Relative Promotion
Through lectures and seminars, we were introduced and encouraged to use social media to promote oneself. Creating blogs, which is a great, free way to publicise yourself without making your own website. Executed well enough, your blog can look a lot like your own website. Then sharing it around locally will slowly expand your publicity. Being ambitious however can be much more rewarding, for the internet and social media connects everyone. You can send examples of your work or links to your blog online to anyone you want, whether they read and/or like it or not is a different issue.
Facebook: You can create your own page that presents your work, people can like the page and share it on, it's a great portfolio for that area of the internet. Always worth creating a Facebook page because it has such a following. Same for Twitter, just another sort of social media.
Twitter: is used more frequently for people to follow and be updated on every little thing someone does. Twitter is a great way to link followers to other sites, like your website, blog and facebook page.
Blog: Can follow other blogs and is a great "faux" website. Not quite as professional and proof of success as your own website but it's a fantastic place to start, to be able to document your work in a clear manner is useful enough.
Linked In: It's like a professional facebook that I believe helps with finding places of work. Facebook purely for business.
Etsy: I believe is a place to actually sell your prints and work, somewhere to make money. And through that alone, you'll get publicity.
One tip that comes up often in discussions is keep your blog updated. This in turn means you're always working or always doing something productive. To accompany this, so not to get a stale of pattern of work, approach other people to offer illustrative services, and even if they don't pay or desire the input, the outside influence of story or topic can be your brief for more work. This can increase your body of work for Blog and/or portfolio.
Artist and Professional Relevant Research
Tom Gauld (born 1976), is a Scottish cartoonist and illustrator. He studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal College of Art. - (Wikipedia, Tom Gauld)
I've recently become heavily impressed and inspired by Gauld's works, so I've decided to include him in my Professional Practice research. He works for the Guardian, and has created numerous comics for it. He's also written and illustrated multiple graphic novels. His styles of humour and art effectively compliment one another; his dry sense of satirical humour is portrayed brilliantly through his minimal designs.
I'd love to almost "follow in his footsteps" and achieve similar thing in my life. Approaching papers and magazines to see if they'd take my work on. Creating graphic novels and approaching publishers. Creating and selling prints on things like Etsy. That's another thing that sets Gauld apart from others is that he does prints instead of simply digitally adding and altering colours.
tomgauld.com
I've been an avid watcher of South Park for years now, it's a massive influence to my sense of humour, (unfortunately) language, vocabulary, mannerisms, and most importantly, art style. Now of course, South Park is of a very crude, simple style created by people that couldn't actually draw, but later collected a big team of artists and animators. It's not really the art style that directly influences me, it's more the ideas and the application. For example, their depiction of an alien (Cartman gets an Anal Probe - South Park Pilot) is ruggedly simple and stereotypical. My recent story involving an alien is heavily based on their version, but their style means that the aliens stays the same in all situations, however my depiction changes mood and expression. The simple original design means more expressive moods and facial expressions and gestures.
Anyway, I've been watching the Documentary "6 Days to Air" which explores the making of South Park. It shows every stage of production, and from the title you know it only takes 6 days to air, from the writing of an episode to it showing on Comedy Central. It proves the necessity of all team members working to their highest standards all the time of production. It's very inspiring. Also the specificity of the roles in the departments is impressive - from lip syncing to storyboarding. I feel that if I could choose to be as part of the team I'd prefer to be in storyboarding and perhaps writing. I've recently been thoroughly enjoying writing and illustrating jokes and funny stories, which is another reason why I feel South Park influences me.
The beginning of South Park was the animated short "The Spirit of Christmas" that went (the equivalent then of) viral through copying and recopying VHS tapes. Their opportunities came from that, when they found out how popular it had become, they approached Comedy Central (after other stations) and it became a cult classic at light speed.
With comedy, and it shows effectively here in South Park, to make a memorable topic, theme and/or artist/creator, it needs to be original. And whether the originality comes through reiterations of things, perhaps from different perspectives or integrating twists. Parody is a great way to make comedy. In my opinion, parody really sticks and makes an impact culturally. Most comedy derives from parody, even in it's vaguest form - e.g Mrs Brown's Boys. It's not like South Park's directly discussing of real issues, but it's jokes are created from the idea of an irish family, and is based on the writer's "Mother but uneducated" (Brendan O'Carroll - Mrs Brown's Boys interview). It's like a parody of the influence, in a way. I may be wrong, but currently that's what I believe. Even the main, original characters of South Park parody either them or people they know.
