Screen Prints and Angora

Sunday has come around quickly! The weeks are going to fly by.

As well as working very hard on my dissertation and its deadline in 3 weeks time i've been working on a couple of projects!

The first one is the folklore screen prints. Because i couldn't get around to print my first this week (which has 4 colour layers) because the UV screen is being fixed (because people don't use it properly and don't dry the screens after being coated!) I went on ahead and did my second screen print.
What i mean by that is draw up all the elements and construct it on PS, colouring and deciding on the different layers - that being 4, one black line layer and 3 colours!

This is just a small sample of the picture, and the colours aren't yet finalised, but it gives me an idea of how it will look when it is printed! I'm modernising that long procedure of using light boxes and re-drawing! They have been really enjoyable to do, but they've taken a lot of my time up already!

I've also just started on another project, that being an awareness campaign, to link in with my other one for Save the Arctic! I have chosen to do Angora fur, as after recently looking into it more, i think more needs to be done and awareness raised. Here are a few initial sketches and ideas:

So a lot of work has been done in the past week, but not as much as I would have wanted to; but to end on a lighter note here is my current desk at uni. I take up so much space, and even though it may look tidy at the moment, just wait until i get going in my last semester!

Thanks for reading and the next update will be next weekend.

Final Semester Plans and Current Work

So now i have just started my final semester at university, and it's safe to say i do not want to leave!
I have enjoyed these past few years so much, and i have grown up; both in person and in artistic capabilities, i definitely have my wonderful tutors to thank!

But before i get ahead of the game, i do still have around 17 weeks left, where i have planned no less than 6-7 projects to do.

I am currently working on two;
Folklore screen prints - taking my image a day brief and developing it. I have already created the black line work for my first print, i just need to put it together in PS and add the colour layers/decide on them

 Some of the ink work...

The second project i am working on is a collaboration with Rachel. We're both making masks based on two of the four symbols of the Chinese constellation. I'm doing the Azure Dragon, and Rachel The Vermillion Bird. These will also be used in a performance later on in the year, but for now, here is a miniature (i mean miniature) mock up made of masking tape of how i would like the frame to look. Tomorrow i will most likely start on a rough wire version, then move to the final willow one. They will then be decorated.

I will now be updating once a week, most likely on a Sunday to show progress for that week.

Thanks for reading!

Image a Day and New Portfolio

Nearly Christmas!
I hope you're all ready!
But for now, here's just a quick post as to what i've been up to!

So for the past few weeks, i've been working on my dissertation, and also working on a new brief; an image a day. I decided to focus on folklores, and draw a different creature a day! I've been really enjoying it.
Here are just a small selection of my images...

I've also invested in a new, decent, portfolio! a Prat Pampa portfolio with cristal laser sleeves!
It is fantastic, and i love it to bits! It did cost me over £50, but it was worth it (see pics below)! I'm gonna find some nice fabric and make a slip cover for it too.

Anyway, short update but that's pretty much it!

Happy holidays and lets see what the new year brings!

Paper Cut Animation inspired by Lottie Reiniger and Japanese Folklore

Although for a deadline which was a good few weeks ago, i have gotten around to posting it here!

For our 'Obsessions Brief', we had to create an animation inspired by our obsessions which had to be exactly 2 mins long. I decided to pursue Japanese folklore as it is something which has always interested and inspired me (it's something i concentrated on in my final major project in my foundation diploma!)

The basic story includes several links to Japanese folklore/tales, such as Hanasaka Jisan, Bunbuku Chagama and the well-known Kappa!

I was utterly captivated by Lottie Reiniger's animations when i saw them a couple of years ago, and i wanted to try out the paper-cut style myself - trying out using different paper transparencies/textures and colours. It was a lot of hard work but a lot of fun! I hope you enjoy my final video! (do excuse the jumpiness of the video, it was exceptionally hard to do as i didn't have a studio to work in for it, but instead used my small bedroom!)

Hope: ADVENTure Art Project

Today us 3rd year illustrators got our 'mini' exhibition put up at Hull Ferens art gallery!
The project brief was to create images based around Hope. We decided to make it more personal than Christmasy, but i think it's created a wonderful range of images which provoke thought and reflection.

I actually really struggled with this project, but in the end i ended up doing 2 images!

It's been a lot of hard work, especially with our other deadlines...we basically spent a day creating the images, a day printing them, and half a day putting it up...it's been a great learning curve though for when we come to do our final exhibitions next year!

My Images without the window frame:

The Voice Inside

The hope that no matter whether an animal or a human, their voice is listened to. Be confident, stand tall and speak out for the weak and those who cannot communicate in our language. Find your inner voice.

Progression:

Hope for the future that one would become the best they could strive to be. Transforming, learning and experiencing; becoming a better person and a better human being. Aim high and never settle for anything less…

Save the Arctic!

Brief i handed in on Monday which was to create an image/s based on headline news.
I didn't want to look at any old headline news, but rather something i was passionate about - the Arctic drilling!

I wanted to provoke thought with my illustrations...

I would love to do more in the near future!

Keep up the great work Greenpeace and its supporters!

3rd Year And Cheltenham Illustration Awards News

It's been a while since my last post and so much has happened!
I'm now in my 3rd year of Illustration so i will be updating my blog once or twice a week now.

Before summer i entered the Cheltenham Illustration awards and a few weeks ago i found out i got Highly Commended!
See the winners here! http://www.cheltenham-illustration-awards.com/winnerspage_13.htm

My Entry:

The theme was Tales of Mood and Memory, and Gustav Holst's seven piece orchestral suite, The Planets.

Title: Escape and Resistance

Description/Inspiration: Gustav Holst’s Neptune was my inspiration for this short narrative. I was suddenly transported back and recollected a dream I had, and which many of us have had, being chased by a pack of wolves. The dream represented running away from difficulties and problems, however towards the end of the dream, I faced them without running away anymore. Combining materials, textures and patterns conveys my emotions and feelings within the dream.

Original Size: A3

Media Used: Collage, Indian ink, oil pastels and water soluble pastels

Expect some more updates this week with projects i've done and progress with current ones i'm working on.