Part 1: Research Point- Who's Out There, What Are They Doing?

For this first research task we were to look at what illustrators were out there and what types of work are they doing? I picked out several of my favourite current illustrators, a few older ones and some that are new to me. I follow a lot of illustrators on Instagram and am privileged to be part of a great group of illustrators on Patreon. I didn't just want to cover artists I am friends with but also look at in depth artists from books and other websites. The illustrators I chose are mostly independent artists as this is the career path I am currently on and want to pursue. I included some book illustrators as well because the look and feel of their illustrations speak to me as well in terms of the feelings they evoke in me as a viewer and the style that they work in has characteristics that I resonate with.

Katnipp Illustrations Ltd

As you can see from my sketchbook pages I have made many notes on why I chose Katnipp Illustrations/ Catherine Kay. Kay's work is a true inspiration to me in many ways from her colour choices, style and themes of illustrations to the purposes of her drawings too. 

Leigh Ellexson

Similar to Catherine Kay, I chose Leigh Ellexson because she is another independent artist who I admire and her work mirrors themes that I love, including colour choices, mixed media and a variety of ways she uses her work interests me also.

Apple Cheeks - Voice

Tiffany Tan is another independent artist I follow online who recently did this interview with Mossery, discussing the struggles in her life and how her art has given her a voice to speak out about what is important to her. This resonated with me and I wanted to include it in my research because I feel that for me as an introvert, art is definitely how I communicate the most to the world and drawing or painting gives me the opportunity to express myself in ways I couldn't with words. I also think that art can be used to change the world, to influence it and make it a better place. This is a topic that is very important to me and I would like to delve into this further.

Joy LaForme

Joy LaForme is an artist I came across a while ago when I was looking for artists who specialise in Folk Art style. I really like her delicate illustrations, colours and textures. These are techniques I like to include in my own work.

Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter, a well known, well loved author and illustrator has been a big influence on my work for many years. 

Raymond Briggs

Raymond Briggs, another long time influence and inspiration. The softness and warmth in his illustrations and the depth of story communicated is something I truly aspire to.

Forum discussions:

On the OCA Student led Discord forums I discussed other types of illustrators that they found inspiring. Beatrice Blue and artists on the AOI website were mentioned. It's interesting to see how fellow students are inspired by different artists. It was good to talk about this and see our differences.

Connections:

This research task was both interesting and challenging to me in that I really dug into why certain illustrators inspired me, what exactly they were doing and how that related to my own work. At times I found myself getting confused as I was looking at all these illustrators and my own voice was getting muddled in my mind. I took breaks from the task to help with that and came back to it which worked well as I noticed different things which led me to realise what I found most inspiring and why.

Stepping back from this task now, a little while on from when I initially started this, I realise that a lot of these artists show up in my own work in small ways, I see a bit of a comic style appearing in some of my personal illustrations by the use of bold lines and simple details, its also got me thinking about doing illustrations for causes I am passionate about. Recently an artist friend was a victim of the South African rioting and her art studio and parents business was cleared out. My friends and I have started a fund raising page and I am looking to do an illustrated sticker to try to raise some more. Researching what I might draw has been interesting and is growing my skills.

As I am wrapping up this research exercise I have noticed a occurring theme that is interesting to me, which is how art can influence the world in a more positive way and how it gives a voice to those who either cannot speak for themselves or who find it very difficult. This is something I would like to explore further.

References:

Kay, C., 2021. Instagram. [online] Instagram.com. Available at: <https://www.instagram.com/katnippstudios/> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

Ellexson, L., 2021. Instagram. [online] Instagram.com. Available at: <https://www.instagram.com/leighellexson/> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

Tan, T., 2021. Instagram. [online] Instagram.com. Available at: <https://www.instagram.com/apple.cheeks/> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

Laforme, J., 2021. Instagram. [online] Instagram.com. Available at: <https://www.instagram.com/joylaforme/> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

Laforme, J., n.d. Folk art fusion Learn to draw and paint charming American folk art with a colorful, modern twist.

Potter, B., Linder, E., Linder, L. and Moore, A., 1972. The art of Beatrix Potter. London: F. Warne.

Briggs, R., n.d. The Snowman.

Briggs, R., n.d. The bear.

