Summative Evaluation

This module has been one of the biggest learning experiences of my educational journey to date. That being said, however, I feel as though a lot of this learning was done outside of the classroom. Engaging with multiple live briefs this year has allowed me to better understand how I work as a practitioner, where my work fits in the ‘real world’, and how to conduct myself as a professional. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have been able to make the progress this year that I have, without the faith of those around me who have trusted me with their time and money to make something with feeling.

Usually as each module comes to an end I talk about my lack of time keeping, and though my blogging has been far from perfect for this module, my ability to organize and manage my time with multiple live briefs has really improved this year. I’ve had to balance a lot of client work alongside my studies, and at times this may have impacted my grading, but it’s a conscious choice I made. I’m really proud to be finishing this course with such a range of live work in my portfolio, and to have been lucky enough to work for people and briefs that I believed in.

It feels a little strange to be leaving, but the excitement for post-uni life far outweighs the nerves. I’m looking forward to having the time to get back to my personal practice again, and use the skills I’ve developed this year through live briefs in my own work. More than that though, I’m just looking forward to having the time to fall in love with my craft again. I feel ready to go home.

Project Report

Final Outcomes for OUIL603

Reviewing Statement of Intent

Reviewing Statement of Intent

Reflecting back on my statement of intent, I feel as though I've excelled with some of my intentions, but perhaps not quite achieved some others. I would confidently say that I have explored  the context of music based illustration. The many briefs undertaken for La Bete Blooms and Warren Records are testament to that. I'd also add that within the genre of music illustration I've gone beyond the obvious contexts of gig posters and album artwork, and explored other aspects such as story boarding for a music video, illustrating a logo, and getting to grips with hand rendered type alongside my image making. Working with live clients has also allowed me to professionalize my practice within this context, which will be very useful going forward and leaving the course.

When it comes to undertaking more self initiated briefs however, I don't feel as though I've really made the time since writing this statement of intent. It's been very difficult for me to balance the live briefs and uni work at the same time. While I've been able to use these live briefs as uni work, I've also had to blog about them, take the time out for workshops, crits, visiting practitioners, and complete both COP and PPP throughout the year. With all this in mind, I haven't really had the time to focus on a self initiated brief other than my final major project. I think this is also in part due to the fact that what I like most about self initiated projects is that they are personal. While I understand blogging for this course is necessary, it's not something I enjoy doing, and I think having to blog about a personal led project would leave me feeling a little down about it and unable to enjoy it as much. This goes for my intention of creating more zines and self publications, I think it's something I'd rather do outside of the realm of academia. 

I've definitely kept up my momentum with live briefs, I have a number of commissions already lined up within the coming weeks and months, and it's something I plan on keeping up. I also think it'll be a lot easier to balance my live work and my personal work once uni is out of the way (sorry LCA but let me go). I'd also like to think I've continued to put human emotion into most of the briefs I've completed this year. At no point did I feel as though I was taking on a brief 'purely for the sake of doing it' or 'purely for the grade'. I've believed in all of the projects I've done this year, which is a great feeling to be leaving this course with.

FMP; Final Prints

The final posters and mocked up examples of how they'd be hung. I finished the brief!!

Colour-Way Studies

Having finished my final posters, I decided to test out different colour ways. I won't have time to screen print the finals for hand in, but I still wanted to show the colours I would have proposed they be done in.

I started with two colour prints to see how they'd work with the linework not being black. I stuck to a lot of reds / yellows as they're both colours used often in the Hull music scene (eg. The Adelphi, The Sesh etc). However part of me felt that the coloured linework didn't have the same weight as the pure black. The line work of each image is the focal point so it's integral that it stands out and is visible against the background.

After playing around with a few I thought that the red/yellow background and black linework looked best. I also feel it translated across all the prints (only 3 shown above) and kept them cohesive. 

I then mocked a selection of these up as prints. I think this is how I'll present them within the final presentation boards; proposed as a select number of what would be a larger body of work exploring the Hull music scene and exhibited in a gallery setting.

I'm thinking of doing some of the final prints in the red background and some in the yellow, depending on which works best for the individual image. Within the proposed exhibition all prints would then be either red or yellow in background colour so the series worked cohesively. 

Final 5 Posters

Using my composition sketches, I created four new A3 poster designs and decided to include a previously created image. I'm happy with how these images have turned out individually and how they work as a set.

I think the mixture between thick and thin line-work creates more diversity than my other images had before, and these certainly have a lot more energy and a gritty punk aesthetic to them. I'm hoping as a series they do reflect the Hull music scene and what it's about, though along the way, perhaps this project has become more about a personal response to the music scene through primary research and experience, rather than trying to express a specific emotion or point of view? 

Moving forward I need to add a background colour to these so they can be seen as they would be in their final context (screen printed and hung for an exhibition). 

Compositions for Final Posters & Context

After loosening up with my drawings, I think I'm starting to get closer to what I want my final product to be. I agree with Matt that a poster format is perhaps a better context for my images to exist in, and after going through the initial words that would have been published in the pages of the book, I've highlighted some key points I think I want to respond to using the poster format.

