OMG - More of my illustrations have been posted on Penelope's (author of Demon Girl) blog... eeek!

For those og you that know I have been in contact with Penelope Fletcher from the start of this project and she had posted my illustrations towards the beginining of my FMP.
Today while checking out her blog I have seen she has posted some of my final illustrations there too and I could not be more pleased with her reaction.
 CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Conclusion..

We have been asked to write an conclusion to sum up our third year uni, and most importantly our FMP, so here goes:

This year as been hard and frustrating with a few laughs included. I was really looking forward to this year, finally being able to make my own brief for the final major project. However by the time we reached the month where the time had come to create our own brief I was tired and frustrated with uni, and was ready to be done and go home.

After several failed attempts and a few long stories later I finally had my FMP brief. It all came about on a bit of a whim, when waiting for a train was just to boring to take I ended up reading a sci/fi fantasy book, that I would never ever read, and got so hooked I ended up wanting to illustrate it for my FMP at uni.
Looking back would I choose something different for my FMP?
There as been many times over the last few months where I have thought, "Why did I pick this" or "If I could do this again I would do something different" but in all honesty now I'm coming to the end I would not change my FMP brief. Yes, its been hard and frustrating at times but once I got over those moments, I started to enjoy the process and I am pleased with my end images (some shown in previous blog).
The third year was not what I expected in many ways; I think because I enjoyed my college FMP so much, so I kept comparing the last year of uni to the last year college and uni hasn't measured up, not in the same way. At college we had a small class with individual spaces and we all helped and supported each other throughout, and you couldn't beat playing pool and drinking beer (underage) in the pub next door on a lunchtime. HA.
Back to uni: our dissertation was a drag and I hated every moment of it, I'm not academic and never will be, however I chose a subject I was into, did a little each day and I got through it. With much help from Scott and Mom. 'Options' project sort of went by in a blur and I fell out and lost interest in it a lot. However the tutors felt it was some of my best work, I wouldn't agree it was my best work, not out of everything I've ever done, but it was my best work at uni.

My favourite piece (see image  on left) of work will always be the large painting that hangs in my mom and dad bedroom at home.


When I started my FMP, I wanted to be in love with what I was doing so my mind went back to the time when I created the painting on the left.
This painting was created during a one week project at college, I nearly ended up living in my studio to get this painting done on time - but I loved every minute of it.
I thought about create several of these paintings for my FMP, setting myself a 'one week' or 'two week' project, every week or so. After seeing Louise for a tutorial I discovered she was not a fan of this idea. I wasn't very happy. I thought about still painting on a large scale but with a different subject. While deliberating this I had to come for a few days. Upon traveling back to uni, my train got delayed

Another tutorial with Johnny.

After getting all the images and text done over the weekend, I went into uni for a tutorial with Johnny. I was hoping to get my images into photoshop and start creating my double page spreads. I needed Johnny's help with this because my photoshop skills are pretty basic.

However upon starting to upload my images into photoshop, we discovered the images had not been originally scanned in at a high enough resolution; so I ended up having to wait for the scanner to become available in the computer room, so I could scan in my images at the correct resolution. Which meant I have had to reschedule my photoshop tutorial with Johnny to this up and coming Friday. Which is the deadline for this blog, so I will not be able to upload any of the finally images until after the degree show and marking as been complete.
I was a little concerned about leaving the photoshop stuff until Friday as it only leaves two weeks to get them printed before hand in. However Johnny assured me there would be enough time to do this.
So fingered crossed, everything goes ok.

Ps My lists are getting ticked off and becoming shorter so I must be doing something right. :)

07/05 - 13/5 :: Week Summary.

★ Texting,painting, text, painting and so on...
★ Another tutorial with Johnny.
★ OMG - More of my illustrations have been posted on Penelope's (author of Demon Girl) blog... eeek!
★ Conclusion
★ Bibliography

Bibliography

Books:
★ Tittle: Art by Tattooists beyond Flash. Author: Jo Waterhouse
Foreword by Jesse Lee Denning. Key pages: 22 - 25, 32 - 35, 66 - 69, 86 - 89, 90 - 93, 106 - 109 and 124 - 127.
★ Tittle: The Demon Girl. Author: Penelope Fletcher Key pages: All


Web:
★ The Demon Girl website, 2010. [online]. Available: http://www.thedemongirl.com/ 
    Accessed: 24.01.2011
★ Pinstriping and Kustom Graphics Magazine Website, 2009. [online]
    Available: http://www.pandkg.com/  Accessed: 30.03.2011
★ Hieronymus Bosch Central, unknown. [online]
    Available: http://hassan331.tripod.com/Bosch/Garden.htm  Accessed: 19.03.2011
★ Tate Collection - The fairy Feller's Masterstroke, 2007. [online].
    Available: http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=2979&tabview=work 
    Accessed: 19.03.2011
★ Puck Collective, unknown. [online]. Available: http://www.puckcollective.co.uk/# 
    Accessed: 23.03.2011
★ Fiction Fierce - Penelope Fletcher's Blog, 2010. [online].
    Available: http://fictionfierce.blogspot.com/ Accessed: 25.01.2011

 Film & DVD:
★ Vampire Diaries, 2009. TV Series. Directed by Siega, M., et al. USA: Warnerbros.

