Evaluation for 'Illustrating an African Folktale.'

For my second project within this unit, I decided to work on an extension of unit BA7. This was because I really enjoyed the project and had some unresolved imagery that I wanted to return to.

My first step was to look back at my previous final outcomes. These four images were my response to an African Folktale, ‘The Story of a Hunter and his Antelope Wife.’ I started to establish using pattern and line to portray the narrative and this is what I wanted to return to focus on. I initially proposed that I would submit a collection of 4 to 6 illustrations responding to one African Folktale. This changed as the project developed creating different body of work that I feel is stronger and more successful than if I kept to the original brief.

Establishing my love for lino cutting in Project 1, I decided to see how I could push my practice further within this medium to express the narrative. One of the main driving points in the project was when I used the second image from my final outcomes from BA7 and translated this image through printmaking. It showed me how I could work through different materials to describe a story and even though it needed a bit of work, it established my practice to follow on from this point.

I mainly used observational drawings of African sculptures from my visits to the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Sainsbury Centre to create figurative characters, and books also helped to create a good base foundation of imagery to work from. I work strongly with ink and gouache; I used these materials as well as coloured pencil and watercolour to produce imagery that I could then transfer through printmaking. At one point in the project, I found it particularly difficult to pick up the work-flow from the end of the first project and also because I did not really know what I was going to do with the illustrations I was producing. They were not directly related to the African Folktales I had been looking at and I felt a bit lost.

My original brief changed in the sense that my final outcomes were different to what I initially proposed. This was because as the project developed further, there were other ways that worked well. I was worried that by sticking to the proposal I could end up restricting myself and produce illustrations that were not fully resolved again like BA7, which had not moved forwards. Instead, as the project developed I wanted a way that I could both include my figurative illustrations as well as interpreting individual short tales through Pattern. I thought that this would create a strong contrast between them as illustrating particular characters can interpret the narrative literally whereas the patterns are abstract interpretations. I still explored the elements of colour, line and shape that I proposed, but I just fulfilled this through alternate means to just four illustrations responding to one tale. I have become increasingly interested in pattern since the end of BA7, so this determined some of the subject and nature of my illustrations into narrative pattern design.

Following feedback from tutors and peers during the earlier part of the project, they liked my original drawings with ink and felt that the lino prints did not portray the same strength in line work as using a tool keeps a consistency with the thickness of line. I then started to print as I would draw and this worked a lot better. One of the biggest turning points within this project was printing my work at a larger scale – A1. This made me realise how else my imagery could be displayed in different contexts and made me start to think what about wallpapers and surface design. My first printed piece large format portrayed heads of characters blown up from their original scale. I liked the size of the print but the heads at a larger ratio did not work as well as when they were small. From this point, I started to experiment and develop a surface design pattern using a collection of figurative imagery that was in response to many different African folktales as well as observational drawings, working with their original scale or smaller.

Working with text and image determined my other final outcomes for the project. To go alongside the surface design I created, I wanted to produce some illustrations that respond to individual folktales that I had been looking at. Creating washes of colour with gouache for the background then lino printing on top, I produced patterns to interpret the tales. I worked from three tales: The White Man and the Snake, Why has Jackal a Long Black Stripe on his Back? Tortoises Hunting Ostriches. I sourced these three tales online from a book of ‘South-African Folk-Tales by James A Honey’ that was originally published in 1910 and now out of copyright. The three I chose were very short and simple. Illustrating this through pattern I then started to see how I could combine them with the prose. I did not want to create a traditional book spread – image on one page and text one the other – I wanted to create something eye-catching a different! With much exploring, editing and tweaking I ended up with three small fold-out books using the text within the patterns, with strong attention to composition.

I have decided to use all my final outcomes for this project in the degree show. This is because I feel confident that these pieces establish and portray my illustrative voice, and show how my work can be used in different contexts. Either as a small image in a book or over a large space through surface design. I have not always been confident about my work, but this project has really helped me to have more confidence in my work, showing how I pushed forwards from BA7 and consolidating my illustrative voice. Overall, I am pleased with the outcomes of this project. I could have possibly explored the narratives more in depth and looked at other mediums, but I feel the project has developed significantly since BA7, and portray the strengths of my line work, attention to placement and colour.

Final Outcomes for Project 2:

I have now finished my second project within BA8! Above you can see the surface design for my wallpaper and the three final outcomes in response to African Folktales. Using mediums to paint and print, I have translated the prose to create different responses of narrative imagery. I am very pleased with how the wallpaper design has printed. I have kept the characters small and at a small scale on mass they are very effective. The colours of my little books stand out really well in front of the design. In the exhibition, I am going to cover my display board with the wallpaper and then place my books on small shelves next to the corresponding character in the tale in the wallpaper. I think this will portray my exploration of this project dynamically, which will stand out to others' work.