I've spent the past couple of days really trying to push the compositions and ideas for each image. I intend on making these putting pen straight to paper; there's a way I draw using a pen straight to paper without pencil marks that allows me a freedom in how I create. I've planned for four posters, as I'd rather make four that really reflect what I;m trying to communicate, than push to make six but rush them all.

As for the final context of these posters, I'm going to propose them as a small selection of what would be a bigger series of work exploring the Hull music scene. These would then be exhibited in Hull for a short period of time, and sold individually with all profits going to Warren Records and other local charities/ events/ causes.

Time to CREATE

The past couple of days have been spent trying to madly create some images in response to the tutorial I had with Matt. I agree that my best work is when it's expressive and almost 'spur of the moment'. It's hard to just turn that one and off however. Quite often my instinctive work doesn't quite...well...work? I'd like to think I'm a practitioner that embraces mistakes quite openly, and I've never been afraid to make a mess of my sketchbook, however with the deadline looping quite close, I am feeling the pressure to create something 'final'. The past couple of days I've tried to put that at the back of my mind and just create using key quotes and points of interest from what Stew said.

I'm thinking now that the end product to this brief may be a series of narrative style posters, created and championing DIY, punk ethics. Maybe the best way of showing the Hull music scene, with all my pride and love for it's gritty hard graft approach, is to create how I consume. Let's make something with FEELING.

Thoughts on Final Product

Throughout this project, the final outcome of my piece(s) has changed multiple times, as the focus of my work has become more defined. Moving from gig posters, to a clothing brand, to a hardback book to where I am now.

The past couple of days I've spent trying to loosen up and hone in on what kind of work I want to make and what I want it to say. I think Matt was right when he said my work is at it's best when I'm working instinctively and intuitively, and so these past couple of days I've been trying to work out how I can emulate this quality of work (learning how to 'play live' rather than 'studio recording'). 

I think I'm slowly getting closer to what I want my final pieces to be;

• 4-6 A2 Prints (time dependent)
• 'Gig Poster Style' (La Bete Blooms)
• One colour print on coloured paper
• Proposed as A2 screen prints (won't have time to do this for hand-in but will screen print them for the end of year show)

Rationale of work;

• This series of work explores the underground Hull music scene, with specific references to the punk movement between the mid nineties to early noughties. Taking into account primary research through informal interviews and first hand experiences of the scene, this series hopes to emulate the ethos of Hull's music community. Through the media of screen-print and the analogue investigation of this topic, it is hoped the final works champion the notions of D.I.Y., working class subculture, and Hull pride. 
• GIVE. 'EM. HULL.

Tutorial w/ Matt

TUTORIAL

Overall Practice;

- Feels like I have a lot of momentum with my work at the minute (doing tons of work and events)
- Going back to Hull after uni (good network there)
- Very confident and assured about my own work which is to my credit (has very little worry or fear about me not carrying on or doing well in illustration/ creative paths)
- Spoke about owner of Duke Studios who has become a sorts of 'spokesperson' for Leeds creative community; could see me doing something similar in the Hull scene
- Loves punk / DIY element of work; ethos carries itself through my work

FMP

- Final images too neat / considered?
- Work best when I'm working instinctively and intuitively
- Finals feel far away from where my best work is (La Bete Blooms gig poster)
- Linework too thin?
- Is hardback book appropriate? Seems far away from DIY/punk aesthetic; maybe gig posters / narrative posters more appropriate?
- Rawness of my work is when it's at it's best. And my work is most relatable and authentic when I'm putting myself into it; MORE OF THIS
- End of year show should be about showcasing WHO I am as a practitioner. No point showing work that isn't truly me

Moving Forward

- More writing with image making
- Find what makes my La Bete piece successful and push that. Like finding the difference between live music and a produced recording. Keep the raw energy. Find a way to 'play live' not 'produce in the studio'
- Consider application of final pieces; does a book work for this project? Or would posters be more appropriate? What does time allow for?
- Keep pushing the ideas and feelings. Make sure the focus of the work is on the EMOTION.
- Homage to punk scene of past, recognition of present, championing of DIY, LOFI, LOW COST REPRODUCTION, RAWNESS, EMOTION, FUCK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET IT.
- GIVE 'EM HULL.

AFTER THOUGHTS

This tutorial left me feeling a little conflicted but inspired. Before this meeting I had in mind exactly what my end product was going to be and how I was going to achieve it, however now I'm not so sure. I think this is good. I agree with Matt that a hardback book may not be the most appropriate end product for what I'm trying to communicate. Perhaps somewhere through all the planning I lost sight of the core emotions I've been trying to convey. Rather than a detailed illustrative interview with Stew maybe I need to pick out the key moments. The statements that stand out, that resonate and make me feel something. This year I've spent so long trying to hone down my craft and commercial ability I've not had the time to do anything for myself. Rather than forcing this project into something easily categorized as illustration, maybe I should take this as a chance to throw myself into something I believe in. Leaving this course, I know I don't see myself as 100% illustrator, and I think that's in part due to my dependency on art as a human being. As I'm rounding off the end of this degree what I'm coming to realise more and more is that I didn't come onto this course because I wanted to learn how to make a shit ton of money drawing pictures I don't believe in. I came here because I wanted to learn how to do something that I loved the best of my ability. Not for money, or fame or other people but for myself, because quite simply art is something I have to do. At this point, I'm not entirely sure what my end product is for FMP, but I feel as though Matt was right when he spoke about large scale posters. I already have all the content and exploration of images; now is the time to madly create.

