LAUIL 603 Project Report // EVALUATION

Aims for practice this year:

Bring the experience to the audience
interact with > f o r m a t
Improve on ownership and authenticity within my work
Themes: 
Landscape, adventure, exploring, personal, memory, colour & theory, shape, texture, Layers
Improve skills in frame & composition

__________________

This module has allowed for me to return to a much needed state of play and exploration within my practice - enabling me to build my confidence and skillset across a range of interesting and diverse briefs. 
My aim at the beginning of the year was to produce a strong body of work in the hope of populating my portfolio at the end of the year with pieces I am proud of and which represent me as an illustrator. In addition and for me personally, returning to creating work after a period of illness, I was eager to see development and changes within the way I approach new briefs, whilst hopefully achieving a succinct style and tone of voice which I felt had been lacking.

By approaching a range of briefs I was able to quickly determine early on what direction and areas of my practical approach to visual communication I wanted to improve upon, in particular my use of shape, layers, frame and composition whilst also generating a sense of authenticity within my work.

The briefs I feel most successfully achieved this are:
'Crystals'
'Deserts'
'Worlds'

Most notable out of the briefs is my EDITIONS: COLOUR passion project, which had its quiet yet valuable influence over much of my work. This has been a real highlight for me as what initially began with a COP3 project, ended up forming the grounding theory which underpins my process.

One of the biggest challenges for me this year was maintaining control over my briefs. Still a little wobbly on the ground in terms of taking ownership of my work, I found it difficult to see briefs through to the end in every single instance - for fear of taking the wrong path and ending the year with a collection of work I never wanted to show. It wasn't until I began to show my peers and tutors my work, that I realised mistakes, play and experimentation with no clear direction or ideas for outcomes are fine and that this often produces some of the most insightful and personal work.

This inevitably reduced the pressure for me and let the creativity out, enjoying processes such as returning to the print room to create a texture bank which went on to play its part in 3+ of my briefs (Triptych / Worlds, Crystals, Deserts etc).

I worked on and completed 9 briefs in total (having binned around 5 across the course of the year ) and feel I really pushed myself and my practice to see what i could accomplish.
Some briefs are more successfull than others 

The most enjoyment I had with a brief was turning my physical texture bank of mono prints into desert paper-cuts. I havent working in paper cut layers for some time and not with the purpose of final imagery (I created some pieces for COP3 but they remained as a part of my sketchbook). I have always felt my paper-cut work to be lacking in some way - a little too tacky - always reminding me of those laser cut flowery grandma cards you get in Clintons. I was determined to have some fun with an aim of improving my delivery of this well developed (but often forgotten) skillset of mine.
I cant wait to explore this process further, as my key take aways from this module and year is that it is ok to play and indulge in obsessions. 

I have also achieved the impossible, and that is a succinct collection of work and practical approach revolving around my play with layer, shape, format and most importantly colour. 

Final thoughts:

• Colours for me (and my use of them in my practice) hope to spur an emotional response. It is a way I often see the world - in spectrum and twilight hazy dusk - lighting extremes. I hope to continue to develop this project and how it shapes my practice, aiming to achieve the sense of atmosphere in my work through the use of colour shape space and light - that I get through my “eye sight”.
• Aim to achieve in my practice layers of colour and texture and light play off one another to keep drawing the eye back
• This module has ended with me and my practice in a complete state of play, development and enjoyment of process. Coming full circle with a project I had initially binned in COP3 in September - and having it take precedent by the end of my degree is a true “jess” way of doing things and making things harder than they need to be - but regardless i'm glad I got myself back here and im excited where im taking it.

List of final briefs accomplished:

EDITIONS:COLOUR Passions project
CRYSTALS - research based project
SECRET 7 - Live brief
A-Z a typographical brief
DESERTS - research and papercut project
TRIPTYCH WORLDS - Mini Brief centred around composition and frame
TEXTURE BANK - a self directed brief with the purpose of building a body of textures to be used both physically and digitally in furture artwork.
WOODLAND - a return to the process of seamless pattern making to improve skillset
DUCK EWE- commissioned client Brief

Presentation Boards

Digital Sketchbook // EP3 Visual Journal

LAUIL603 Visual Research Bibliography

What? A collection of visual resources gathered, evidenced and referenced which have been key to each brief undertaken as part of this module.

Why? To provide evidence of research and the attempts made to better understand and consider the subject matter, content, and application of outcomes.