Back to the Professional side of things - Matt and Trey are graduates of University of Colorado where they studied film, then went to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune. (Wikipedia - Trey Parker) It took a long time for them to reach their dream destination which was "get a 6 episode series on a station" - (one of the interviews I saw on Youtube). They were an ambitious pair but they persisted. How they ventured to stardom is actually very inspiring; I don't want to be famous like that at all, but I'd like to be impactful in my work. I feel that I have great potential and I'd like to help lead a team rather than just be a part of it. I'm aware of course that at first I'd likely need to start from the bottom; I need to prove myself with dedication, effort and skill. It starts now.
http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/South_Park_(Location)
Mini Portfolio Creations
Concertina and A5 book-style porfolios
The main thing with these, specifically the A5, "Japanese Bound" portfolio, is that it works. It's sturdy and does its job. I did the binding myself, alone, with no help from tutors or the internet, using the knowledge I'd got from previous tries of binding. I'm quite proud of it - I personally find much more enjoyment and usefulness in trial and error/diving in head first.
The portfolios and mini, cheap books I already feel that would help publicise myself. They also make for great little presents for people; I'm constantly being told to use my drawing skills for presents and I can never be bothered! I know it's terrible, I need to change...
Creative Business Card and CV Creation
http://www.pinterest.com/jakgerrish1/professional-practice-research/
I came across some really inspiring pieces of creative promotional items on Pinterest after being recommended to use it. I'll be honest, before seeing some of these examples I had no idea what a "creative cv" could look like, but there is really unlimited possibilities - it's just like making a piece of art representing you in some way. If I have enough time I'm going to work on producing or just sporting some ideas for a creative CV and/or business card.
Business Card Back and Front
I like this design. It's been a while since I accessed the Graphic Design side of my creative brain. I like minimal, appropriate design. Easy to navigate and understand, but still nice to look at. I used an existing silk screen print as the image. I don't think I'd use this exact business card but it's an idea - a showcase of my skill. As you can see, the colours all match and nothing clashes, which I think is very important for such a small promotional item.
Pricing Your Work
Group Exercise - Organise Professional Event
*note* - I didn't have much input into the group exercise, but in my own time I did do a bit of research regarding the work. Our group was to theoretically organise a booth/stall for our course for an open day. The idea was to develop postcards that showed donated Risograph prints from the Illustration students. These postcards would be novelty hand-outs I believe. My assignment for the project wasn't too important, it would be to research into places to locate the stall, I though of the Frog and Fiddle during the day, it's a lovely atmosphere but I believed a large dedicated space in the studio or in the chapel would suit much better, and then I would hypothetically look after the stall as "staff", if you will.
I believe the Risograph printing process was decided upon because it's a more uncommon printing method for our course and other students alike. The limited colour palette; red and black, would also link everyone's pieces with that theme, although their actual piece remains entirely their own, perhaps in content, completely unrelated to one another.
Other groups looked at developing a gallery, renting the place out, holding it for charity's or fund-raising, there was also research into advertising, and social media ie Facebook and Twitter.
Work Experience
Through lectures and seminars, we were introduced and encouraged to use social media to promote oneself. Creating blogs, which is a great, free way to publicise yourself without making your own website. Executed well enough, your blog can look a lot like your own website. Then sharing it around locally will slowly expand your publicity. Being ambitious however can be much more rewarding, for the internet and social media connects everyone. You can send examples of your work or links to your blog online to anyone you want, whether they read and/or like it or not is a different issue.
Facebook: You can create your own page that presents your work, people can like the page and share it on, it's a great portfolio for that area of the internet. Always worth creating a Facebook page because it has such a following. Same for Twitter, just another sort of social media.
Twitter: is used more frequently for people to follow and be updated on every little thing someone does. Twitter is a great way to link followers to other sites, like your website, blog and facebook page.
Blog: Can follow other blogs and is a great "faux" website. Not quite as professional and proof of success as your own website but it's a fantastic place to start, to be able to document your work in a clear manner is useful enough.
Linked In: It's like a professional facebook that I believe helps with finding places of work. Facebook purely for business.
Etsy: I believe is a place to actually sell your prints and work, somewhere to make money. And through that alone, you'll get publicity.
