Progression assignment
- 1. PROGRESSION ASSIGNMENT (UNITS 10 AND 85) Martha Watton
- 2. KINGSTON UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE ART DEGREE SHOW 2016 The Kingston University degree show showcased final pieces from many different areas of art and design, such as fashion, illustration, 3D models, photography, and fine art. It was interesting to see the variety in the work as no two pieces were exactly the same. I feel this shows that the course offered at Kingston was broad enough to let each student explore what interested them and to take their own approach to the course. Much of the work was based around illustration, graphic design and fashion. There were quite a few small projects/books which were very simply made with just paper and staples or string. Many of the final pieces didn’t look too complex at first glance however the sketchbooks proved otherwise. Each book initially started off with the same approach but they then drifted from each other and began to focus on their specific interest to result in many different outcomes. From this I gathered that the final piece maybe wasn’t the most important thing and that the build up to it and development work is much more valued. It seemed as though thinking outside of the box was encouraged as many of the pieces had complex ideas behind them and you could not instantly tell the meaning or purpose of the artefact just by looking at it.
- 3. KINGSTON UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE ART DEGREE SHOW 2016 There were no current students that I could speak to at the exhibition however I did some research online and found that the Student Room had a few threads about the art course at Kingston. They said that the course lets you have almost free reign to pursue what you’re interested in. The studio and research work is left mainly up to the students whilst tutors advise on mediums and artists. There are hardly any briefs set except for in the workshops that you can sign up to where you may be given one. Many of the students doing Art & Design courses at Kingston already did the Foundation course also offered by Kingston for one year before carrying on there to study at degree level. The Fine Art course at Kingston is taught using independent study time, which is around 65% of the course. The other 35% of time is taken up by lectures and seminars. The students also said that tutors are always willing to help and the interaction with them is very one-to-one. You can speak to a tutor whenever they’re available so the contact time with staff is a lot better than at bigger universities such as Central St Martins. An advantage of going to Kingston is that it is close to central London meaning visiting and gaining inspiration from gallery's and exhibitions is easily done.
- 4. GOLDSMITHS DEPARTMENT OF ART UNDERGRADUATE EXHIBITION 2016 I attended the open day at Goldsmiths University which gave me an insight into the university life as well as looking at the undergraduate shows they were exhibiting. The campus has many different buildings which act as studios and exhibition/performance spaces. There were quite a few degree shows on offer at the open day so I went to as many as possible in order to get the best overview of the course. There was a wide variety of pieces on display from all areas of the fine art spectrum. One thing I did notice was that a lot of students chose to do video, installation or performance pieces as their final outcome, which is not necessarily what I personally am interested in; this could have just been because many students were interested in those particular areas that year. Despite this, there was also more traditional fine art pieces such as paintings, embroidered textiles and prints. Some of the work was difficult to understand as it was more conceptual installation pieces which had no explanation written anywhere to go alongside the work. I feel I would have appreciated those pieces more had I been able to see briefly how the artist got to that point or the meaning behind the work.
- 5. GOLDSMITHS DEPARTMENT OF ART UNDERGRADUATE EXHIBITION 2016 One of my favourite pieces of work at Goldsmiths was a series of black and white lino prints all displayed in a single white room across the walls. This showed how diverse the students at Goldsmiths are with their ideas, as some focused on printing and painting, whereas others were more interested in textiles or conceptual art. In many of the works materials were used which I wouldn’t have thought to place in art, such as Vaseline or other unusual materials. Students took these things like tinfoil and made them into a piece which had a meaning, something that looked different. Some students even used themselves as the art in performance pieces such as ‘Drunk Girl Ruins Wedding’ where a girl was dressed up as a wedding guest, drunk, and dancing to crazy music in a lift. It was experiences like this that made me think how broad art can be, and Goldsmiths really emphasised this in the variety of their work.
- 6. ILLUSTRATION Illustration is a graphic depiction of any concept or subject in a drawing, sketch, painting, photograph, cinema or other type of image. The aim of an illustration is to interpret or decorate a story, poem or piece of textual information by providing a visual representation of something described in the text. Illustration is the art of creating images which do not detract from the thing it is illustrating by adding character and personality without competing with the main focus e.g. Text. Illustration is neither art nor design but a mixture of the two as it combines the drawing element of art with design for the layout of images on a book page for example. Illustrative images can be made by hand or digitally and using a range of mediums. Illustrators create images for a variety of outlets such as children's books, advertising campaigns, clothing, packaging and store displays, video games, movies, animations and comic books. The difference between illustration and art is that art is the idea brought to life and illustration is a depiction or explanation of an idea. Usually you would be given a brief by a client to produce a piece of illustration for them, with a deadline, which you are then paid for. Jobs linked with illustrating • Art directors • Graphic, package and web designers • Computer game developers • Character designers • Digital artists • Animators • Exhibit designers • Storyboard, concept and studio artists Famous Illustrators • Quentin Blake • Beatrix Potter • Tim Burton • Dr Seuss • Roger Hargreaves • Maurice Sendak • Eric Carle
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- 8. CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR To be a children's book illustrator you first must have a distinct style. Many illustrators are easily recognisable because their style is unique and personal to them. Characters for children's book often work best when they are simply drawn with minimal detail especially on the face as children like to imagine the mood and expression of the character themselves. As an illustrator you have to be versatile, especially for children's books. You have to be able to draw a wide variety of things such as dinosaurs, pirates, jungles, space and many more. You will usually need to be part of an agency to help get you work and to help you get recognised by publishers and authors. You have to be prepared to do many drafts before you are happy with a final illustration and also be prepared for rejection from publishers.
- 9. QUENTIN BLAKE Born in London in 1932, Blake went to Downing College, Cambridge to study English, going on to do a postgraduate teaching diploma at the University of London. He followed this with life-classes at Chelsea Art School. Blake has always made a living as an illustrator and taught at the Royal College of Art as head of the illustration department from 1978 to 1986. He then adds the washes of colour using watercolours as this is his preferred medium. Everything Blake draws comes from his imagination so his studio is white because he doesn’t want anything to influence the illustrations as it is his ‘job to imagine whatever it is he is drawing’. From the age of 16 he has had his drawings published in many magazines including Punch and The Spectator. He is perhaps most famous for his collaborations from many writers for their children's books, the most well known being Roald Dhal. As well as this he has illustrated classic books such as A Christmas Carol. Quentin Blake produces his initial illustrations just be quickly sketching out an idea. He then uses a lightbox, watercolour paper, ink, and a dip pen to refine the first sketch into a proper drawing.
- 10. QUENTIN BLAKE The first thing to note about this illustration is that it tells as story without the need to use words. Although it is part of the story of The Twits by Roald Dahl and does have text accompanying it, it works equally as well as a standalone drawing conveying a humorous scene. The composition is interesting to the eye with the woman and balloons being the main feature which is why they are placed in the centre of the illustration. It is more or less equally balanced with objects on either side of the centred drawing. The artist used water proof black ink and watercolours to create this illustration because these mediums contribute to his style and make all his images uniformed in some way. The lines have a messy quality to them which reflects the fact it is a children's book as it looks as though it could've been done by a child. The spontaneous feel of the illustration also mirrors children as we often associate childhood with spontaneity and freedom. The black outlines of each shape contrast with the slightly whimsical watercolours but give the piece a more cartoon appearance. The image depicted is of a woman being sent into the sky by a bundle of balloons, and her husband is at the side presumably having planned the whole thing. This surrealist image is exactly the type of image children like as it lets them use their imagination to further invent the scenario. The lines are quite dynamic which gives the impression that the illustration is moving.
- 11. NICK SHARRAT Born in 1962, Nick Sharrat has been drawing for as long as he can remember. When he left school he did an art foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic (Manchester Metropolitan University) and then got a place at Central St Martins to study graphic design. When he left St Martins in 1984 he went to various publishers with his portfolio and was given small commissions right away and has been a freelance illustrator ever since. Sharrat first drew pictures for educational textbooks and was soon asked to illustrate his first picture book in 1987. He did more and more book illustration and began writing his own books too. He has worked with authors including Julia Donaldson, Jeremy Strong, Michael Rosen, Giles Andreae, Kaye Umansky, Kes Gray and most notably Dame Jacqueline Wilson and has also written around 40 of his own books. Most of Sharrats’ drawings begin on thin paper using a soft pencil so he can easily trace over them and make improvements. He will try out different hairstyles and face shapes and will often stand in front of the mirror to get the characters positioning just right. He tries out many different versions of characters only tweaking small things each time to get them perfect and says that his job requires a lot of patience.
- 12. NICK SHARRAT The bright colours used in this illustration immediately draw the eye towards it, particularly because the artist has used bigger blocks of colour which make it bolder and stand out more. Patterns have also been used to create interest in areas that may otherwise become lost among the colour. Even the shadows are coloured purple instead of black or grey to add even more colour. This illustration is quite static as there is nothing to give the impression of movement, however the colours and patterns make up for the lack of this. Sharrat uses the computer to add colour which is evident through the blocky look of the image. It is a very cartoon like piece with simple imagery on the facial features and other details. This coupled with the colour palette used makes it obvious that this illustration is for children although that’s not to say that adults don’t enjoy it too. The image alone does not portray a huge story in itself. You can tell that two friends are going shopping however there is no further details that could be inferred from this. Unlike the illustration I just looked at by Quentin Blake, Nick Sharret has portrayed a very realistic scene in this drawing, very different to Blake's surrealist one. Sharrats style is also very much like a cartoon and whilst Blake has elements of this in his work, it’s the solid, confident lines and bold colours that contrast majorly with Blake's scratchy outlines and whimsical watercolour.
