Today is going to spent, like yesterday working on my dissertation draft for the deadline tomorrow morning! I am going to do some observational drawings after hand in tomorrow. Exciting!

I also need to send off my innocent smoothie illustration, but I would like to edit the version with the lady wearing the hat as I think it could be improved. (The hat is currently not fitting her properly and is slightly pixellated so I might need to find a different wooly hat to use.) Hopefully I will complete my dissertation draft today and I will do the innocent illustration as well ready to send off tomorrow morning.

ILLUSTRATOR - SALVATORE RUBBINO

http://www.walker.co.uk/A-Walk-in-New-York-9781406306149.aspx

We had guest lecturer Salvatore Rubbino in today. I found his work really inspiring as he studies people and makes drawings from life. It made me realise that drawing is going to be the way forward for me if I want to make progress. I am excited about drawing and on thursday I am going to go somewhere busy and draw what I see!

Have a look at some of Salvatore's work here:

http://www.theartworksinc.com/biography/rubbinos.html

Notes that I made:

Drawing =

-describing and communicating things

-relationships between you and the object

-importance of authorial illustration

-traditionally words and pictures go together

-reading a book makes images in your eyes

-walker books - a walk in new york

-Salvatore is from London

IDEAS FOR CONVERSATION: I GET ANNOYED BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY STOP

This is a rough idea to show being frustrated with something but I do not think it works yet.

CONVERSATION: I'M FOLLOWING YOU

The penguin is confused by his shadow - it is following him

INNOCENT DEVELOPMENT

This is a rough sketch for my innocent smoothie idea. I want the image to be christmassy and also involve an elderly lady or man and a bottle of innocent too! Above is a drawing I did to give you an idea of what I am thinking of... A lady kissing a bottle of innocent under the mistletoe, as it involves all three of my ideas and it shows an elderly person happy with innocent for raising the money. The lady does not look happy enough, so I Will post development images above this rough sketch of my idea.

ILLUSTRATOR - JULIA POTT

Julia Pott is an illustrator from London that created an animation based upon people's answers to questions she asked them. http://www.juliapott.com/animation.htm

The above images are taken from the link below. The illustrations are in response to things people have said which is a similar to my aims.

http://www.juliapott.com/portfolio.htm

CONVERSATION: I'M GOING TO DO SOME COLOURING WHEN I GO HOME

I liked this conversation snippet, it reminds me of being young, and so I approached this in a colourful, childlike manner.

MORE SUPERMARKET CONVERSATIONS...

"He said he doesn't mind so long as he's not miles away"

"Will you eat that?"

"They're like little cigars, that shape?"

"Yes I want the best of both worlds"

"They're £10, they're £7"

"She doesn't listen Mum"

"Do you want any ordinary biscuits?"

"You'll have to walk and look wont you"

"I was counting all the way through, then I lost count"

"We've all got our own corner but we talk about things"

"I don't know what she's doing"

"If you could talk have heard her!"

"Well I have to say that this girl you cannot evaluate in two sessions"

"I'm really pleased with this, totally overspending!"

"If you're the parent!"

"Sue and I, we dealt with it"

"I'm following you"

"It's not very strong is it?"

"I've had a bit of a rough ride, I've got a friend who's an alcoholic"

"He fell over"

"John, you were drunk and you must stop drinking!"

"I told him time and time again but he took no notice"

"When you're dry you feel much healthier"

"You wake up in the morning and you feel like you're dying"

"I was on a bottle of vodka a day"

"I can smell his breath"

"Sue rang up one day and I said I don't know what's happening"

"I'm gonna do the ironing now"

"Tonight I should be there really"

"You get in a viscous circle"

"I get annoyed because people say stop"

"Coffee and cigarettes go really well together"

"How long did it take to detox?"

"There's lots of issues"

"He's going to Zimbabwe soon with his Mrs"

"Everyone else is drinking around you"

"I worry about his Wife, she drinks wine"

"Why shouldn't you enjoy your social life?"