One tip that comes up often in discussions is keep your blog updated. This in turn means you're always working or always doing something productive. To accompany this, so not to get a stale of pattern of work, approach other people to offer illustrative services, and even if they don't pay or desire the input, the outside influence of story or topic can be your brief for more work. This can increase your body of work for Blog and/or portfolio.
Artist and Professional Relevant Research
Tom Gauld (born 1976), is a Scottish cartoonist and illustrator. He studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal College of Art. - (Wikipedia, Tom Gauld)
I've recently become heavily impressed and inspired by Gauld's works, so I've decided to include him in my Professional Practice research. He works for the Guardian, and has created numerous comics for it. He's also written and illustrated multiple graphic novels. His styles of humour and art effectively compliment one another; his dry sense of satirical humour is portrayed brilliantly through his minimal designs.
I'd love to almost "follow in his footsteps" and achieve similar thing in my life. Approaching papers and magazines to see if they'd take my work on. Creating graphic novels and approaching publishers. Creating and selling prints on things like Etsy. That's another thing that sets Gauld apart from others is that he does prints instead of simply digitally adding and altering colours.
South Park: Matt Stone and Trey Parker
I've been an avid watcher of South Park for years now, it's a massive influence to my sense of humour, (unfortunately) language, vocabulary, mannerisms, and most importantly, art style. Now of course, South Park is of a very crude, simple style created by people that couldn't actually draw, but later collected a big team of artists and animators. It's not really the art style that directly influences me, it's more the ideas and the application. For example, their depiction of an alien (Cartman gets an Anal Probe - South Park Pilot) is ruggedly simple and stereotypical. My recent story involving an alien is heavily based on their version, but their style means that the aliens stays the same in all situations, however my depiction changes mood and expression. The simple original design means more expressive moods and facial expressions and gestures.
Anyway, I've been watching the Documentary "6 Days to Air" which explores the making of South Park. It shows every stage of production, and from the title you know it only takes 6 days to air, from the writing of an episode to it showing on Comedy Central. It proves the necessity of all team members working to their highest standards all the time of production. It's very inspiring. Also the specificity of the roles in the departments is impressive - from lip syncing to storyboarding. I feel that if I could choose to be as part of the team I'd prefer to be in storyboarding and perhaps writing. I've recently been thoroughly enjoying writing and illustrating jokes and funny stories, which is another reason why I feel South Park influences me.
The beginning of South Park was the animated short "The Spirit of Christmas" that went (the equivalent then of) viral through copying and recopying VHS tapes. Their opportunities came from that, when they found out how popular it had become, they approached Comedy Central (after other stations) and it became a cult classic at light speed.
With comedy, and it shows effectively here in South Park, to make a memorable topic, theme and/or artist/creator, it needs to be original. And whether the originality comes through reiterations of things, perhaps from different perspectives or integrating twists. Parody is a great way to make comedy. In my opinion, parody really sticks and makes an impact culturally. Most comedy derives from parody, even in it's vaguest form - e.g Mrs Brown's Boys. It's not like South Park's directly discussing of real issues, but it's jokes are created from the idea of an irish family, and is based on the writer's "Mother but uneducated" (Brendan O'Carroll - Mrs Brown's Boys interview). It's like a parody of the influence, in a way. I may be wrong, but currently that's what I believe. Even the main, original characters of South Park parody either them or people they know.
Back to the Professional side of things - Matt and Trey are graduates of University of Colorado where they studied film, then went to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune. (Wikipedia - Trey Parker) It took a long time for them to reach their dream destination which was "get a 6 episode series on a station" - (one of the interviews I saw on Youtube). They were an ambitious pair but they persisted. How they ventured to stardom is actually very inspiring; I don't want to be famous like that at all, but I'd like to be impactful in my work. I feel that I have great potential and I'd like to help lead a team rather than just be a part of it. I'm aware of course that at first I'd likely need to start from the bottom; I need to prove myself with dedication, effort and skill. It starts now.
http://southpark.wikia.com/wiki/South_Park_(Location)
Mini Portfolio Creations
Concertina and A5 book-style porfolios
The main thing with these, specifically the A5, "Japanese Bound" portfolio, is that it works. It's sturdy and does its job. I did the binding myself, alone, with no help from tutors or the internet, using the knowledge I'd got from previous tries of binding. I'm quite proud of it - I personally find much more enjoyment and usefulness in trial and error/diving in head first.