Youtube.com. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsAxmLQ3K7g> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

Part 1: Research Point - Reflect on Your Illustrations

Reflecting on my own illustrations from both the course so far and my personal work I have discovered there are several key elements that occur often in my work;

• Using my imagination
• Creating a story or narrative
• Mood/Atmosphere
• Colours
• Humor/cartoony style
• Nature - Animals, flowers, trees
• Subtle texture/simple backgrounds
• Looking closer at what's around me and capturing it in my own way

'Paper Rose'

Throughout my personal work over the years I have developed a colour palette that I love to use in most of my work, I have tried to apply this where possible in my coursework as well. Vintage colours, pastels, soft and with more grey undertones really draw me in. These colours are comforting, nostalgic, happy, soothing, and just feel 'me'. The colours I use in my work are very important to me, for example I drew this paper rose for a prompt of the word 'paper' and really love how it turned out. I know if I had used colours that I am not so keen on such as red or purple, I would not love it at all, to the point I probably wouldn't even pick it out as part of my 'voice'.

'Lullaby'

Acrylic mixed media abstract painting on birch plywood panel.

'Under the Sea'

Acrylic mixed media abstract painting on birch plywood panel.

'Call of the Ocean'

Acrylic mixed media abstract painting on birch plywood panel.

'Sweet Dreams'

Acrylic mixed media abstract painting on deep edge canvas.

'Serenity Mountains'

Acrylic mixed media impressionist painting on deep edge canvas.

'Stag in the Snow'

Acrylic mixed media impressionist painting on canvas.

I use colour a lot for my abstract and impressionist work. Using acrylic paints and other mediums, I love expressing myself on the canvas with different brush strokes, splatters and drips. These have become commonly used techniques in my personal practice. The splatters have also appeared in my illustration work where I use them for adding a bit of texture to my simple backgrounds.

'Blue Daisies'

Digital illustration.

'Sunflowers'

Digital illustration.

'Retro Christmas Tree'

Digital illustration.

'Blush Foxgloves'

Digital illustration.

'Prickly

Digital illustration.

Many of my illustrations and some of my paintings I then turn into products such as greeting cards, stickers, art prints, bookmarks etc.

I've noticed that simple backgrounds are calming to me, I don't enjoy busy patterns they feel like clutter in my mind and create an uneasy feeling inside me. So when I illustrate I keep my backgrounds very simple and clean looking. This puts the focus on my main drawing, which I prefer.

My personal illustrations tend to be focused on nature; animals, flowers, trees. I really enjoy drawing these. I love to have beautiful flowers in my garden and in my home, they lift my spirits and bring me happiness. Again I choose pinks, yellows, white, peaches, lilacs for my flowers just like in my artwork. I love to watch the birds in my garden and visit the Zoo to see all different kinds of animals. Scenery is also so inspiring to me, mostly countryside and the mountains. There is something about these scenes that fill me with energy and refresh my soul.

'Detective cover illustration work'

Working on more narrative based projects in Illustration Key Steps 1, I found myself really enjoying creating a moodboard and cover design for the detective exercise. Although the colours are totally not my colour palette, there was something about finding moody, dark, atmospheric photos to put together a 'feeling' and to then translate that in my illustration. I loved using the silloutte for my approach and giving hints of the smoke from his cigarette, it all added to the dark, mystery feeling. My tutor at the time suggested even adding in some light for the end of the cigarette which I thought was a great idea. I think the use of imagination in this exercise is what really excited me and putting it all together in a final illustration seeing it come together was really enjoyable. The siloutte style of illustration reminds me of a favourite illustrator from my own childhood Jan Pienkowski and was something I was keen to try myself.

Jan Pienkowski

Janpienkowski.com. 2021. Jan Pienkowski - Paper Cut Story Books. [online] Available at: <http://www.janpienkowski.com/books/papercut/index.htm> [Accessed 19 July 2021].}

'Letter'

'Narrative Market Sketches'

I felt a similar excitement when I wrote the letter for the imaginary friend and the imaginary narratives for my market characters in the Sketchbooks unit. There was something about making up what they might be thinking or saying that really got me excited and I had a lot of fun with those. Writing the letter was also great as I was able to relay my own thoughts into an imaginary letter.

'The Adventures of Snuggle Bunny'

Niki Jackson

Writing and illustrating children's books isn't something I see myself doing for my career but I know the narrative side of the exercises we've tackled so far has been a lot of fun for me. I have written and illustrated my own children's book before, which was an interesting experience. I'm not sure I want to do it again but I am curious where the narrative side can take me.