Reflection

An interesting display of my influences, research and external inspirations from the duration of the year which have impacted the direction of my practice and final collection of EP3 work. I have found research to be a key part of my approach when starting a brief as it is crucial for me to understand the full context of my concept in order to develop unique and interesting design ideas. Where possible I have gathered primary research through interviews and visits and sourced respectable secondary resources from online sources and a collection of library books.

Through the process of research, I find it really crucial to be aware of other practitioners in the industry who have created similar work or work which falls in line with the initial direction of each brief at inception. Without research, the variety of my practice could cause me to stray and lose focus, ultimately weakening the result. What began with a hatred towards Cop3 and research-based projects – wanting to dive straight in with a finalised concept, has ended with me cementing this method into my approach. More research = more development = a more considered visual outcome. 

Portrait Task

Sedgwick museum visit photos

EP3 Mini Brief: Triptych / Worlds

A brief centred around the concept of triptych framework and my interest in shapes within landscape.

LAUIL603 - Final Mega Crit Feedback

Updated Statement of Intent

EP3 "COLOUR" Brief: Munsell Colour "FM HUE" Test

EP3 Editions: 'Colour' Project - Activity and Research

Formal Test Name: The Farnsworth Munsell Colour Hue Test
Link to test: http://www.colormunki.com/game/huetest_kiosk

Test Description: Digital colour and hue sight test
Digital Print studio resource notes on the test:

This is an online version of the the original FM Hue test, 

it assess' your ability to see colour. 

Lower the score the better!!

Notes
Stumbled across this colour hue visual text uploaded to e-studio in the digital print resource when planning the stock and order forms to get my final work printed for EP3 submission.
Found here on e-studio: http://estudio.leeds-art.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=104#section-0

Aim & rationale of mini task: 

• Interested in seeing how I perform visually when it comes to colour, colour arrangement by scale and hue/shade/tone comparison. 
• Took online test to determine my own visual ability to determine the correct scale of hue and tone on the colour scale.

My Process & synergy with the Munsell Hue task:

• Effectively I use my computer screen as a back light, removing the "white" information of my layers and like a back light - the white light of the screen helps me to not only play with layer order, shape and colour etc - but also opacity, hue, saturation of layer - 
• this then influences colour, texture, colour ways and mixing (when layers overlap with one another)
• Screen therefore almost acts like a digital editable / interactive shadow box, the layers of colour created by digitally cut layered shapes and light shining through each layer to create different carefully considered arrangements and compositions.
• task synergises with how my 'layers' process above - (the creative consideration for how interaction between my layers effects colour as well as composition) - often calls for a sharp eye between colour values such as hue. 
• - I.e  To remain in control of my digital shape compositions for this module (for briefs such as colour, crystals, worlds etc) any opacity/hue/sat changes to my shape layers when playing with colour - can create new effects & colour ways created by layer order // shape overlaps in my compositions.
• Knowledge of colour learnt throughout this brief and 'COLOUR' editions // passions project goes hand in hand with visual ability to determine slight changes in colour values such as hue - like this test shows.

Test Process & Results:

1. Start of test - Jumbled hue tile position (before sorted):

      2. My first test attempt at finished arranged tiles per hue scale:



3. My Results

 4. My score compared to other average test scores by participants of similar age / gender

Compared to other age brackets:

• Me: 0
• Other ages average score: 160
• Highest score for age and gender range: 159

I GOT 0 - A PERFECT SCORE :)

0 = "Perfect Colour Acuity"

Munsen Colour Hue test research:
Info link: http://munsell.com/faqs/what-does-score-farnsworth-munsell-100-hue-test-mean/

"How Good is Your Color Vision?…  
The Farnsworth Color Vision Test Will Tell..."

Accurate color vision is essential to all aspects of color development and effective color communication 

whether you’re designing, inspecting or formulating in any industry.  

The Farnsworth Color Vision Test (also known as the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test) 

uncovers color blindness and other color vision anomalies.

Results explained:

• Superior (Good) Score - ME

About 16% of the population make 0 to 4 transpositions on the first test, or total error scores of zero to 16. This is a superior range of competence for color discrimination.

• Average (Normal) Score

About 68% of the population score between 16 and 100 on first tests. This is a normal range of competence for colour discrimination.

• Low (Weak) Score

About 16% of the population make total error scores of more than 100. The first retest may show improvement, but further retests do not significantly affect the score.