The portfolios and mini, cheap books I already feel that would help publicise myself. They also make for great little presents for people; I'm constantly being told to use my drawing skills for presents and I can never be bothered! I know it's terrible, I need to change...
Creative Business Card and CV Creation
I came across some really inspiring pieces of creative promotional items on Pinterest after being recommended to use it. I'll be honest, before seeing some of these examples I had no idea what a "creative cv" could look like, but there is really unlimited possibilities - it's just like making a piece of art representing you in some way. If I have enough time I'm going to work on producing or just sporting some ideas for a creative CV and/or business card.
Business Card Back and Front
I like this design. It's been a while since I accessed the Graphic Design side of my creative brain. I like minimal, appropriate design. Easy to navigate and understand, but still nice to look at. I used an existing silk screen print as the image. I don't think I'd use this exact business card but it's an idea - a showcase of my skill. As you can see, the colours all match and nothing clashes, which I think is very important for such a small promotional item.
Pricing Your Work
Your value - Remember that you're Working for a client, not doing them a favour. They may try and justify a low or non-existent payment by saying it'll help with "exposure", or that "art is fun, so it doesn't need much payment". This is bollocks, as any illustrator will tell you, art is, in every stage, hard work, so don't blindly agree with this, ever. It takes developed skills, craft and brainpower to complete assignments effectively, also taking years of experience to reach this point. If it was easy, the client would do it themselves. Since they can't, recognize your value and never be afraid to put an appropriate fee on your work and your services.
It's also crucial to consider the competition and reflecting your fees upon that - that is, whether it's even worth working for a price significantly less that what is actually worth your time.
- Start Quote - The key thing to understand when pricing illustration work is that it’s not a service like painting a house or selling a widget. Illustration is all about rights and usages. What you’re trading isn’t actually your art, but the rights to reproduce it in various formats and media. As such, the more rights and usages a client wants, the more money your illustration is worth. I like to think of this as a direct correlation between eyeballs and dollars: the more eyeballs that could be potentially exposed to the work, the greater the dollar figure should be. With that in mind, the basic criteria that affect illustration pricing are:
Size and Location
Where is the work going to appear? Is it going to be on the cover of a magazine or the inside? How big will the illustration run? In order of highest fee to lowest fee, it should be:
- Full wraparound cover
- Front cover
- Back cover
- Spread
- Full page
- Half page
- Quarter page
- Spot
The same could also hold true for a website (above the fold, below the fold, full-width, etc.). - End Quote - http://businessofillustration.com/pricing-your-illustration-work/
Remember to take into account the following:
- "Dollar to Eyeball" system
- Geography - Where your work will be seen, from local to worldwide
- Time frames - From dated magazines to the entire life of a book, or perpetuity
- Exclusivity - Can I resell the print or are all rights to the client?
- Black and White vs Colour and level of detail
- Number of Copies
- Additional Rights - the right to use the design on other publications/areas of initial publication eg. using the same illustration in end papers or somewhere else, used on promotional items etc.
- Work for Hire - this can mean that all the rights of the piece is theirs, all copyrights and sometimes even your original artwork for the piece. Your name may not even be associated with the piece. In this circumstance your fee must be considerably higher.
- Size of client - from little locals to massive corporations
- Location of Client - America seems to have a much healthier budget for illustrations
- Man-hours - Keep in mind also non art related tasks like responding to emails, attending meetings, looking for reference and getting materials. Work out the fees beforehand to make sure it's worth your time - Are you at least getting minimum wage?
- Rush Fees
- Royalties
There are many more points to consider, but it's a lot to take in just yet, considering I haven't even applied these to real life yet.
(Info above obtained from " http://businessofillustration.com/pricing-your-illustration-work/ ")
- Also consider the client's standards fees and determine the quality of work in reflection to what they can afford
Group Exercise - Organise Professional Event
*note* - I didn't have much input into the group exercise, but in my own time I did do a bit of research regarding the work. Our group was to theoretically organise a booth/stall for our course for an open day. The idea was to develop postcards that showed donated Risograph prints from the Illustration students. These postcards would be novelty hand-outs I believe. My assignment for the project wasn't too important, it would be to research into places to locate the stall, I though of the Frog and Fiddle during the day, it's a lovely atmosphere but I believed a large dedicated space in the studio or in the chapel would suit much better, and then I would hypothetically look after the stall as "staff", if you will.