Book To-Date

I began stitching together my images and the text for the final book. Tonight I've finished off all the 'text only' pages, as well as completing the two illustrated pages I drew up today. I may still play around with the paper texture over the images a little more, but it works as a WIP so I can see how the book is coming together as a whole. 

It also helped to write out the 'dedication page', 'give em hull series', 'about give em hull', and the 'stew & me info page' in a finalised format. Only 13 illustrated pages left to go!! 

Start on Final Illustrations

Today I began working on the final illustrations for each page. With a rough composition for each worked out, I scanned in the chosen composition, printed it out at 7x7inch and used a light box to draw in more detail with a pencil. I then went over these with a fine liner pigma pen.

I've been toying with the idea of having hand rendered or computer rendered text/font for this book. After completing these first two illustrations I think a digital font would complement the images better than hand-rendered. I don't want the images to look too cluttered and I think the digital text would give a good sense of consistency throughout the book. Separating the analogue image making (my images) with the text (Stew's words).

Final Text for Book

Today I wrote out the specific text that would be included on each page of the book, as well as making sure I had a workable number of pages (multiple of 4) for printing at uni.

While writing out the final text using my initial interview notes and memories from the phone-call, I did have to pop back in touch with Stew to get a few of the more finalised details in order;

Me: 

Hey stew, hope you're having a great bank holiday weekend smashing all these shows 👊 I'm getting on with some of my final major proj and just wanted to check these two things from our phone convo we had a while ago. If you could just make sure I haven't got any of these things jotted down wrong that'd be aces 😎 

• started freaks union 1993

• recorded first ep at Warren in 1995 on cassette 

My final hand in is two weeks on Monday and shortly after I'll be back for a week or so will have to have a catch up and I'll be able to  show you what all this work has resulted in haha! Thanks for all your help with it man, means the world x

Stew:

Hey yeah ace weekend so far. Me and my bro started our first and in 1993 but Freaks union started in 95 and yeah recorded our first tape demo at the warren that year xx

Me: 

Another quick question, when you were saying about how before in the music scene you used to feel like you were taking on the world you mentioned about organising a march where there were about 600 people and you stopped traffic; what was that for? And I think you mentioned about another one that was a march around town that ended in a gig at welly? x

Stew:

I found this thread of a guys favourite gig which included the FU Stop The War gig.. we met in paragon square and marched to Clive sullivan way near where you cross to get to Humber street and we stopped the traffic and laid down on the road chanting and with placards etc, we pissed off a lot of innocent drivers but the idea was to make a point and raise awareness. It was happening all over the world around the Iraq war so that at it happened in other cities, but we didn't massively use the internet like we do now. So we then marched to welly and had a massive show with loads of energy and it was all ages. Massive sense of unity, this guy puts it well..

Me:

That's amazing Stew, all the info I need as well. I'm super pumped for you to see this project when it's finally done, hope I've put all this info to good use haha!!

Stew:

And we did another massive show at welly for the tsunami disaster and raised money to send overseas. We worked hard and played for years doing small shows full of passion and as we got bigger in hull and could sell out the welly we used that to do something real and positive and give back to the world. The punk scene was really energetic when we got stuck into it and was very active.

Ace can't wait to see it all together! And thanks so much for asking me about this stuff, I kinda forget about it and then all memories come back when you ask me.. so I really appreciate it xx

With the extra information I was able to write out each page in full English and not broken down notes haha. Speaking with Stew has also given me a little push to make sure this project is something I'm really proud of. At this point I really want to be able to say I've done his words justice, and illustrated his fond memories with thought. I think it's important when completing reportage work that the tone of the work fits with the story you're trying to tell. I want to make sure the end illustrations are gutsy, but considered, and showcase Stew's passion for the Hull music scene.

Furthering the conversation I spoke about how I was looking forward to having more time in Hull soon; with the ending of uni in sight. He said how he hoped we'd be able to work on some aces projects together if we had the time. I responded saying we'd make the time, and he wrote back; 

We need to make the time. Life's too short to miss cool shit and not hang with cool fuckers x

I thought it might be nice to start the book off with this quote. I think it encompasses a lot of Stew's attitude, and how he feels about the community he's in. I'm really looking forward to showing him the final product. 

Further Compositional Studies

I've been working on the other compositions for the final pages. I think I'll have to revisit a few of these as the refinement process continues; some still feel a little obvious or under developed? Need to make sure all the pages are strong as stand alone images!