Final Presentation

SCRIPT:

1) Introduction

2) During level 4, I was really not very professional with my work, as shown by this low resolution photo of my final outcome. By the end of the year, I was making prints which I was happy with, and communicated what I intended- like the prints on the bottom right based on Alan Turing, but they still weren't 'me', they didn't reflect my creative practice. I was also going to put some examples of Visual Language on here, but I hated the outcomes so much that I must have deleted them all!

3) I expected a lot of myself over level 5, I thought there was a lot of pressure to be able to create beautiful, fun line drawings. I felt like I needed to 'be' an illustrator now, but what I wanted was to explore packaging, and I really learnt how to do this during 505

4) Responsive was the Visual Language of level 5 to me. I really struggled with making quick responses to set briefs, but I think this was due to me not allowing enough time between modules, meaning I made outcomes which didn't reflect me at all. I also made some outcomes I liked, but because I twisted them so much to fit the brief, they weren't 'me' any more. At this point, we had the Pitcha Pitcha slides in front of all three programmes, and I have never squirmed so much as when mine came up, because I felt like the work I was showing was a lie about my practice, and I lacked the confidence to proudly show my work.

5) I also didn't really know what made 'good' work, and whether it was line drawings or shapes based, and what kind of illustrator I wanted to be. I pressured myself to fit into boxes of 'style' which I didn't fit in. I also surprisingly struggled with traditional print. When I was set the print based 504 project, I was so exciting, as I'd worked a lot with print and I thought I'd smash it. But I was very, very wrong I had a complete meltdown in the print room, and cried to Mike- the colours just weren't right, they printed patchy, and leaked all over the paper, and the hue was far to acidic and dark- Annie knows how stressed I was by this! So I took the weekend off and reset my brain. Then when I went in on Monday morning, I took my time mixing and testing colours, and I actually ended up with a set of prints I was really happy with.

6) This was a major success for me, as it's the first time I tried print overlay to make a third colour, and although it's not the most successful overlay ever, it was a really important lesson to me, and highlighted how process driven my practice is. It was also the first time I really explored what I wanted to draw, as it clicked that the brief was my responses, so I focused on what I thought about my author, and I really had fun doing it.

7) One project I really learnt a lot from was collaborative. I explored more traditional print and found working with skilled Graphic Designers meant I learnt a lot of practical skills. Also, visiting the factory for the company who set our brief was really enlightening, as I really loved them and their company ethos, so I wanted to make work which my partners and the clients would love. I think this was my first experience of enjoyable successful group work, which is due to me being able to pick people I knew were hard workers and I would love to work in another group project, if I could pick up my partners.

8) I know it's not a popular opinion, but I loved CoP! I explored authorship within art, and also included print overlay and layering. I'm a very tense person by nature, but this assumed relationship of antecedence, made a free way of working, which helped me relax into my work and really enjoy the creation of work. It also highlighted the importance of colour in my practice and how much of a weird obsession I have with colour theory- which is what I'm going to focus on in CoP next year, as from now on I'm going to always work on projects I'm passionate about.

9) My major breakthrough this year was the cause of 505. I focused on skin conditions, such as vitiligo, which I suffer from. Because I had such a strong emotional connection, I was really motivated, and similarly to collab, I wanted to make a successful outcome, so that it would help others. I also found it really useful to think about how to apply to packaging and use the 3D form to make an interactive message when opened. Although the applications could be a lot more polished, it was really interesting to see how I could use and market my work, which is why I chose this course in the first place.

10) One of the most influential parts of this year was my extra curricular work alongside ANORAK and at the Hepworth, volunteering at children's workshops. I love working with children in a creative way, and ANORAK has even led into paid opportunities, and I'm working at a three day festival at the end of June with them. I think these have really helped me to 'get a foot in the door' and at the moment, working with both these companies are viable and exciting career paths.

11) I've also really enjoyed organising creative events, such as an upcoming workshop at ELCAF, based on book recycling. Also, I loved organising the illustration table at Print Stuff, which was really bizarre, as people were coming up talking to us as if we were professionals, which I suppose we are! And it was a great confidence boost to sell some of my work at the table. I've also really enjoyed being involved in the organising of the end of year exhibition, Love Triangle, which has been difficult, but it's a good lesson in not quitting when it gets tough. I also think that a career in creative event planning would be something I would love to investigate more.

12) This year, I have really tried to push myself out of my comfort zone to build my confidence. A large part of this has been running for Student Governor. I had to create a campaign to a budget, which included giving out handmade badges, and printing on t-shirts, which I had never done before. I also took part in the Hustings, where we had to answer questions over the microphone to the whole of the cafeteria. Even though I ran unopposed, it was excellent practice in confidence in presenting myself, and I was able to utilise some of the skills I learnt in the Rick Ferguson workshop. I've also grown a lot in confidence through posting my work on Instagram, as even though it's silly, it really does boost my confidence to get likes and comments. Because of my gaining confidence, I applied to a work placement at Harper's Bazaar, and even though I don't think I will get it, the worst that can happen is I'm rejected. I suppose that's one good thing about Responsive- I think I got rejected from every competition (Fingers crossed for collab) which has made me less scared about failure!

13) I decided to talk to Louise Lockhart as my creative report, as she has similar inspirations to me, including packaging, books and workshops. I actually first met her last year whilst volunteering at ANORAK together, and it really inspired me that she is able to combine these different activities into one career. It also improved my confidence in talking to professionals, and helped me make contacts, whilst encouraging me to realise that becoming a freelancer is hard work, but is definitely possible for me. I was unfortunately unable to visit her studio, as she was busy moving house, but I have arranged to visit sometime in summer.

14) I know that I definitely want my practice to include packaging design, as well as develop more into shape based outcomes. I finally feel like this year I've started to develop a practice I'm really happy with, and that I have a direction and style. I also am really interested in how I can apply my work to different products.

15) Throughout level 6, I want to continue traditional print, as well as thinking about 3D design in the form of packaging and homewares, as I've realised my practice is very based on crafting, and making tangible goods.

16) In the future I want to continue working with children, potentially through ANORAK and the Hepworth. I would also love to organise more fairs and exhibitions, in order to gain more exposure. I think I have realised this year that my interests are really within interactivity in art, which I explored through CoP, and manifests itself in creative ways of thinking how a person can interact and explore a 3D form.

17) Thank you for listening, does anyone have any questions?