A journey back to uni, cataloge images & degree show

I arrived back at uni for a degree show meeting and to sort out images of my work for the degree show cataloge. I saw Louise and Chris to look through my images, and we came to the agreement on these.

We also had a meeting about our degree show, after there was no progress being made on our original idea of a 'mini theatre'. We moved on to decorating a wall full of work done by us third year illustration students.

We all got together in our studio space, and spent the next few hours each creating a piece of art that we felt represented us. I had already done a couple of pieces at home, however they were relativity small, and I felt left out with everyone creating new images. I scrapped my small images and created this:

By the end of the day the wall was full. Everyone had completed a drawing and had a piece of their personality pinned to the wall. Which turn out something like this:

 

    

This wall will now be photographed and used as the theme for our degree show. Using the photographs to cover our degree show cataloge and the backdrop for the posters etc to advertise the show.

Texting,painting, text, painting and so on...

Over the weekend I locked myself in my room, on a mission to complete the remainder of my illutrations plus the other 6 pieces of text that need to be inked, all ready to be done for monday for my tutorial with Johnny.

After many mugs of tea and coffee, a lot of itunes, late nights/early mornings and feeling totally detached form the world, i did it. I completed the illustrations and the text. I know have 7 illustrations and 7 pieces of inked text, hopefully giving an insight into 'The Demon Girl' - my introduction to 'The Demon Girl'!

Demon Boy - Chapter 1

Vampire Demon - Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Glamour - Chapter 5

Vampire Romance - Chapter 7

Degree show meeting - intense, scary, stressful so much to do! MUST BREATH!!

Today we got given a timetable of the next few weeks leading up to our degree show, and learned about where needed to be when, how the tutors and external examiner will be marking and grading our work.

To say the least my brain felt fried when I left the studio. I did not know where to start or what to think. I could either cry, laugh or run off to Mexico. Even the though a friend suggested running of to Mexico and getting a pretty damn good tan I decided this was not going to help me complete my degree - so I can start getting on with my life. Ok maybe not get on with my life because Im living now - now is my life; but I'm ready to move to the next faze of my life so to speak.
Anyway after getting back to my flat and just staring at my mac for a while I remembered some pretty good advice that I was given once. "Just breath, devise your work into small chunks so it's less intimidating, make lists so you don't forget anything and plan your time."I think this is some pretty damn good advice, my mother does know something after all. 'HA'. Even though I haven't always used this advice in the past I think now may be a good time to use it otherwise I might just freak at how much there is to do.

So I took a breath, and started to compartmentalise my work and make lists lots of list.

After a good hour or so I had got this list making stuff 'down to a tee'.

I have a list for my illustrations, a list for my text illustrations, a list for my presentation document ie my blog aka this what I'm writing now. (Which feels weird as Im typing this.), a list for my sketch book and finally a list for my portfolio.

OK Im freaking out a little it is still pretty intimidating everything that needs to be done, however I think I may just survive if I take one list at a time!

I also have my ipod, F.R.I.E.N.D.S's box set and of course my friends to keep my sane until the end - hopefully! Although a couple of my close friends may say I wasn't sane to begin with.

Right my list are sorted I'm more clear in my head what needs to be done, now all I have to do is do it!

DO IT!

On with the text...

Once I got home and let everything that had been discussed with Johnny and Louise, sink into my brain. I started looking at different styles of text that I felt would go with the theme of 'The Demon Girl' book.

After a few hours and a few websites later, I had downloaded a few text styles that I liked.

I then typed up and played around with some layouts on my mac, because I have an header then the main body of text I wanted two separate text styles that worked well together. I finally decided upon this:

I printed out the text to the appropriate size, and began drawing the text with ink and dip pen via a light box. Once I had done this I found the text by itself was to bare, so I began research on Victorian patterns to see what kind of patterns or imagery I could add around my text without taking away from the main illustration.

After a couple more hours I ended up with this.