"Whatever anyone else does i'm happy"

"It's my decision, whether I do or not"

"You reward yourself if you work hard during the day"

Authorial illustration will help me develop my individual approach. I want to come up with my own ideas for illustrations that express overheard conversations. This will allow me to have more control over my outcomes and take responsibility for the content at the same time as being selective. I will need to research more into authorial illustration to inform my imagery.

I hope that this will enable me to produce a body of work that can be made into a promotional booklet for my illustrations.

AUTHORIAL ILLUSTRATION

"Authorial illustration may be seen as a supplement to an illustrator’s less freely created commercial work, as a promotional tool, or as a platform for experimentation. It could be argued that the purpose of authorial illustration is to make the individual illustrator a more effective competitor in the market place. It could also be argued that authorial work demonstrates unfulfilled creative potential of the art of illustration. "

http://www.arts.ac.uk/events/13021.htm

CUSTOMER QUOTES - SAINSBURY'S SUPERMARKET

Below are snippets from people's conversations that I overheard in Sainsbury's:

"That's too big I can leave it in the cupboard"

"Do you want to look at that thing?"

"Josh are you alright, you're looking pale today?"

"I'm going to do some colouring when I go home"

"I'm never losing it again"

"He didn't know me it was just a coincidence"

"I want to find the bread"

"She said Polly's just told me you're a Daddy"

"Could Mina please come to the milk area?"

"You broke it"

"Watch where you're going, it would be helpful"

I love the randomness of these conversations and I think there is potential to develop some illustrations from these few. I am going to collect some more words from overheard conversations and I will select a few to start illustrating.

CONVERSATION

Here is my quick mind map of ideas:

I want to focus on communicating via conversation at the same time as documenting life by drawing and recording.

INK ILLUSTRATION

Chloe from Ink also came in to talk to us today about doing an MA. This website is the little collective she set up with others from her course.

http://www.inkillustration.com/alone.htm

DAVID CALLOW TUTORIAL

I forgot to mention that today we had a tutorial/presentation with professional illustrator David Callow, who was extremely helpful. He sort of confirmed my thoughts by asking if I enjoyed what I was doing, and suggested researching to inform imagery and to find a context. He said that some of my drawings were not very friendly looking old people and this wouldn't be successful which I totally agree with. I found his advice and opinion very fair and I am happy that I had the opportunity!

It also made me realise that seeing other people's work that the innocent project shouldn't be an extended project and I should try and come up with one or two final images, which I will probably proceed to do, but I will then focus the next few weeks with a new view on my outcomes.

David's work can be found at:

http://www.davidcallow.co.uk/portfolio_independant.html

(His drawing skills are immense!)

MY HEAD IS SWIMMING IN THOUGHT

I don't really know where to start with this post, but I feel like I am limiting myself with my choice of brief and the way I am going about it.

I am sat with a cup of tea and I want to re think where I am heading. So far I am not really enjoying this project if I am honest, and it seems silly that I set it myself! I don't think I made informed decisions about my next steps and I would like to re-write my brief or change my aims and direction. I don't see this as being a problem as I feel it will help me establish a context for my work and if I will enjoy it more it will lead to more work.

I feel like jumping from Graphic design in the first year to second year illustration has made me rush into a style that I really don't enjoy or particularly like. (See first initial illustrations) Playing more with hand based materials was a lot more inspiring for me (see hand based images most recently posted) and I want to focus more on this.

A past project at level 5 for Digital Revolution that I did was a much more interesting subject, as I used real conversations as my inspiration. I would like to go back to this idea as a starting point and create a project based around my real interest in people and interaction with others. I enjoy the random element of conversation and language and using a dictaphone for Dig Rev really helped me capture this.

I also think life drawing class has made me realise how I was a lot more into drawing from life in the past and how I should really get into capturing life situations with my sketchbook and pencil in arm.

I will make a mind map of ideas of where I am heading with this.

