Creative writing and sport

This was a really fun and exciting story about creative writing and sport in schools and trying to combine the two together. I had lots of ideas about this one, as visually I could see how I could combine the two sports and writing together. 

I initially had the idea of someone throwing a javelin in the form of a pencil. I wanted the pencil to stand out as if it were almost coming off the page, so I thought about drawing it as realistic as possible to make it stand out more.

This is the finished outcome. I really like the pencil and the 3d effect of it I have managed to create, however Im not personally convinced with certain aspects of the drawing such as at the white space background. I think it may need working on and a more coherent colour scheme adding to it. 

A soldiers story

I wanted to create a piece of work that captured the isolation and almost dreamlike situation soldiers find themselves in. The idea of running away from your past and the doors to your past always surrounding you. The biggest positive of this image is the colour scheme in my opinion. I have been a bit more adventurous in the colours - I have been using lately and wanted to create a desert like feel, so I think the golden yellow colour works well. The forms on the page such as the guns take on a form of their own and almost look tree like.

Hopes and Fears

I think one thing I've realized over the past three years, is how much my work has changed and how different I now approach work. I used to be so focused on getting my drawings to look exactly like what I was drawing from. I started out as more of a fine artist and never really considered myself as an illustrator. Now my work has been compared to graphic design work. I'll always have drawing as my core principle though.

One of the main concepts I have found is the conceptual and editorial route, where my drawings are more inspired by politics and current affairs. I have a keen interest in stories like that and think my style of work is more catered to that type of adult drawing.

One part of being an illustration student, I haven't enjoyed is being able to just enjoy drawing or take time on a picture. The pressure of university is hard and sometimes I feel like I'm doing everything other than drawing or creating art, just to try and get a grade. For example I love to paint in water colour's and oils, I haven't been able to do that at all in the past year because it takes to much time to do and I don't have that time. I will be doing more painting in my spare time when I leave. I love being an illustration student, I just feel sometimes I don't know my own style yet and I think my drawing skills come first.

My main fear with the future, is something that I'm starting to realize now especially as I'm trying to contact art directors. Im worried about getting an actual chance to be a professional illustrator. I need that break and that chance to be able to create work for a newspaper or a book, but there are so many people applying for work. Ive found art directors rarely ever contact you back, especially if your not a well known artist. So the idea of the unknown is a worry, as I want to be able to have a steady income.
Art is very unpredictable money wise, so my aim is to get a part time job, hopefully related to art so that I can continue doing something I want to do. Another fear I have is losing contact with people from my university class, its great to know someone in a similar situation to your own, that can be there to provide help and advice with work, so hopefully I can keep in contact with some of them.

Im proud of my work and I have put my all into this course. I didn't put enough effort into one of my briefs in the first year and ever since then Ive been so determined to do the best I can and for people to be impressed by my work. My dream is to become a professional illustrator and I am fully determined for that to come true. My hope is to get a fair chance at being an editorial illustrator.

NHS Waiting Times - Watchmaker

For the NHS waiting times story, I again wanted to try and create something around the theme of time and tried to create symbols/imagery based on that. My initial ideas were based on a watchmaker and the doctor trying to fix it. Ive tried to think of interesting compositions with the viewpoint almost looking down on the doctor from above. 

This is the finished drawing. This was the most frustrating drawing I have had to do so far. It was so difficult to get the right shape on the face and make it look like a person, rather than a bunch of random objects. 

John Holocroft illustrator/research

Above are two illustrations by artist John Holcroft. I really like the clever use of visual methaphor and the use of almost simple things such as a hand holding a cigarette begin turned into a clever and clear message. It maybe digital slightly, but I think the way he has thought about the images and come up with the ideas is very interesting.

Political/editorial Artwork

Charlie Hebdo Artwork

I think political artwork with a message behind it, is so powerful and can reflect the story and idea of any story. The illustrations created after the Charlie Hebdo attacks were particularly powerful and reflected the idea of the power of the pencil.

The metaphorical language used is really inspirational, so I want something similar in my own work.

PTSD A soliders story

In order to produce imagery for serious stories like PTSD I need to be able to get a better understand of what it actually is. I can't illustrate something like this and not know what its really about as there wouldn't be a clear link between my drawing and the story.

The video above is of a soldier after returning from war. For a lot of soldiers its a link back to past war traumas and the effect war has had on them. Everyday struggle to feeling alone and lost. It really is horrible to think people who served my country are going through this.