FMP: Turning Point

For the past two days I've just been mindlessly drawing from my Amsterdam photos in my sketchbook, feeling like I'm going round and around in circles.

I've been speaking to my coursemates, and they all seem to be in the same boat, running on empty and being more than ready to finish the course. But I am determined to succeed in the 12 days that are left!

I spoke with Ben this afternoon and he gave me some reassurance, and reminded me that this project doesn't HAVE to have a commercial outcome, it can still be a personal exploration. He also mentioned that I shouldn't just forget everything that I've done so far in extended practice, and that I can take some of the elements from that forward into this final resolution. But the main thing he said was to just do what I enjoy and hope for the best.

Other ideas we discussed:

-Illustrative tour guide; how could I do this?
-Making a concertina book
-A series of prints/postcards about interesting Dutch buildings
-Documentary series of editorials

What now?

-Put some chill music on and draw for fun
-Perhaps do a tiny bit more specific research into the things I found interesting in Amsterdam, i.e. the drug laws, lifestyle, culture etc

FMP: Context and Function

Where could my project exist, and what could it be? It could be a number of things, but from the start I've had an illustrative tourist guide in mind, so I'm hoping it will go down that route.

Concertina book

I've visualised my building work in this format for quite a while now, but I've never actually got round to making one! In actual fact, I've never actually made a concertina in my whole time at college. The buildings of Amsterdam could sit really well in this format, perhaps as a little museum/interesting building guide?

References:

Louise Lockhart, Up My Street

Polly Fern, A Concertina Street

Megan Davies, Concertina Houses

Illustrated Map

Charlotte Trounce, London Landmarks

Newcastle, Tom Wooley

Other Ideas:

• Postcards
• Tote Bags
• T Shirts? Other merchandise
• Activity book?

Although this was just a vague stream of ideas, I am now starting to form a clearer idea of what I could produce in the time that I have left on this project.

Papyrus Update

I had a pleasantly surprising email today, my jellyfish design has been accepted to be part of the papyrus colouring book!

I'm so pleased, I thought that I hadn't been considered when I submitted two months back, and was in two minds about presenting this as a full brief for extended practice, so super chuffed!

FMP: More Bikes, More Buildings

So I've lost touch AGAIN with this project amongst the PPP deadline, but now that my presentation is out of the way I can really get going again. I didn't think about things too much (I am really stressed and everything is making me cry haha) so just enjoyed drawing some buildings and people riding bikes. 

I'll think about things over the weekend in more detail and come up with a plan for the last few weeks.

 

Mural Instalment and Press Release

Last week I had my picture taken with the mural, and my five minutes of fame were...well no one likes having their picture taken do they.  I had loads of people from the ibis, Town Centre Securities, The Merrion Centre come and shake my hand and ask if I was happy with it, how long it took and were really grateful for it which was lovely! So although I got a bit of embarrassed artist syndrome, it was a good experience, and CONTACTS! Hopefully they will get in touch in the future!

Here it is!

And here's my five minutes of internet fame

Facebook

 Instagram

Twitter

FMP: Further Research-Travel Illustration

Having gone a little too far off track I decided to invest some more time into contextual research to gain a better idea of a suitable direction to take my project in. So I had a look online and in some magazines for inspiration.

Online and Publishers

http://www.theydrawandtravel.com 

A beauuuuutiful website where artists and illustrators can share and promote travel themed work, predominantly maps. (Teresa mentioned to me a last week that Maps are always a good piece to have in your portfolio!) No two maps are the same and each of them amplify the artists individual experiences in new places, making it feel more personal and well crafted.

http://www.herblester.com

The Herb Lester associates have a really traditional and charming manifesto, really placing emphasis on the visual quality and  communication with the audience.

"Most guides try to tell you everything there is to know about a city, we just tell you how to enjoy it. It’ is our aim to show the reader what makes a place distinctive, to shed light on obscure locations as well as revisiting well-known ones with a fresh perspective. We research each city the old-fashioned way: asking friends, acquaintances, cab drivers and concierges for their tips and then walking, tasting, sipping, and peering into doorways and down alleys. We turn that research into a compact guide with enough suggestions to keep you entertained, with a list of shops, bars, restaurants, cafés, galleries, museums and parks, each one carefully described."

http://www.victionary.com/category/news/travel/

The Citix60 City Guides are produced by the Asian publishing brand, Victionary. They also make huge maps and art prints!

"They tasked 60 international creatives to contribute tips, secrets and favorite spots in six different cities around the world and compiled them into the CITIx60 City Guides. The series’ goal is to guide you through each city’s backroads and leave you feeling inspired by the each contributor’s picks."

Individual Practitioners

Nina Cosford

I really admire Nina Cosford for being such an all-rounder in the illustration world; I find that her work can easily be adapted to fit any context (ultimate illustrator goals). On her website I came across some of her lovely illustrated maps, as well as some educational material she has produced in the form of an interactive museum guide, which is something that I could consider!

Ohn Mar Win

I also see Ohn Mar Win as being an extremely versatile illustrator, similar to Nina Cosford. I first came across her work on the cover of a cook book in Anthropologie, and later discovered her talent for map making too (and wasn't disappointed!)

Laura Carlin

Having looked at Laura Carlins travel based work, it made me think about travel diaries and documentary illustration, which works SO well for her. Although the only thing is that I'd be working from photographs from now on...so might not have the same vibe.

What next?

• - Keep drawing, start to think more about the final outcome 
• - Think about having a go at making a map; what could I include from my personal experience
• -Look more into Amsterdam travel diaries, any work that exists already that relates to my ideas?

FMP: Sketchbook Progress

I'm feeling a lost in terms of my progress with this project. I don't really know what it is I am trying to find out and communicate. So far I have just drawn things that I have found interesting, for fun really, but for what purpose?

So far I've focused on the people and place aspect which resinates to more of a documentary style way of working, although I'm not sure if this will create a completely clear path for my work to progress. I was only in Amsterdam for a few days, therefore don't feel like I have many stories to tell as I spent all of my time taking in the surroundings.

That leaves me with the question of WHAT CAN THIS BE?!

I have five weeks left of this project, and I think once I get the stress of PPP out of the way I can really go full steam ahead...but then that only leaves three weeks to actually come up with a resolution.

Things I need to do:

- Some more contextual research
- Stop worrying about this and try to enjoy it
- Maybe run some ideas through with peers that are around over Easter
- Definitely talk things through with one of the tutors when we come back from Easter