The World I Live In - Evaluation

The World I Live In - Evaluation
I enjoyed the project in the summer because it was research and I had lots of options to choose from. One particular one was when I listened to different songs and drew what I felt from each song. I enjoyed making notes and there was no actual pressure as such to get this in as I worked at my own pace. I intended to find I worked in short bursts which I like better.
For my theme I just made lots of lists/drawings/discussions about what I thought related to me and how people around me thought what related to me. Some we agreed on, some were surprising.
 I decided to go with what I thought were the most personal to me.

I did a mixture of Primary, Secondary and observational drawings. I also made notes on post it’s ‘and took photos. I developed my research with advice from the tutors and my dad.

I think the biggest influence in my designs was my family’s’ input as we are close, my personal choices and the Illustrator Andrew Loomis. I want to be an Illustrator and I looked through some of books my dad had and researched him online. I love the colours he uses and the techniques he demonstrates.

The images reflected his everyday life (he used to do lots of observational drawings of his family and house) and I think this links into the theme The World I Live In. I love the glamour and colour of his subject and images and another thing I found out in research is that the Illustrator for Marvel Alex Ross is influenced by Loomis. Marvel is another part of my world.

Another area I really enjoyed was the work by Photographer Cecil Beaton and since looking at his work my interest in this area had increased also. I have since attended some workshops in college about photography.

My final pieces of work were based on Loomis and I will use this as an influence again. It has reinforced my decision about Illustration to the extent that I have mainly researched Illustration courses in the UCAS sessions at college.

In my drawings and planning board I used acrylic, coloured pencils and pastels using different texture and coloured paper. I used a mixed media on my final piece of pencils and pastels on coloured paper.

I did not manage my time in the last few weeks and I think if I had been better organised I would like to experimented more with mixed media and done more pastel work. I think overall the picture of me wearing a hat is my favourite and I wish I had done than that as my final piece. I chose my final piece because I thought it reflected me more but because of my time management I had to focus on the picture instead of taking my time and I think this took away my enjoyment. I think Cecil Beaton influenced me in using photographs for research and his images were similar to Loomis. Loomis is the biggest influence in this project which I think is reflected in my planning boards.

Some of the problem solving I did was looking at the images of Loomis and trying to put a modern interpretation on them and how it related to my world. I enjoyed this part of the research as it was my ideas not anyone else’s input.

The processes I went through were mostly positive experiences including using photography as part of my research.

I think I can say my drawings of Loomis went well as I have completed a number of drawings influenced by him.

I think what went worse was the Freud images. I found it harder than it appeared and I found his techniques difficult to use. I found his use of colour depressing as the work went on so I found it harder to finish the work.

I did not use my time well and this is an issue that always happens because then I start to panic and then get even further behind. I start out well but as the unit progressed I found myself focusing more of the Loomis work than the paperwork. This is because I find the paperwork boring even though I know it is important part of the course to show how my ideas have developed and my understanding of the course.

I did not use my blog effectively because I do not enjoy it. I let my notes pile up then had to put them all together. I am going to try and set a time each week in the next unit to try and keep on top of it.

I am satisfied with most areas of the course, particularly researching Beaton and Loomis. I think this is a string area and this is seen in my creative work.

I could have planned my time better and kept on top of the writing side of the course. This is what I would do differently and I need to sort it out before the FMP.

Georgie Lee

851 word count.

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