PROGRESS

At the moment I have been experimenting with ways of working and what I am drawing. I think I need to focus more on the ideas, as currently I have only come up with very initial drawings. I was thinking of using humorous images, such as a lady warming her hands on a toaster, or a lady kissing an innocent smoothie bottle under the mistletoe. Sort of to show that there are easier ways of keeping the elderly warm.

INITIAL DRAWINGS...

These images are a lot more successful than the previous sets, and I enjoyed them being more hand based. I think this is a way of working I will be a lot more comfortable with and will carry on to use throughout other projects.

I.S

My tutorial with Anna went really well :-). She said to let her know if I don't need a tutorial next week as I think my I.S plan is ready to be worked on! Am now in Cheltenham til Saturday and have work on Sunday.

INVESTIGATIVE STUDY/ 'DISSERTATION'

In the morning I have a tutorial with Anna, and then I am getting a train back home for a few days. I wont be able to carry much so I have spent most of the evening trying to organise things to be easier to take home! I am currently sat working on my Investigative Study... I am going to try and do as much as I can over the few days I have at home as there wont be as many distractions!

The draft of 4000 words is due in the 9th of November and I am aiming to get it as tip top as I can as I think it is the only proof read Anna will be allowed to do.

INITIAL DRAWINGS CTD.

Here are some further initial drawings. I have decided that I really hate the way i'm working and I want to edit less using photoshop. I find the drawings very 2d and plain, and am bored of their appearance. Using this method of working is also very limiting. I am going to try using more hand based methods as I can guarantee I will be happier working in this way. I can see a lot of faults in all images below and I would like them to appear more lively and interesting. Images to follow...

EYE CATCHING CLOTHES!

Google Images

I love this little old lady! She is the kind of person that would catch my eye straight away whilst out shopping. Bless her :-) The above lady on the next post was inspired by this woman!!

INITIAL DRAWINGS...

These are initial drawings. There are lots of changes I need to make but these give you a rough idea of my thoughts.. The top one is the most decent image but I think they are all unsuccessful. I absolutely can't stand the last image, and the middle one is definitely going to have a makeover. More to come...

BIG KNIT

Keeping Warm ideas:

Toaster

Tabasco sauce

Bonfire

Hot water bottle

Fire

Oven roasting tin

Radiator

Hairdryer

Hot Chilis

Earmuffs

Hot Tea

Cuddles

Slippers

Hats

Scarf

Gloves

Wooly clothes

Sunshine

Roast Dinner

Blanket

Microwave

Candles

Thermometer

Sauna

Being Cold ideas:

Fan

Frost

Snow

Ice cream

Ice

Wind

Polar bears

Freezer

Penguin

I am currently thinking of illustrating the elderly either nice and warm but in silly ways so it's humorous as innocent often use humour on their packaging. I also considered making the elderly look cold to show the problem that has to be solved. So far I have managed to draw a couple of elderly people but I lost the work I did on them this morning which is irritating but I will re-do it and hopefully more ideas will come...

AARRGHHH

I didn't click save. I just lost everything I did this morning. :-(

LIFE DRAWING

Today I went to a life drawing class... it lasts 10 weeks and is every Saturday for a couple of hours. Will aim to go to all of them as quite enjoyed today... Although you can tell from my drawings that I haven't done life drawing in ages, I will post one up and hopefully you will see improvements...!! (horrific photography from my mobile! and the above left was a 30 minute drawing and the right was a 2 minute drawing if you were wondering!)

HOUSE OF ILLUSTRATION

Describe yourself with images of your 8 favourite things from this list:

1. favourite animal
2. book
3. clothes
4. comfort
5. food
6. pastime
7. place
8. possession
9. music
10. shoes
11. weather
12. pet aversion (the thing you most love to hate!)

You can make your artwork in any medium – e.g. drawing, painting, collage, sculpture – as long as it results in a still image that can be loaded onto Flickr.

