- Photoshop: I'm so much more competent than wen I started. At first I could only use the clone tool and basic functions like cropping but now I can produce illustrations that I'm happier with that use photoshop for everything except the initial line work.
- To use thumbs all the time: I've learned how useful they are and how they can quickly help me work out composition and to help me plan what to actually draw.
- To not immediately settle on the first idea: While I may often return to my first idea I've found by generating a few more I can find better ones or improve my initial one by merging some of the new ideas.
- To not limit how I work: I've learnt that having different methods of working opens up the possibilities of how to do an illustration, which is particularly good as different methods can convey different meanings.
- That line quality is important: I've learnt this simple rule and it does show in an illustration when you've payed attention to the line quality.
5 Things I want to know more about:
- Photoshop: while I have learned a lot more than I knew I'd like to know more ( but that's more about practice)
- Narrative: I want to know more about how to show narrative without text.
- How to make a good book: I'm really interested n children's books and I'd like to do some more work on books.
- Composition: I'm still not great at composition and I'd like to know more about what I can do to improve it.
- Backgrounds: I'm terrible at backgrounds and I'd like to know more about what I can do to improve upon them.
5 Strengths:
- Characters: I think that my characters are a strength as they're what enjoy doing most so I've put quite a bit of work into them.
- Colours: I think I'm quite good at choosing what colours go well together though they do just tend to be based on what colours I like at the time.
- Dip pen: I think that the way I draw works well with dip pen.
- Shading: I think that the way I pay attention to the shading in a drawing really improves them.
- Line drawings: I think that I'm pretty good at doing the line work in my work but need to improve upon turning a drawing that'd be in a older children's book into a finished illustration.
5 things I want to improve:
- watercolours: I really love the colour and texture that watercolours create but I'm not any good with them myself.
- narrative: I'd love to create narrative but I don't think I've got it yet.
- backgrounds: I don't think I put enough attention into the backgrounds of my illustrations and I think that if I could improve those, it'd help to make my drawing look more finished and professional.
- Photoshop: I think I am improving but I need to learn textures and work more with odours and brushes.
- Finishing my illustrations: My idea of a finished illustration isn't good enough and I want to make mine more professional.
5 images that demonstrate my interest in illustration:
Personal work, Emma Bailey
Noisy alphabet, Tom Gauld
Personal work, Chuck Groenink
Memories of Japan, Tsuzen Nakajima
Stephanie Graegin
