Creative Strategy - Looking Back

What have you learned and what do you want to learn more of?

• How to do a digital screen print which I hadn't done in the past (I always stuck with analogue methods).
• I need to learn how to manage my time more effectively.
• My skills in observational drawing have improved BUT they could still be better.
• I've been a lot more accepting to trying new things and accepting briefs that might not have been to my best interest.

What mistakes have you made and how have you learned from them?

• Being too lazy at times. There's been days when I couldn't be bothered doing the tasks set (never mind personal work) resulting in me stressing when I haven't got anything done when it's close to the deadline. Next year I'm going to improve my body clock to make sure I get up at a good time every day as well as being motivated.
• Time management (similar to the point above). I started making to do lists which helped me keep on track.
• Not going out enough (I don't mean drinking). I should have explored places a lot more even if it's just in Leeds. This has been a learning curve for me meaning that next year I'm going to walk about everywhere with my sketchbook and work on my observational drawing.
• Being unsociable. I haven't really made an attempt to speak to anyone else on the course which could have helped my work improve. I should stop being judgemental and approach more people.
• Too much time on my phone. Sometimes I hate myself for being stuck to social media (as if I give a shit about what anyone else is up to). I'm going to start switching it off when I'm at college or at home doing work.

What are your strengths and how will you develop them further?

• Character design is my main strengths. I want to continue improving on this skill by being more playful and experimental outside of my sketchbook.
• Sketchbook work is another strength of mine. When I look through my sketchbooks my aims are clear and you can see how my work is developing towards my final designs. I'm going to improve on this by doing this outside of my sketchbook on larger sheets of paper (or different materials) to show my intentions more clearly.
• Screen printing which I didn't do much of this year is one of my favourite things to do. I love using acetate with chinagraph pencil which I want to develop on further. I want to work on how I can simplify my designs down to 2 colours or less.
• The tone of voice tends to be clear in my designs. I want to show this further in my work next year by analysing how my audience will view the work.

What are your weaknesses and how do you intend to address these?

• Time management. I'm going to address this issue by making time plans as well as to do lists for every week so I don't fall behind.
• Being playful. I need to get over my nerves of trying new things and make better use of the facilities in the college to improve my work.
• Observational drawing. Next year I am going to go out a lot more with my sketchbook and work on drawing landscapes and people.
• Procrastination. I spend way too much time doing things that don't matter too much (like sorting things out in my room all the time, it's already tidy.) I need to focus more on my work so I have more time to make personal work as well.

What have you enjoyed and why?

• Living in leeds has been enjoyable as I've met new people and there's so much more to do compared to Sowerby Bridge (all we have is geese).
• Making new friends has helped improve my work as they have been critical and letting a fresh mind see your work always gives you new ideas.
• Learning new techniques (in particular in screen printing) I wasn't sure how to do the digital method of printing which is a good skill to have under my sleeve. As well as how to bitmap on Photoshop to make it appear to have a different tone on the print.
• The discovery of POSCA pens. These have improved my work so much as I can focus on how to make simple drawings as well as the pens making me slow down (I tend to rush when using pencil).

What have you disliked and why?

• I've not been a fan of all of the briefs as I found them limiting. Such as 'Acts of Kindness' because it wasn't to my taste at all (made me cringe at the thought of being nice) as well as having to make it using Illustrator.
• Having to work with people I don't know. I hate this so much, I feel like I'm not confident to express my ideas and I don't like it when people talk over me or not listen to what I say.
• The short briefs. It takes me a while to get my wheels turn meaning when I'm finally getting into what has been set it's almost over making me have to rush my final work.

How does this affect your ambitions?

• I am completely aware that the things I disliked are things that I need to learn how to deal with. If I want to be a freelance illustrator then not every brief is going to be to my taste. As well as the time I have to make work as well. I need to work on my speed and stop procrastinating if I want to get where I want.

What did you want to get from your first year?

• How to work in a more professional environment surrounded by people doing the same kind of thing.
• New skills in how to create professional standard work that I can sell.
• Better social skills.

What have you discovered that you weren’t expecting?

• That so many people on this course are incredible and absolutely love what they're doing which I've found intimidating in some aspects.
• I thought it would be easier than foundation. Oh god how wrong was I??? It's such a different environment to work in, as well as not having separate working spaces where you can spread your work out.