Illustration
Part 2 of my photos from the MICA thesis show. It was really super inspiring.
I didn’t write down everyones information so some of these artists are a mystery to me. If anyone knows, feel free to add the information!
Tagged: Part 1 of my photos from the MICA thesis show. It was really super inspiring.
I didn’t write down everyones information so some of these artists are a mystery to me. If anyone knows, feel free to add the information!
Here’s the collaborated board game! We had about two weeks to work on it.
The basic principle of the game is that you are competing to become the legend of Woodland High through nefarious activities.
Graphic Design: Zara Gerson
Illustrations: Phoebe Thomas, Laura Langston, and Roshny Patel
Piñata explosion, I think I am finally done with you. Until critique tomorrow where my class will find all of the things wrong with it that I am not seeing.
Some of the prints I made for my Intro to Printmaking Course. I pretty much am terrible at it. Printmaking requires a patience that I will never possess.
Dominic Monaghan.
I altered the top one a little from my last post, because there was something wonky about his arms.
The second one illustrates his second passion, which is acting. (I think I am terribly clever and put the Lost numbers on his outfit as a pattern.)
Font is “Traveling Through”
Children’s book spread based on a chapter from the book “On the Map” by Simon Garfield. The chapter was about this really cool book “Masquerade” that came out in 1981. This folk artist, Kit, (pictured on the left) made this cool bunny sculpture and buried it. Then he created a book that was basically a treasure hunt for the bunny. It was designed for kids to solve. Sadly, some guy cheated and found the bunny. Kind of a let down.
Anatomy of a Monster map that you can cut out. The back would have this pattern, but here on the internet you can use the pattern for your background.
A Short Guide for Staying Creative (even when you really don’t feel like it, but you know you should.) Also known as “Just some tips I find useful that you may not.”
1. Have a space geared to your needs
I prefer having a clean, organized space where I know everything is. In fact, I feel unmotivated and annoyed if there is clutter, so I clean up as soon as I am done a project. Some other people are more creative in spaces where they feel they can be as messy as possible. Figure out what your creative needs are and organize your area to that.
2. Try a new medium
I usually work digitally, but in the past year I’ve sort of fallen in love with gouache. I’m still rather terrible at it, but it’s fun and different. I find when my digital work has become stale, picking up a brush (or even pastels. I love pastels. Works against me in the clean up stage, though.) rejuvenates me creatively.
3. Keep a sketchbook
When I was younger I would read this and go “eh, whatever.” But I find having a place to organize my thoughts really helped me creatively. I could jot down an idea and always come back to it. I also like the fact that anything goes with a sketchbook: One page could be a quick gouache painting and the next could be a intense pencil study.
4. Collect things that you find inspiring/interesting
I have several ways of doing this:
A. I take photographs on my phone of things I find stimulating or spark some internal response. Uh, be careful of what you take a picture of though. I’ve been yelled at. Haha. Whoops.
B. Inspiration Board: I collect business cards, fliers, and other decorated surface designs and tape them to a cardboard backing. (There’s a picture above of this.)
C. Inspiration folders on your computer. I’m terrible with sourcing, so I have to make different folders/remember to write in peoples names.
D. Use your sketchbook as a visual journal of things you like. Tape things in, quickly jot things down, sketch out stuff. Whatever works.
5. Share your artwork with others, even if they don’t like it
Having access to a community of people willing to talk about your work will help your work evolve. You’ll get feedback on both what is working and what isn’t working. And don’t be offended if someone doesn’t like your work. It’d be ridiculous to assume that everyone likes every style of art, and these people are usually more honest about your technical skills.
HOWEVER, don’t assume all criticism is constructive. There’s a difference between “I don’t like this style” and “You could work on your anatomy, there’s something odd about the way (insert body part) looks.” Have an open mind about criticism, consider the source, and judge each critique individually. Sometimes you’ll come away with something super useful, and sometimes you don’t.
Also, someone doesn’t have to be an artist to know if something about your piece isn’t working, just like you don’t have to be a chef to know if your food doesn’t taste good. Again, be a thoughtful judge about each critique.
6. Take a break!
I know sometimes I am just burnt out from art, especially at the end of a semester at school. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t constantly putting out artwork. I know I tend to freak out and go “that’s a week (or however many days) I could have been getting better!” and then mope around the house playing Skyrim. But it’s all good. Sometimes you just need to relax.
Hope you found this helpful. If not, er.. uhh. My bad.
