NCI502: Work based

learning 2 evaluation

For this project we were to produce both a book filled with our own artwork to be published professionally and an illustration based on whatever we have chosen for a competition entry.

When I first began this project I researched both local and international animation/illustration companies where I could offer my skills and ideas to. Within the UK I was able to locate the British Film Guild based in London where artists can produce concept art based on the description they’ve been given and the ToonHound company where one can publish their own comics along with the collection of other well-known ideas over the years such as Parsley the Lion and The rainbow orchard.

Professor broom office watercolur concept by stephen scott

Apart from them I also checked the more famous companies who have produced hundreds of ideas throughout the years such as Walt Disney pictures, Warner brothers, Marvel comics and Dark Horse comics. It is thanks to these companies that we have the cartoons and characters that we all love today for example there are Avengers, Looney Tunes, Hellboy and the Lion King. Out of both of the competitions I chose DerwentArt since I preferred Illustration over animation due to the amount of time it would take to animate a character.

As for my Book I have gathered together both former project and personal work to display which areas in art I am good at, along with showing the evolution of how far I have come over the years. Originally my book was 137 pages filled with loads of personal childhood sketches accompanied with scripts and prototype storyboards that showed the transformation of my development however I regret to say that since it was far too much for my book I had it reduced from 75 to 40 to eventually 24 pages. I had to remove the explanations for each piece since they took up most of the book but I was able to add my intro summary and what the meaning of my book is. Throughout the book I added my watercolour sketches, personal character boards, digitally produced characters, my African adventure storyboard, my ghost story pics and finally the three comic strips from my second volume. Sadly however even though I had everything all prepared to publish my book I ran in to a few complications with downloading the applications for InDesign and other software’s, this led me printing out a mock up version instead.

Mock up book

Then there’s the final work for the live brief where I chose to reedit two of my childhood sketches that were two dragons Shadow and Auroraus who represent light and darkness. For inspiration I looked up an artist known as Mimi Launders who produces illustrations of animals through the use of pencil sketches then balanced out through shades of bright and darkened tones. Originally I planned on using this style combined with watercolours to bring forth my newly illustrated dragons but it didn’t exactly work out the way I planned so as a backup plan I had them coloured in on Photoshop portrayed in an environment that would best suit their nature such as a treasure filled cave and flying in the sky.

Overall I have found this project both interesting and fun, I still wish however that I could have had my book professionally published.   

Here are my twice weekly report and SMART targets that i had originally meant to upload weeks earlier.

Twice weekly report

Recently over these two weeks I have decided to redesign two of my childhood sketches in a new style based on my findings in digital arts. I will reedit both my light and dark dragons Auroraus and Shadow since two both represent a specific element and in a way this also portrays the yin and the yang symbol when combined. I plan to produce two separate pieces of them on their own and a final board where the two are battling each other. Once I have sorted that out I am hoping to colour them in with watercolours and edit them a little on Photoshop to see how the results turn out.

25/4/16 SMART Target

Like I was saying in my presentation for my proposal and treatment I am planning to use a style from digital arts which I will apply to my own work and then colour in with watercolours, once I’ve finished with the concept sketch’s then I’ll produce the final versions.

2/5/16 SMART Target

By now I have had printed nearly everything out for my portfolio, all that is required is to organize it professionally along with updating my CV which I shall edit this evening. Also since I have had a set back due to not being able to have my book professionally published I shall have to print out a mock up version by Tuesday afternoon.

9/5/16 SMART Target

During this week I am planning to get my skillsets research and blog updates finished, hopefully by Wednesday I should have these assignments out the way by the afternoon.

Whereas for my final piece I am hoping with the amount of time that I have I will have my sketches coloured in scanned and edited before Friday afternoon.

13/5/16 SMART Target

So overall i have been able to complete my book and final work throughout this week, all that's really just left to do is organise my portfolio and finish off a few written statements such as my blog and evaluations hopefully i should have these completed over the weekend.