Sketchbook Activity: MEGA CRIT
Looking at Summer Sketchbooks and finding my favourite pages from across the levels.
Feeling anxious - there are so many students now and the studios get so loud with mega crits. It's too noisy and overwhelming for me. I'm also nervous about showing my work because it's not my best and I know there's some really brilliant work on show today.
ON THE OTHER HAND I am excited to see what everyone has been doing over summer. It's nice to look at these personal, self-driven sketchbooks to find out what inspires, moves or triggers people to DRAW for fun.
Page from my sketchbook
My Sketchbook:
This is the page I had open. I didn't enjoy this project that much because it felt forced. I wasn't working towards any set goal, yet I needed to make work. I struggled to find the point in drawing for fun because it's not something I do anymore! I'm often drawing or making, but always for a deadline/brief/client.
To begin with, I was drawing because I felt obligated to. I drew from observation or from imagination, but whatever it was, it was just because I felt I needed to fill a sketchbook.
I work much better with a brief. I enjoy research and know that this motivates my practical outcomes, but I also think that my OUIL504 sketchbook developed a lot further than this personal one because I know it 'counts' as part of the deliverables for that module.
It wasn't until the end of the Summer that I started to make pictures I actually like. Once I finally stopped trying to draw intricate things with pencils and gave into the beauty of black ink, I made work that was more striking and bold. My hand doesn't suit dainty, shaded lines, especially when I'm drawing these dark characters. The media I used changed the tone of the drawings dramatically.
I never thought that comic art/graphic novel style would suit my drawing or that I was capable of making something that would fit within that category. I really enjoyed making these pannels and would really like to revisit comic-making! Could look good in print as a zine! I need to read more graphic novels too.
Common themes in my personal sketchbook:
character, halloween, skulls, fantasy, fashion, girls
Pages from Dana Davis's sketchbook
Dana's sketchbook:
Colourful, fun and full of ideas. Interest in cartoons and anime.
Made me smile, very cute and sweet. Pages bursting with drawings, tapes and jottings.
Can instantly tell that it's Dana's work because she has made it such a personal space. Things that are important and interesting to her. Her humour and her way of seeing.
Childlike and whimsical. Soft pastel colours suit this tone of voice ad the markers she's used reiterate this soft, cute approach to illustration.
NOT ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONAL DRAWING, BUT IMAGINATIVE, INVENTIVE DRAWING.
Page from Alex Patrick's sketchbook
Alex's Sketchbook:
I wanted to include Alex's sketchbook because she has used her Summer to realise her visual signature. She's developed a standardised way of drawing characters, they're so cheeky and devious! I know that Alex was struggling before with what her art should look like and she was torn between representational drawing and a more stylised approach. I'm really happy for Alex because she has achieved what she set out to. She's answered some big questions for herself, all through the act of drawing.
This project has been hugely beneficial for her and it's evident that she has had a lot of fun over the summer, recording and documenting snippets of conversations and events, particularly those which are silly or funny.
Emma Knowles's Peach Puppet and Sketchbook
Emma's Puppet:
I saw this on Instagram over Summer and I was initially intimidated and jealous.
It's so brilliant and weird, I feel deflated knowing that other people are making puppets too (and doing a better job than me). BUT I have to stop being so precious and childish. This is a fantastic piece of work and Emma deserves lots of praise for it! I love it and would pay good money to see this in a creepy peachy programme.
Her painterly marks echo the sparkly, magical ones in her sketchbook. Great synergy and translation across the media.
Surprised that a couple of people had brought in MADE things, not just drawings. I thought that this project was just about DRAWING EVERY DAY so I didn't include any of the work I've made in 3D over the Summer. A little disappointed in knowing that I could have shown that but I didn't.
Unidentified Level 6 (I'm going to scout this person out and discover whose work this is someday!)
Unidentified Sketchbook:
A quiet series of pretty girls/women. Elegant, innocent, sleek.
Careful, delicate.
Almost hauntingly beautiful portraits. Can't tell whether these are observed, referenced or imagined.
Some interest in pattern - would like to see these combined with collaged patterns!
Would have been nice to receive some feedback directly. Doing it this way, I don't know who saw my work and what they thought of it at all (unless I stalk through every single programme blog...) so it feels a bit counterproductive in that sense, though I have really loved seeing so many diverse collections of work today. Proud of you all.
MEET AND GREET
The good old Jay charm kicked in and I coped with the overwhelming situation by being even more overwhelming. I jumped about, danced in people's faces and I embarrassed everyone. Sometimes I really hate the person I am in these situations, but I certainly made an impression. I try to act normal but NOPE out comes awkward Jay touching your face and telling you you're a beautiful little star.
It was a great idea for us all to mingle and get to know each other at this point. I now know at least five/six first years by name so I'm going to look out for them and check up on them. My little babies.
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