Deadline = 9th December

http://www.houseofillustration.org.uk/how-to-enter.php

MAIL ART GLASGOW

Mail art gives artists the opportunity to post their work to an exhibition in Glasgow. It is aimed at those artists who cannot afford to travel to Glasgow, so it is based on Mail. (Not sure how successful that will be with bloody postal strikes at the moment!) It is supposed to fit A5 and can be based on any topic that is suitable for families to view.

Deadline = 26 November

WINDOW WONDERLAND

I have just found this competition, which sounds really interesting and I will definitely apply for. The theme is for christmas, and you are allowed to have any take on it. Seeing as I am creating illustrations to keep the elderly warm over xmas etc, I will submit some relevant images to re-design the window! Apostrophe is a boulangerie/ patisserie/ cafe that sells hot food like soups too :-)! This might help out with imagery for the project as I want my illustrations to be more relevant to winter. Will keep you updated and post my submissions...

Deadline = 9 November

http://www.apostropheuk.com/windowwonderland/

http://www.apostropheuk.com/ (boulangerie, patisserie, cafe)

GRR!

I got a bit annoyed that he looks like santa haha... maybe i will redraw him with just facial hair and a bald spot!

GRAYSON PERRY WALTHAMSTOW TAPESTRY

http://www.victoria-miro.com/exhibitions/_400/

The Walthamstow Tapestry explores the emotional resonance of brand names in our lives and our quasi-religious relationship to consumerism. Charting man's passage from birth to death, the tapestry is peppered with leading brands encountered along the way. Stripped of their logos and thus much of their identity, the names run alongside - often incongruous - depictions of people going about their everyday lives: walking the dog, nursing children, skateboarding, hoovering, and, of course, shopping. Perry is a great chronicler of contemporary life, in whose work sentiment and nostalgia sit subversively alongside fear and anger. In The Walthamstow Tapestry many of the world’s leading names, from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany to high street giants such as Marks and Spencer and IKEA, come under Perry’s excoriating gaze in this cautionary and prophetic tale of modern day life. Inspired by antique batik fabrics from Malaysia as well as eastern European folk art this vast work provides a colourful, rich and complex visual journey across our contemporary landscape.

http://www.timeout.com/london/art/article/404/a-day-in-the-life-of-grayson-perry

http://www.victoria-miro.com/usr/file_browser/usr/downloads/10_09_perry.pdf

I find the concept behind the tapestry quite inspiring. I am interested in how Perry includes every day life in his work and exposes the effects of living in current situations.

PROJECT PURPLE UPDATE

I heard back from the lady from ageconcern about the local project in Poole, and am meeting her on the 11th November (investigative study hand in day :-o) to show her my illustrations and determine next steps. Sounds quite promising if they like my work, keep fingers crossed!! It could lead to my illustrations being on some posters or their website, or even their little magazine! She also asked me for my availability to teach the elderly some drawing or painting! Will discuss this further with her in November...

KLEENEX CUBE COMPETITIONI

http://www.mykleenexcube.co.uk/

This competition sounds quite fun. It closes on the 31st October

NYLON

The first time I ever saw Nylon was in a Doctor's surgery I think and I remember wanting to leave and go and get the latest one. The illustrations and graphic design in it are lovely, and I found it quite surprising that they let people send in artwork and put it in there. It is the kind of thing that 'girl talk' - a mag I must have read when I was about 8 haha, used to do. If I could work for any magazine, it would be Nylon! Even though it is mostly a fashion magazine, it is informative and culturally interesting. It also reviews bands and interviews women that are an inspiration to others.

http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=section&papid=4

GRAFIK MAGAZINE

http://www.nikipilkington.com/index.php?/exhibitions/barn-gallery-/

Had a little look in my housemates latest Grafik magazine, their 'talent' part of the mag is filled with illustrations and an interview from Niki Pilkington.

I really like the way she focuses on people that are dressed differently or in other words captures styles with her pen. She is a fashion illustrator, but I personally think she is also interested in people as she really brings out their character in her illustrations and is not just focused on clothes.