Wallpaper in situ.

As a quick experiment, I decided to photoshop my wallpaper into situ just to get a rough idea of what it would like in context. It's useful to see a what the surface design could look like covering a whole room or feature wall, showing how it could be used as a feature wall in a children's room or possibly on a hospital ward or school. It just gives me ideas of how else my work could be shown, whether its on a wall, as a print or a textile design.

Last week till hand-in!

It is the last week till hand-in and everything seems to be coming together now and forming a clear idea of what my work within the exhibition will look like. As well as one my outcomes being a collection of images responding to many tale shown through surface design, to go with this I have chosen three short African Tales to illustrate individually, which will also be in the exhibition.

These three tales I have chosen I am responding to through pattern. This is because compared with the figurative surface design, I think it would be a good contrast to then portray the narrative not so literally. Building up the patterns through layers: gouache on paper, Lino print on top, then scanning it in and working with text on it within InDesign. This helped me build up good strong colours to then be the focus of the piece.

These will be a part of little books that will be placed in front of the wallpaper on small shelves. Being placed to the character it is relevant to.

At this point, I think I'm doing okay. I need to add the final touches to my portfolio, print and evaluate. Hopefully it will all go to plan for Friday!

Development...

Since printing my figurative piece in a large format, it has given me fresh new ideas to think about Final Outcomes for this second project as well as the exhibition. Below shows the piece that I blew up to A1. It was great to see my work at a larger scale, but if the heads were at their original size or smaller I think they would work more successfully. Therefore, I am thinking for one of my final outcomes to produce a figurative surface design pattern responding to a collection of African Tales.

Above you can see an initial design. This includes my character studies over BA7 and mainly BA8. I have made sure to stay to their original dimensions or smaller. What I envisage is that this wallpaper will sit next to outcomes of particular individual tales. I know that this project has developed and moved on from what I originally proposed, but I feel that I could create something exciting for the submission and exhibition through these new ideas!

PLATFORMS: Workshop

Notes from the Workshop meeting last Friday (09/05/14):

• Aim of the Workshops? Purpose. What do you want to communicate? Exposing the illustration process/curriculum., our ways of working.
• Creative theory from 1920s Philosopher.
• The four stages (preparation, incubation, illumination, verification) = problem solving.
• Articulation, communication, ignition, justification.
• Story/narrative to 'problem-solve'? = Brings it all together.
• Brief // Context: illustrator with a writer, text feed, co-authoring - relationship with UEA Collaboration of two skill-sets - feed off each other.
• Incubation Workshop (me, Laura & Sophie) - mask-making - what are masks for? Masks of... Masks about... Masks from...
• As a group we need a shared understanding of the workshops: an existing text to link us all together and stimulate a starting point. Norwich - city of literature.

Next Steps:

• Draft an email to describe the project to get into contact with possible writers - Norwich writers association, UEA. (Karla & Holly)
• Incubation - Keep getting in contact with Schools!

Publication Interview Questions and Answers:

When starting a project or piece of work, what do you turn to for inspiration an/or ideas?

I tend to look back over work and projects I have done in the past, think about what has worked and what I have enjoyed exploring and responding to. After this I then tend to gain primary research from exhibitions, books and professional illustrators’ imagery to feed into my project as a visual basis. This gives me a base foundation to then respond to, especially as I have recently been responding to narratives, I then start to visualise the prose.

Your work features a lot of narrative and story focus; is this the direction you'd like to take your work in the future or do you have another path in mind?

Over my time on Illustration my work has focused down many different pathways, particularly reportage and narrative focus. I really enjoy to tell a story through my imagery giving an exciting visualisation of the prose for my audience viewing the work. In the future I hope to either teach or pursue a career with a creative input, involving delivering workshops and events to the public, carrying on with my illustrative practice in my own time.

Out of all the mediums you've used so far, which do you prefer to create work with and why?

I have always worked with a lot of colour and wet materials especially gouache and ink, but through this last year, I have developed a passion for lino cutting. This is because I have always preferred to work with a hands-on approach and to then use digital software to only then edit my imagery to finalise my work.

What is the most valuable skill you've learned whilst at NUA?

Some of the most valuable skills I have learnt during my studies at NUA are working with other people in the illustrative practice, learn how to use digital software to aid my work, introducing me to printmaking techniques and also giving me the confidence to pursue my studio work to the best of my abilities.