End of Module Evaluation - OUIL 404

1.  Which practical skills and methodologies have you developed within this module and how effectively do you think you are employing them within your own practice?

More than anything, I feel my digital skills (on Photoshop) have improved greatly. I employ these new found skills to the majority of my work, especially if I’m putting it online, but not only am I using the software to heighten the quality of my work but also to add to the aesthetic and overall outcome of work i.e. the Photoshop skills acquired using screen and multiply were pivotal features used during Visual Narratives. Another thing that I feel like I have developed is my confidence to use new drawing media and buying new tools to work with. The task linked with texture especially felt as though it pushed me to use things such a charcoal and crayon – I also bought some gouache paint close to the composition tasks, where I’ve never used it before, it forced me to work in a new way and think about image and colour differently. I feel as though I’m utilising university resources more and more, gaining confidence in asking about things like screen-printing etc.

2. Which principles/ theories of image making have you found most valuable during this module and how effectively do you think you are employing these within your own practice?

Roughing and scamping, particularly towards the latter parts of the module, became increasingly important, and this skill is vital across the entire breadth of the course, in realising an image in how to arrange it and how to make it the best image it can be. I felt as though my roughing has improved immensely, but I still find it hard, most of the time my roughs look terrible. Roughing is important when consolidating composition, but I like to think that before Visual Language I had a decent grasp of the concept of composition, and I realised part of it is to trust common sense. Also drawing from reference material and drawing from observation then reflecting on the differences and advantages of both was very valuable, I have taken this on throughout Visual Language and other modules, demonstrating both images made from reference material and things from observation, used appropriately, they are both extremely important.

3. What strengths can you identify within your Visual Language submission you capitalise on these?

I can say that my drawing skills have developed so much; it’s as if I’ve found a balance between my somewhat anarchic drawing technique and producing an aesthetically and technically proper image. Visual Language has definitely helped me develop an emerging ‘visual signature’ even though I am definitely still only starting to find something. I think starting this project with no real ‘visual signature’ has allowed me to be free in experimenting and exploring, and I haven’t been afraid to develop, as I’m not sure where I’m going with my practice absolutely. Taking part in group discussions with peers and being able to present work whether it be your own or another illustrator’s has been a factor of this module. I like to think I took this in my stride and my confidence has grown in terms of sharing and discussing opinion. Lastly, I think I utilise all forms of research well, not only in Visual Language but through all my projects – and this gives depth to my work and is informed through my own interests.

4. What areas for development can you identify within your Visual Language submission and how will you address these in the future?

At the beginning of the module, I feel I could have invested more time in completing the tasks and embraced the ones that I wasn’t excited about – in particular ‘pattern’. I do wish I had done more on this, as I know pattern is important. I’m glad I chose a large sketchbook to work in, however it was really new to me to work like that – I wish I had kept my sketchbook more organised and found a better way of working more comfortably in it – this would improve the presentation of my work, even if they aren’t finished pieces. Also, although my blogging has definitely improved, with this being a ‘long, thin, module’ and does not require as frequent documentation as the modules that run alongside, my blogging is really inconsistent, it is clear that my blogging style and technique has changed throughout.

5. In what way has this module informed how you deconstruct and analyse artwork (whether your own or that of contemporary practitioners)? Obviously, each of the tasks and themes surrounding the tasks are aspects in which we analyse artwork – this module helped me understand this, and I take all of these things into consideration when deconstructing- for instance, how has the illustrator, or how have I used texture/line etc, to make an interesting piece of illustration, how does it affect the tone of voice etc. Used appropriately and innovatively, all the aspects can be utilised even if it is only slightly, but this can give real visual depth to pieces of illustration. All the presentations shown before introducing a brief have been really helpful and interesting, especially when using other practitioner’s work. During the composition briefs we were shown ways of identifying compositional value by using arrows, this has been so helpful, and I have used this method since being shown. Actually being asked to go and produce art with all these different components separately and then eventually together at the end of the module gave a really brilliant insight into how to arrange a great piece of illustration. This shows, as my work definitely developed and improved and I feel really proud of the things I did towards the end.