post 80

Well, thank the good lord I've got some people about closer to home who've helped me out with the practical side of illustration. I've just learned how to move an image from one document to another in photoshop...I felt like a right dinosaur at that degree show, I really need practical help more than anything else at the moment. So my girlfriend and the guy who has a studio next to me have helped out without any of that old mysticism crap. I've learned more on the practical side from those two than anything I've got out of the hallowed halls of academia! To be fair though, one lecturer has been really quite brilliant for chucking stuff at me and has been the reason why I've stuck at it.

Post 79

This is my latest image for Article...I think there is some kind of surfing exhibition happening in my local area. I've been finding the google image searches really useful in helping me to create my latest illustrations for the monthly arts mag.

I need to consider what I'm going to send out in my next batch of promotion...could use something that relates to the dream series.

Where do I start with Under Milk Wood? I think I'll go back to the advice of the tutors and stick with research and pencil drawing for the summer. Could concentrate on this on my week in Malta perhaps?

Reading 'Teach Yourself Postmodernism' page 107....about how Derrida talks about bringing to the fore 'the things that the text pretends it does not need'. How do I do this with this Dylan Thomas epic?

Post 78

'To dream of garbage...'

I feel that I've used a more loose and intuitive response with this image. I think this has been made possible by using different methods for each picture I've produced for the dream book so far.

I've had quite a major clear out in my studio which has enabled me to make better use of the space using both my desk and drawing board to work on the illustrations. I still feel somewhat reluctant to rework these images in photoshop and image ready preferring to allow the authentic use of mixed media to come across. I've really missed being able to use non digital methods in the production of my recent work...god bless the scanner!

Post 77

Spent day in the studio working on and off on this illustration...'To dream of weeping...'

I'm finding the system of working from initial roughs essential. There will always be an element of intuition..

I've used a variety of collage materials, although may have overdone the use of envelopes here...all experimentation...

The image of the girl came from my collection of newspaper and magazine clippings (mainly drafted from the Guardian). It feels good that this image hasn't been reworked via photoshop yet apart from level adjustments....

Post 76

I've been thinking a bit more about what I'm going to produce for my final project. Under Milkwood is certainly a dense text but one which I feel that I can get to grips with. I've been thinking about where to begin. 'To begin at the beginning...' Suggests a narrative, a starting point. To begin at the foundations? A modernist take over post? I really need to consider how I'll approach this project on a number of layers and levels. Perhaps to 'logical' way would be to take one character and interpret directly from the text...a purely subjective response...if indeed subjectivity is fair game with the fragmentation of the idea of the self...

I think another difficulty that I face is trying to bring some form of weight to my work when I'm engaging in a stage of learning. Therefore, I need to keep on studying the figure, hands, faces and feet.

The attached image is a collage of a print of 'To dream of the dead...'

Post 75

So I'm continuing to work through the dreams and have re worked and update images that I've already posted on this blog. I'm still having difficulty with the cut out text here, but I'll keep the book pretty 'loose' and open to experimentation.

The scanner has certainly opened up more opportunities for me. I remember when I got a PC around 3 years back, I'd originally created a series of ink based images but soon found it to be difficult when photographing them. Not long after I came across the wonder that was photoshop and image ready and started to re-work the majority of images produced via this medium. Now I feel as though I've got the best of both worlds!

So, I've still got to finish off the text on the tooth image and may consider some gentle photoshop manipulation. S'all gud in da hud apparently...

The latest image of 'To dream of a telescope' I start by producing an initial thumbnail, then working using ink, pen and collage. One difficulty that I found was working around my line and I still feel that photoshop is the most effective way for me to work. Although I want the book to have a tactile feel, I still think there is room for some digital intervention to tighten up the final image.

Post 74

Continuing to produce images from the dream series.

I'm finding that cutting the letters out is becoming quite time consuming but gives the book a feeling of cohesion...

Post 73

I'm not entirely sure what 'message' I was sending out whilst drawing this image, but felt a sense of satisfaction whilst in the process of drawing it. I think I need to strike an adequate balance between intuition and planned works.

I've sent out my latest batch of postcards which takes my total to the 100 mark. I've felt it to be important to have made a start with a direct promotional campaign and hope to learn from the experience of the mail out process.

Post 72

I've updated my links to other illustrators websites after trawling the AOI forums favourites 'sticky contemporary illustration' section.

I've listened to Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas from start to finish and have decided that I'd like to use this as the basis for my final project.

So where do I start? I think reading it again and continuing to respond intuitively is always a good way to begin any project. I think building a list of artists/illustrators is a good way to go.