Monday 20 June 2011

About me


I am hoping to study for the MA in Design and Art Direction at MMU as I see this as a great opportunity for me to experiment and push the boundaries of my own work. Having recently completed my Graphic Arts degree as a mature student I feel now is the perfect time for me to continue my studies on an MA. MMU has a great reputation as a School of Art, and from having recently visited the degree show, I feel, a very different vibe to LJMU. I really enjoyed my studies at LJMU, but I feel studying at MMU will give me a chance to rethink and further develop my own visual language and practice.

The pictures I have posted are a good representation of the type of work I have been producing the last year or so. My sketchbooks are a really important tool for my work, so I always have one on me just in case. I'm an obsessive doodler, and enjoy sketching my ideas out in coloured pencil or pen. I work mainly in pen and ink, and watercolours, although this last year has seen me develop a real passion for screenprinting. I spent some time outside of uni at the Bluecoat print studios and enjoyed letterpress and advanced screen printing courses. It’s a really good place to establish links and continue to access printmaking facilities for in the future, so I have recently been training as a print technician there.
I am currently exhibiting work as part of the Global Echo - a collaborative student / staff printmaking project which exchanges exhibitions with international colleges and universities.

Scary Stories

Sketchbook work for a Scary Stories book cover

Sunday 19 June 2011

My current practice and area of interest


My strengths as an illustrator lie in character design, stemming from my love of doodling, and interest in anthropomorphism. I have found my personal tastes changing in the last year, where I was previously interested solely in children’s illustration, visiting the Pick Me Up graphic art fairs in London proved to be really inspiring. The idea that one can not only produce illustrations, but also something fun to behold, and not necessarily for children.
This is why I want to further develop my printmaking and bookmaking skills, and to explore the realm of handmade type, of Zines and self publication.

Friday 17 June 2011

Alphamess Concertina book

I wanted to create something both educational and fun to behold.

Alphamess Poster

Screen printed poster, illustrations used as a basis for an educational concertina book

Alphamess Words and Pictures

Selection of illustrations from the Alphamess concertina book

Wednesday 15 June 2011

What do you want to achieve in your chosen MA Programme?


What I really want to achieve is for my work to mature; I focused so much on children’s illustration in the past and have only recently discovered a real desire to work beyond this. Therefore, rather than feel the MA would be an extension to my degree, I see this as a chance to discover new possibilities within my work.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Facebook

Sketchbook character doodles, later developed for screenprints and a concertina book

Draw The Line

Doodle created at a Draw The Line event recently held at Liverpool JMU

Wolf Woods

Watercolour illustration for an alternative Red Riding Hood story

Monday 13 June 2011

How you will go about achieving the above?


I would use the opportunity to experiment in different techniques, to look differently at my working processes. I would like to research more into the theme of anthropomorphism, and to explore print based work - self publishing, zines and books,  etc.  I am keen to work collaboratively as I have previous experience which I enjoyed immensely. I produced illustrations for an iPad story, and I think working with apps has a lot of potential.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Resources you think you will need


I want to be able to take the time to build on my area of practise, so the resources I will need to learn more about handmade type, letterpress, bookmaking, printmaking,
These alongside non traditional practise – although I am competent in Adobe Photoshop, and In Design, (less so in Illustrator) there is so much more I would like to learn (particularly Photoshop).
My tutors often mentioned the fantastic archive at MMU so this is also something I would love to access.
 

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Shipwreck

Watercolour illustration for the Bubble Blind project

Rain

Illustration for 'Bubble Blind', a collaborative project with Milos Simpraga

Tuesday 7 June 2011

What do you hope to be doing in 5 years from now and how will your MA studies contribute to your ambition?


Within the next 5 years I hope to be an established illustrator working confidently in traditional media such as printmaking, and digital media; producing work on a professional level. This would be alongside a cottage industry with self produced zines, books, tees and bags. I see my work as having a strong identity, particularly within character illustration.
My MA studies will give me the access to excellent facilities and guidance to be able to explore and practice the disciplines I intend to work with as a professional in the future.