I  got frustrated with myself when I accidentally smudged or dropped ink where it shouldn't go. However once I had finished I found this added to the character and hand drawn-ness or the text which I really liked, because I did not want the text to look typically computer generated.

one on one with Johnny ...

... & Louise.

After a successful work in progress, and some works being developed over the weekend; I was a lot more relaxed about seeing Johnny.
While hovering in the studio for Johnny to finish with another fellow student, I was approached by Louise inquiring to whether I had had much progress over the weekend. To which I showed her the following design.

 

Louise appeared to be please with this development, I am pleased to. I think this image is a lot more successful than the previous illustration of 'The Rupture'. Has Louise said in the work in progress when I use solid colour the effects are a lot creator. 

I must say as an off shoot, I am please to say that I feel a lot more comfortable talking to Louise, during our first meetings in second year and early first year I felt like we clashed, did not see eye to eye we simply didn't seem to get on. Which I found very frustrating, not because I  needed her approval but because I felt I did not get my point across well when talking to her. Over these last couple of months, as uni is drawing to a close I have found a new ground with Louise, whether it been the theme of this project or I have just stopped expecting not to get on and relaxed more around I'm not sure, but when I'm wrong I say I'm wrong and previous battles/misunderstanding etc with Louise I have found maybe not to be resolved as such over these past couple of months but forgotten about!

Back to the tutorial, after re explaining about me deciding to go back to painted illustrations, which again got a more positive response than expected. Johnny suggested some small adjustments to my images, for example on the one piece showing Rai's (demon girl) hair; I had kept it quite minimal and only put a few lines of hair on a solid block of hair. He suggested that there either needs to be loads of lines or none at all. He said the victorians was always way over the top with their imagery and patterns and he felt this how this needed to be. He also suggested about keeping the background white or pale, because he felt it brought the other elements out in the image. - I could totally see what he meant about the hair, I was not so sure on the background I was scared it would look unfinished with a white background especially with this pacific image. However I went back to my flat, added more lines to the hair and after a few undeceive minutes I decided to go for the white background. 

Johnny and I also talked about adding text to the images, as I felt that their where small sections of the book that really related to my images. I felt that these pieces of text need to be displayed along side my work some how, in order to support my images and share the story with the viewer. 

Louise commented how when she needed to draw text she would download the appropriate text of the internet and print out that text she wished to draw at the correct size. She would then use a light box and dip pen to create her text. She said it gave the text the feel of being hand drawn but allowed her to keep the sizing and spacing correct. Johnny again commented about victorian text may work quite nicely and for me to have a play around and see. He also invited me to find him in the studio tomorrow, so we could experiment with some text. 

02/05 - 06/05 :: Week summary

★ Flicking through the pages.
★ One on one with Johnny
★ On with the text...
★ Degree show meeting - intense, scary, stressful so much to do! MUST BREATH!!

Flicking through the pages.

I was rummaging through some old note books that I had used to take notes on during lectures and I came across this random doodle.

This made me laugh, because I remember doing this early on in a lecture at the start of my third year. I just think it funny how I hadn't start my FMP or had only just started my FMP, and I was already doodling wings and daydreaming of fairies. Now I'll be happy not to see another fairy or set of wings for a while.

Easter's been and gone ... off to uni I go ...

Well back at uni and in full swing.

Had a work in progress meeting which I was just dreading, mainly because I had gone back to the original way of working, with paint instead of the transfer process. However the work in progress went surprisingly well, with understanding why I had gone back to the paintings, I received good feedback and tips on how to take it further...

 I was recommended in during this work in progress as an off shoot and for maybe some inspiration, to watch Alfred's Hitchcock's 'Birds' (1963). Known for being creepy and little scary I was slightly put off because I don't deal well with anything that's a creepy or scary. However I did take myself off to purchose the film, to find it HMV had sold out. - I am now considering trying to find some you tube clips, but I will I get it not watching it all the way through?

25/04 - 01/05 :: Week summary

★ Easters been and gone... off to uni I go...

Gigs, gigs and more gigs ..

I wanted to share with you my new found love for live gigs, especially but Marches Court and Vault of Eagles.
They are both local bands form back home.

