Statement of Intent

Broadly speaking the primary purpose I see for extended practice is to build a portfolio, which upon graduation will help me best promote myself to the creative industries that most interest me. As it stands currently I am interested in 3 main contexts of illustration: editorial, adult publishing and illustrative products.

My context of practice project aims to improve the visual aesthetics of my practice, therefore I think that in this module I should focus on both the content and possible contexts for my work. The two modules will then hopefully feed into each other to form a more directed personal and professional practice.

I would like to capitalise on my ability to think conceptually, and form images based on symbolism or visual metaphor to tackle complex subjects. Personally I am most interested in either environmental or social issues. This will guide the texts or articles I choose to illustrate for either editorial or publishing purposes.

To approach such subject matter, I will have to do in-depth research so that I can convey the key issues at hand in an appropriate and considered manner. Editorial and adult publishing are both highly audience-centric forms of illustration. I would like to use such briefs to develop my skills in condensing complex subjects into simple and direct images that will captivate a viewer’s attention.

I would like to produce images that are well crafted and have a feel of the handmade – personally favouring the result of print processes such as screen-print, mixed-media collage or gouache painting. To do this I see it necessary to invest a good amount of time into producing the final outcomes for each brief; however also see it important to develop a more systematic and instinctive method of process that will better suit contexts such as editorial, in which there can often be a very quick turn around.

While I still have access to college facilities, I would also like to take the opportunity to be more experimental in my practice – using the print, as well as even the woodwork and ceramic workshops. As most of my chosen briefs for editorial or publishing will be very content and research driven, I would like to leave myself some room for non-cognitive image-making. This could lead to producing some illustrative products, prints or zines.

To document my progress I think I will find it most useful to leave my initial ideas, thumbnailing and practical development within my sketchbook. The blog I see mainly as a place for key points of reflection and evaluation both during and at the end of each brief. I also like to use it as a point of reference for contextual research.

I think the most important point with this module is to keep it fun and manageable. Doing things that I enjoy will hopefully lead to a portfolio that reflects my interests, and therefore generate work after graduation that does the same. For the purpose of time-management I will prioritise competition-briefs that have more immediate deadlines, but I also think it will be essential to set regular goals within personally-led briefs so that there is an element of consistency in the production of work.