ILLUSTRATED GREETING CARDS

These are very old paper greetings cards my Nan found in her attic recently. They are very dainty I love them!

THINGS TO DO, MAKE & PLAY

This is a scan of a book I used to love as a kid... my Cousins and I used to make things out of it at my Nan's!! I just found it amongst a random box of stuff in my room. Nice :-)

I GOT A REPLY!

I guess this isn't as promising as it could be, I still think it would be cool to get my work up on Innocent's site. Even if it is only on their knitter-natter blog, it will give me an opportunity to actually liaise with a (sort of) client! Hopefully if she likes my work she would do something more exciting with my illustrations! I am excited about making the work anyway though, need to get cracking!

I LOVE DUANE HANSON

1988 Tourists II - image from 'Duane Hanson' by Saatchi Gallery.

Due to my interest in people I thought I would share one of my favourite American Sculptors. OK so he isn't an illustrator, but I love what his work stands for, and I am thoroughly amazed and interested in the meticulous presentation of his work. They say so much about life and social status without a word. There is so much to read from these hyper-real sculptures which is what I find so interesting. Stereotype plays a big part in his work too. I would really love to see this piece in person.

INNOCENT - SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

Inside this book, Designing Sustainable Packaging by Scott Boylston I came across a case study on Innocent smoothies. I found some information on their beliefs and I think they are quite a respectable business. They developed the first ever "100% PCR drinks bottle (PET)" which highlights the fact they care about the environment.

Innocent strive to be ethical where possible and the book also explains more information on 'the big knit' project. "In 2006 alone, 230,000 hats were knitted, raising over £100,000." Also 10 per cent of Innocent's annual profits are donated to charities in countries that supply fruit for Innocent's drinks. Both images scanned in from the above book pg.80+81.

LEARNING AGREEMENT

Have almost finished my learning agreement. Just got back from the library to look at the reference material. Have a few photocopies and a couple of books to look through...

Oh yeah I started reading a book by Darrell Rees at bedtime. It's actually quite interesting so far and makes me feel a bit more confident!

Will keep posting updates on this..!

U3A BOURNEMOUTH

"University of the third age"

The U3A appears to be a social activities club for over 50's that organises events and walks etc. My Grandad has recommended it to me, suggesting that it may be a good opportunity for me to tag along and take some photographs as inspiration. Apparently the Bournemouth U3A is very popular, so I may look into that..

http://www.u3abournemouth.org.uk/

'NO LIMITS' MAGAZINE

'No limits' magazine is a free magazine for the elderly produced by Bournemouth Age Concern. This is an advert taken from it and I think there is potential to make it a lot more interesting:

http://www.ageconcernbournemouth.org.uk/documents/NO%20LIMITS.pdf

The article also mentions a poem by Jenny Joseph which has some lovely words to illustrate from.

"WARNING" by Jenny Joseph

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only eat bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old and start to wear purple.

BOURNEMOUTH AGE CONCERN

Project Purple Poole

Project Purple Poole is a new project to set up activities for the over 55’s in Poole. Building on the success of Project Purple in Bournemouth (activities include Gentle Yoga, Computer Classes & an Explorers Group) the project is being expanded to Poole. The aim is to set up a range of social and health improving activities for the over 55’s across the Borough.

Is there an activity that you’ve always wanted to try?

Want to volunteer with us and lead an activity of your choice? We would be very interested to hear from people of all ages to become leaders for various activities across Poole including, but not limited to; walking, Tai Chi, painting or crafts, a theatre group and for excursions, quizzies, knitting, dancing, bowling, cooking/cake decorating, sewing, book clubs, drawing and scrabble! If you have an interest in any of these or even something different please get in touch.

My view: I find this local campaign really interesting as their aim is to get the elderly active and help them to socialise. There is potential to create imagery for a poster or to promote the events they hold. I have contacted Steph Quinn to find out if this could be a possibility.

http://www.ageconcernbournemouth.org.uk/