TEST 2

Completed another test via a separate website- to make sure first test attempt (noted above) and my good results werent a fluke

Munsell Hue Test 2 link: https://www.xrite.com/hue-test

• Test Start: Unsorted Hue Tiles:

• My Sorted Hue Tiles:

I GOT A TOP TEST SCORE OF 0 AGAIN!

IN MY SECOND MUNSELL COLOUR HUE TEST. ATTEMPT 

NO FLUKE :)

- This one seemed easier than my first test attempt 

and less tiles to rearrange than in test / website 1...

Thoughts / Reflection

• Not sure how accurate this version of the test is however (i trust James in the print room to know his stuff) 
• really nice to arrange colours in such a simple "tile" spectrum - tiles act like my shape layers for me (used to arranging slight differences between hues in my layers work)
• Happy to see that my score reflects the in-depth body of investigation into colour throughout this module that I have undergone- obviously I have learnt something and have a potentially pretty good eye for hue comparison?.
• I can see how my use of layers, opacity and colour in my work for this module makes the most of this comparative skill - often changing layer values in photoshop  or playing with layered media to create accurate colour spectrum and hue pieces along with playful layers.
• I think the comparison to other age / gender Munsell Hue Test results means that i'm above average?? - by getting the score of 0. 
• (results comparison page and values a little confusing - "15986720"????? when the lowest score is "99" ??)

Degree show mock ups

Crystals Papercut

Papercut layers of "crystal" arranged on a lightboard to play with shape, colour, and light. 

Precious - 3D Crystal

3D crystal process and experiments 

Seeing EDITIONS : COLOUR for the first time

Having had a few struggles with the direction of this module and forever starting, stopping and replacing briefs due to lack of confidence and commitment in my practical approach, I I have found I often complete work and then hide it away thinking it will never go anywhere. 

To me work that i feel isn't going anywhere often takes its place as a "failed" piece or idea that needs no more time spent on it, keen at that moment to move on to something completely new, different and exciting- in the hope this method/piece/direction of practice will make up for the ditched one and will be the 'one' - a method / practical approach and outcome that satisfies my passion for creativity whilst also living up to my own personal high standards.

My work therefore often gets lost in the ether of my home studio and it wasn't until one of peers at uni reminded me of some work I had shown at an an earlier mega crit in the year - that I realised there could be a ton of work I am forgetting I have made, having been of ill health.

With this in mind I put on some funky music, grabbed my boyfriend and a ton of masking tape, cleared my home studio walls and began to go through the work I have been completing (and hiding away) throughout the year. 

Aim of this task: To curate a collection of pieces I am fond of and review the boy of work I have for this module, finding and critiquing pieces I had completely forgotten about, whilst also filtering out the pieces that didn't work or necessarily fit with my creative identity from the year.

The OUTCOME

Reflection

This personal task ended up being one of the pivotal and most important moments of the year form me and potentially the whole degree course. Seeing my work displayed altogether like this enabled me to finally see for myself the links in my practical work and approach to visual communication. The use of colour - in so many bright and considered palettes comes across as a real strength in my work, whilst the use of shape and layers to create detail within each piece add the value that I have been striving for. Note to self - don't make work then hide it - how do you know where your going if you aren't in touch with where you have been???

Right > Me in my happy place - having finally discovered the link in my work after 4 years on this course and being excited about the direction of my practice!

Design Board Board Planning

To help me round off all of my work and attempt to organise myself ready for submission, I created some templates to help me per brief when populating my design/presentation boards. It is key that I show the journey of each brief, however as I have picked up and dropped a variety of briefs - my projects and direction having taken a few twists along the way - my board delivery needs to be easily understood and concisely curated.

As I design and populate my boards, I use each template as a key note sheet, jotting down anything from chosen images for each board, to where my artwork is saved, to notes on the explanation and written element of the boards for each brief. This works when doing each brief individually, I can collate all loose bits of paper, notes, artwork & development and work through this sheet along side the brief physical content. So far it has been the most valuable way I have approached board making - I hope this organisation pays off!

Aims of this task

• Storyboard visual layout of boards - my kinda working
• To become more organised
• find any gaps in submission / blog stuff
• a way to collate all notes, info and key stuff for boards
• to do my projects some justice and round them off succinctly
• using boards as a way to show my projects from start to finish, the rationale behind each, process, research, development, and of course outcomes - therefore important and key for my module submission and understanding of the briefs I have chosen

Templates: