Study Task 1

Who am I? Why am I here?

http://elephantik.com/a-tribute-to-maurice-sendak/

-Identify 5 reasons why you chose to study Illustration.

• I have always enjoyed communicating my ideas through image making.
• The narrative that illustration embodies is something that interests me greatly.
• I wanted the opportunity to become better at constructing and composing images.
• Having the freedom to be able to create my own practice whilst following the guidelines of a brief. 
• The playful nature of drawing and developing ideas visually gives illustrators a unique voice and a range of ways to record aspects of the world we live in.

-Identify 5 reasons why you chose this programme.

• The structure of the Illustration course at Leeds College of Art appealed to me. 
• I particularly liked the mixture of both practical and theoretical work we would be able to explore.
• The exposure to a studio environment with a smaller group of similarly minded people was something I was very excited about when applying for the programme.
• I very much welcomed the chance to be able to collaborate on work with other people studying creative courses.
• The facilities that the University offered made me very excited to try a variety of new ways to create images. 

-Identify 5 skills that you think are your strengths.

• I have a great love for observational and spontaneous drawing. 
• Using a range of tools and methods to create images is something I am quite confident doing. 
• With every drawing I produce I want to gain experience and learn something from.
• I naturally generate work fairly quickly in response to what it is that I want to portray.
• My relationship with drawing is something that is constant and a natural process for me, it is also my main strength and what I enjoy most.

-Identify 5 images that demonstrate your interest in Illustration.

http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/illustration.aspxiId=3936&type=artist&idValue=194&aiPage=1

Chris Riddell - 'You will always be safe with me'.

Riddell is one of my favourite illustrators. I love the fluidity of his work and the detail he manages to put into every piece. His characterisation and narrative skills are incredible!

http://thirdmonk.net/creative/art/fear-loathing-illustrator-ralph-steadman-psychedelic-art-gallery.html

Ralph Steadman - 'The ink that sheds blood'.

The fearlessness of Steadman's work is something I really admire. He uses bold gestural marks within his work whilst still describing certain characteristics of a piece.

http://inkygoodness.com/blog/artists/abi-overland-grad-spot/

Abi Overland

I have only recently become familiar with Overland's work but I really like the playfulness of her pieces. The geometric shapes and the hybrid animals make her work interesting to look at. This is something I would like to develop in my own practice.

http://www.booooooom.com/2015/07/21/illustrator-spotlight-aj-frena/#more-67230

AJ Frena

I was mesmerised when I discovered Frena's work. The use of light and dark, composition and colour is something I want to explore more of - especially when it comes to learning more about digital art.

http://inkygoodness.com/blog/artists/featured-artist-helen-musselwhite/

Helen Musselwhite

As well as working two dimensionally I also enjoy illustration in a 3D form. In particular I enjoy paper cut projects and pattern to demonstrate certain ideas. This piece embodies that interest.