'Butt Man'

'Bulb Boy'

In my market sketches and in the paradelia exercise I found humor popping up in my work, this isn't something new as I have touched on this in previous personal work when I used to paint whimsical characters. Again this is something I would like to explore further and see where it could go.

I really enjoy illustrating nature in my personal work both digitally and traditionally. That is my main work right now along with the abstract paintings. I'm at a point where I'd like my coursework to marry up with my personal work and I am hoping this degree will help me to discover more about my personal voice, especially when it comes to meaning and purpose.

When researching contemporary illustrators I talked a lot about those that use their illustrations for causes such as social justice and making a stand on things they strongly believe in. I think this is a really great way to use illustration skills as well as drawing things that bring you joy. I haven't yet found my 'message' yet but I will continue to keep exploring to find it.

Since starting this degree I have developed my digital drawing skills, which is something I had not done before, I really enjoy using my iPad and Procreate to sketch and my illustrations quite often turn into products that I sell on my website, such as greeting cards and other stationery items. I would like to continue to learn more in this area and learn how to illustrate in Photoshop on a large drawing tablet which I recently was given as a gift. I'm keen to learn how to use it effectiviely to enahnce my process and add to my exisiting digital skills.

Using traditional media such as pencils, paints and pens is something I also love and want to continue to do. Mixing media is fun for me and I like the effects you can get. I have quite a range of art supplies and throughout this course would like to continue experimenting with them.

Overall I feel my personal voice is emerging in the ways mentioned above but I would like to dig deeper and discover more of a purpose and meaning that I can articulate to others and understand for myself also. I know I'd like to continue painting and illustrating my own work to sell on my website and at events but I feel there is more to discover in my career and I am looking forward to unearthing it.

Lastly, to add to my unearthing of my personal voice I decided to ask my customers how they feel about my artwork and what it says to them to see how I am currently visually communicating to them and this is the feedback I received:

Part 1: Research Point - Visual Language

 For this research task we are to share our visual diaries, whether that be physical ones or digital or anyway we collect imagery that inspires our work and what that tells us.

There are many ways that I collect inspiring imagery; I love to stick artwork and sayings on my studio walls, which I update when I feel I need a change;

Artwork by Katie Jobling, Leigh Ellexson, LovelyLynn, Happy Cutie Studio.

I keep patterns from envelopes that catch my eye like this spotty one I received for my birthday. I used it to decorate a coffee jar to hold my pencils:

Occasionally I pin images on Pinterest when I am trying to come up with some ideas for a project:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/nikijacksonart/environment-art-inspiration/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/nikijacksonart/painting-ideas/

Sometimes a scene in a TV programme or movie will spark my imagination like this scene from 'The Gilmore Girls'. The colours of the Inn behind and the flowers really inspired me and since then I have been working on a whole series of abstract paintings using similar colours.

Gilmore Girls. n.d. [video] Netflix.

Instagram and YouTube are more ways I collect visual imagery. It might be illustration techniques that I aspire to, or paintings that capture a certain mood that resonates with me. Here's a few of my older saves and some recent favourites;

Both by Katie Jobling

Studio Ghibli

Leigh Ellexson

More recent:

Succulent Love Story

Pin and Inko

Kaths Succs

Moon Hollow Design

Angela Pan

A lot of the time my inspiration comes from life experiences and I take mental notes when out and about and those inevitably show up in my work along the way. I also take a lot of photos on my mobile phone of things I find beautiful and want to refer back to. Dog walks offer a lot of inspiration from sunsets to pretty flowers and views over the hills.

Roses from my garden.

Deer we saw on holiday.

A stunning Hollyhock found on a dog walk.

A pretty leaf at the park.

A stunning sunset from my window.

Views of the hills on our dog walk.

Collecting visual imagery is a habit I've been using for a long time, I do find it enjoyable and I will continue to do this as part of my practice. The types of imagery I am drawn to match up with my personal and degree work. Common themes such as nature, succulents and cacti, flowers, landscapes, colours. All things that I have referred to on the previous research tasks are themes that I continue to enjoy. What I love about art and illustration is the fact you can take a common theme and interpret it through your art in a way that you see it, using the techniques, colours and applications that you love, this is what makes art so individual and exciting.