. She lives in Melbourne and works both freelance and as the in-house designer for The Jacky Winter Group. (Include convo photos)
- She makes a valid point about illustration and design no longer necessarily needing a base thanks to advancements in technology. But I gather she means this more in the freelance side of things.
- In the meantime, my intention is to look for roles such as junior designer where I would be able to gain some industry experience and decide whether or not this is a route that I want to take.
How did Hanbury effect my ideas about the future? Panellists that inspired you
- Hanbury was a really insightful experience for me and it got me super excited about prospects following the degree.
- Seeing practitioners in such a range of positions that weren’t directly related to their studies was cool. I feel comforted to know that so many doors remain open in the creative sector.
- A couple of the panellists reiterated that having a unique and consistent style is not necessary which I was really pleased to hear. Ensuring that the work you have in your portfolio has a thread of some sort throughout it is all you need (???)
How do I aim to make connections and put myself out there? (Self-branding/networking/contacts)
- Have made much more of an effort this year with my Instagram and have developed a good relationship with it. I find it motivates me to create work and be consistent.
- Good for networking and building client relationships.
- Have started to be more aware of the level of polish on my posts and am more careful of the way I curate my account in order to appeal to potential clients/employers. Use a black background on each one to do this.
- Have not created a website as I am not really too set on going freelance completely and so it wouldn’t be that necessary for me.
- I have a digital portfolio pdf which I can send to contacts if needed and use Instagram as my main platform and point of contact. The hanbury panellists explained that this is literally all you need anyway!
- All in all, I have had an amazing time on this course and think that it has helped in moulding my practice. I have reached this point and realise I am a creative who enjoys dabbling in a range of disciplines and there is not a single term that could define my approach.
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