I recently witnessed Marches Court's first gig at the Cock and Magpie in Bewdley, which happens to be owned by the girlfriend of Dave, the lead singer from Naked Remedy!
Ben Green the lead singer from Marches Court has got a great voice, and once the band has a full drum kit I believe there will be know stopping them! Check them out on there website: Marches Court.
Also check out the lead singer in facebook by clicking on his name above and watch out for more gigs, they are well worth a listen, especially if your into bluesy/soft rock music. :)

This weekend my friend 'Mrs Brand' (because she loves Russell Brand), got us involved in a mini roadtrip to Malaven with the Vault of Eagles. I had never met or seen the Vault of Eagles live, only experienced them via their website (click here)  ! This band blowed the bar away at The Great Malven  Hotel on Saturday night and was so happy to have witnessed it! The members of the band are: Mari - lead guitarist and vocalist, Hetty - base guitarist and backing vocals and Scott - drums!
I got talking to all the members and they were all really nice, quirky in there own way and they love what they do ! :)  Scott and I  got talking about tattoos, he found out about me learning the art of tattooing and he showed me an old tattoo he wants made bigger - so watch this space hopefully I'll be tattooing the Vault of Eagles drummer this summer! :)

Being surrounded by other creative souls, really give me the buzz and love of loving something. I get asked a lot if I get nervous when I'm tattooing someone, I always answer the same, 'the first time I was because I was like 'Bloody hell, I'm acting tattooing someones skin" (That someone being my mother) but no I don't get nervous, because it's what I do. I couldn't even tell you the first time I drew something, because I've been doing it for the that long.
Scott was the same he constantly gets asked if he gets nervous before he goes on stage, and his answers always the same. 'Know it's what I do, there's nothing to be nervous about, it\s a great buzz.'

I do have a love music and live gigs are the best. I find they always give me a buzz and gets my creative juices flowing, even though I don't have a musical bone in my body and my musical knowledge is pretty lame. Listening and enjoying is enough for me to be inspired to create the way I create.

Now look at those paintings...

After my relief of deciding to go back to my painted illustrations, I soon got back into my painting stride and I created these:

 

Not only do I enjoying creating these kind of illustrations way more than the 'transferred onto skin', it allows me to capture the colourfulness of The Demon Girl book. 

The 'transferred onto skin' illustrations were created in a way you would not normally see illustrations created, however the fact that the process to creating those illustrations was different, it was this that I liked the most about those illustrations. One of my tutors said that she wanted to see, better photography ie with a better camera, but I did take them with a digital camera. The slight blur and patchy-ness of the illustrations was purely from the way the carbon paper transferred onto skin and there is nothing you can do about it, and I think this played a major element in those illustrations - it's not like you are tattooing over the carbon transfer to make the illustration extra special - the transfer is just a transfer.

After much frustration... there is a break through! (Thank god for college friends)

After weeks of frustration, and being disheartened with my FMP.  A sign of inspiration came through in the form of two old friends in the pub.

While being back home over the Easter break I met up with to old college friends at one of my favorite pubs back home.  They are also studying BA (hons) Illustration at Birmingham Uni, we were discussing our FMP's and I was telling them about how my tutors felt that my painting wasn't the way to go and that I should use a different process, and to say they were shocked was an understatement "You've been painting forever, what do they mean they have never seen you paint? Just because they don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist".

I actually showed them my painted Illustrations which I did at the start of the project, followed by my 'transferred onto skin' illustrations. They were much more impressed with the painted illustrations than the 'transferred onto skin' illustrations.
There and then I decided to go back to my painted illustrations, I've always felt that they have captured The Demon Girl book far better. I would rather stay to what I feel is true to the book, and do what I enjoy doing for my final weeks at uni.

Lets get painting ...

18/04 24/04 - Week Summary.

★ After much frustration... there is a break through! (Thank go for college friends)
★ Now look at those paintings ...
★ Gigs, gigs and more gigs ...
★ Plan of action:

Cancellation of Ink.... Plus a little Naked Remedy!

Well my tattoo has been canceled due to my tattooist car breaking down, and him not being able to get his studio! Which I am totally gutted about but what can you do, it will just have to wait.

On the plus side I went to a Naked Remedy gig. Naked Remedy are a local band in my home town, the band is made up of Tom and Nave on guitar and Dave on lead vocal's and drums. Click the link below if you want a feel of Naked Remedy.

 naked remedy - live recording

They are best heard live and in person, so check out their website for more gig and band info :)

naked remedy website


I have not seen a live band for over a year, and I loved it. It really gives you a true feel for the music and there is now for the band/musicians to hide when their on stage; so you know when you see a live band play what your getting is truly them. OK maybe not all the time, and there are many tricks and exceptions to this rule, but surely you get where I'm coming from so lets not get technical about it all.
Hearing live music definitely puts me in a good mood and gets my creativeness flowing. Which hopefully inspires me to create something amazing, from a random drawing , to that painting I've been trying to get onto canvas, to designing a tattoo. Being around creativeness, whatever that creativeness might be, really inspires my own creativeness.

On going addiction ... More ink please!!

Getting my sugar skull started tomorrow - being tattooed by Robert Bowers!

I can not wait!!