- 13. FINE ART BA (HONS) - GOLDSMITHS One of the courses I am interested in for when I leave Esher College is Fine Art at Goldsmiths University of London. In order to get a place at Goldsmiths I must successfully complete my college courses and a Foundation year, as well as having a portfolio of work to show them both online and in person if I get an interview. I can apply for this course through UCAS by completing an application and writing a personal statement. Completion of an art Foundation course is essential to this course however I was going to do one anyway so this works in my favour. It also means I would have broader portfolio and another year of experience before university. The facilities at Goldsmiths are one of the things that really stood out to me whilst at the open day. There is space for art studios, performance work, installations, temporary projects and exhibitions, and a range of research laboratories. The fact that you get your own studio space appeals to me as I feel this is really important in order to stay organised and inspired. You are allowed to work in any medium you like and determine the nature of your practice. The freedom this course seems to offer draws me towards it as at this time I am still undecided of which pathway I’d like to take. You get a tutor assigned to you who you receive individual tutorials from as well as group presentations and discussions. The course also involves critical studies, lectures and seminars to help with your ability to discuss, analyse and write about contemporary art. Goldsmiths say they prepare you for a professional life whilst studying there and many of their graduates have continued to be successful artists, winning major prizes and exhibiting around the world. The course prepares students to be able to work in a variety of fields and careers including: being a practising artist, art historian, arts administrator, gallery curator, designer, and many more.
- 14. FINE ART BA (HONS) - GOLDSMITHS I also spoke to a student at the open day who told me that the career advisers at Goldsmiths are available to students for three years after they graduate. Goldsmiths is located in New Cross in East London and is less than 15 minutes away from central. Living that close to gallery's and exhibitions would enhance my university experience tenfold as I would never be far from inspiration. Why study at Goldsmiths? • You'll make and study contemporary art in a dynamic, critical and interdisciplinary environment • We'll equip you with the skills that will help you develop independent thought and confidence in your practice, as well as skills suitable for employment in the creative industries • You'll have your own studio space from day one, and will have access to excellent facilities including specialist research laboratories • All staff on the programme are practising artists, curators and writers, here to respond to the work that you make and to help you understand how it contributes to, and challenges, the critical debates that exist in the study area and beyond • Since 1990, former Goldsmiths students have been nominated for the Turner Prize more than 30 times, and have won the prize on seven occasions
- 15. ILLUSTRATION BA (HONS) - BRIGHTON Study Illustration at Brighton will help to develop your understanding of the subject intellectually as well as practically. You’ll get to learn how to communicate visually and develop your own visual language. You take part on studio-based practice, critical and cultural studies, skills workshops, seminars and one-off live projects. You will be able to develop work through analogue techniques as well as digital, print, web and interactive mediums. This rich, instructive and creative course provides an excellent springboard for working in the creative industries or forging a creative practice of your own. Why study at Brighton? •Brighton is a vibrant city, packed with galleries and home to many creative and digital companies. It also hosts England’s leading arts festival and an annual digital media festival. •Benefits of dedicated studio space, small year groups and close links between Illustration and Graphic Design disciplines, giving you the best platform for sharing knowledge and personal development. •The course is taught by accomplished illustrators; they create a stimulating learning environment while keeping up ambitious research, professional practice and participating in major exhibitions. •It is one of the few places in the country where you can study Illustration and receive tuition in dedicated workshops for both letterpress and book arts. You’ll also have access to one of the country’s best-stocked specialist art and design libraries and our internationally significant Design Archives. •Students on recent optional study trips have visited New York, San Francisco, Berlin and Amsterdam and enjoyed a full programme of studio and gallery visits. •Develop as an illustrator and make the kind of contacts to launch your career.
- 16. ILLUSTRATION BA (HONS) - BRIGHTON From looking around the University of Brighton website and doing other research I really like the look of the course offered at Brighton. The photos of work they have available on the website are hugely varied and it seems as though you do have chances to choose which specifics you want to work in. Brighton also offers many opportunities such as study trips abroad To study at Brighton I can apply through UAS with an application and personal statement. I will also need to gain good grades in my A Level and BTEC, as well as complete a foundation year. A strong portfolio is also essential and I must be able to talk about it at an interview if I were to get one. The first year of this course introduces you to the basic concepts of visual communication in illustration and helps you to develop your own visual language. Year 2 focuses on self-initiated, collaborative, experimental and independent ways of working. The final year builds on the creative and analytical abilities you have developed and works on personal development as you move towards a more self-directed programme of study. Facilities •Dedicated studio space •Central media center with computing facilities specific to the needs of designers and illustrators •Specialist equipment including materials for sound, film and photography •One of the country's best-stocked specialist art and design libraries •Internationally important Design Archives include a wealth of work in graphic design and illustration •Dedicated technical workshops in Letterpress Printing and Book Arts