I believe the Risograph printing process was decided upon because it's a more uncommon printing method for our course and other students alike. The limited colour palette; red and black, would also link everyone's pieces with that theme, although their actual piece remains entirely their own, perhaps in content, completely unrelated to one another.
Other groups looked at developing a gallery, renting the place out, holding it for charity's or fund-raising, there was also research into advertising, and social media ie Facebook and Twitter.
Work Experience
Phone calls
I actually only made phone calls to one place, the college + university that I attended work experience at. I rang the curriculum manager of the arts department, Neale Jordan-Mellersh, and asked him about a placement there and what I wanted from it. I said I'd like to observe, shadow and assist teachers and students alike. The phone call was very positive and Neale swiftly emailed me his details to then continue the arrangements online. (Below is the email conversation)
Emails
From the bottom screenshot to the top (screenshots depicted below) is the email conversation between myself and the employer of the work experience I'll be attending on the 24th March for that business week.
The first email (lowest screenshot) was sent to me after I rang the college asking about a placement. Neale, the Curriculum Manager, was very helpful and sent the email immediately after the call so I acquired his information, and could reply with my requests and paperwork.
The second email includes the pdf of the questionnaire the employer needs to fill out.
The third email is Neale confirming he'd completed the questionnaire and sent it on.
The fourth is myself requesting final confirmation of the placement for the 24th, and
the fifth email is said confirmation and my placement week's rotor.
*Update* The Work experience was successful and all paperwork filled out, and the required ones sent/emailed off.
*Update* The Work experience was successful and all paperwork filled out, and the required ones sent/emailed off.
Work Experience Report
(Type-up following)
Work Experience. - Weston College
Shadowing Teachers/Teaching Assistant
Approaching this placement, I've recently been considering teaching as a career. Specifically though for colleges and/or universities. I've chosen Weston College, the college I attended because I knew they'd love to have me back, and I wouldn't need a formal interview or references. Also being here already, I know it's a place I'd want to work at as a teacher/assistant. Great facilities, teacher and atmosphere.
I prefer the idea of teaching in colleges to school, (primary/secondary)) because college courses are much more specific and directed. The students have actually chosen their course, so their foundation knowledge and enthusiasm will be better than school children being forced to attend lessons they're not necessarily interested in. I feel that the nature of teaching children will be completely different and unrelated to teaching young adults. (I've had work experience before at a primary school and it's superbly different to teaching at college - Which is why I feel the work "Teaching" is as vague as it is specific).
12:30 - Monday.
So far I've wandered round approaching students, learning about their projects and what they need to do generally and specifically. I've given some insight, and I've apparently inspired some students to do certain things. I suggested to a girl a certain idea and she's currently doing it! Feel good to help out. I'm enjoying this and finding it much more productive and fulfilling than I expected.
Wednesday Morning.
I've already begun to feel that this work experience is a little difficult to actually "experience". I'm "technically" shadowing and observing, and often I am, but equally I end up loitering and not being of any use, so I'll go to the canteen to draw or do paperwork. When I am observing, the classes are great. The relationships between the students and teachers can be so fun to watch; looks very fulfilling to be a teacher. I'm not exactly getting to know and experience the paperwork and lesson management side of things, but I need to actually become a teacher or teaching student to experience that! I have discovered that they recently introduced new databases displaying student achievements, traits and goals, which looks very useful to help connect to the students and help them on a more professional and personal level.
Yesterday I shadowed and observed a wonderful class of level 1 and 2 Art and Design. They were animating a sequence for an E4 advert competition, working together and having a laugh. The banter between the teacher and students was rather entertaining and heart-warming, yet the work still got done. (On a side note, the tutor was a guest tutor, called upon to help with animation specifically which lets me believe that if I became a decent illustrator I could be a guest lecturer, which could bring in different incomes and also experience and exposure). I much prefer informality with teaching. I think it helps with motivation and atmosphere. BUT, as I've noticed with a larger class it's better to be capable of grabbing all their attention in a strict way when it's required. There's a balance of respect and friendship that's required for this teaching.
- Overall this has been a rewarding and enlightening experience. I have been asked to return if I can for more work experience. The curriculum manager has said teaching is an area I should definitely consider.
(Extended Report): In terms of writing up about all my emails and promoting of myself, I haven't really much considering the first place I looked into accepted me for work experience. I wanted to experience teaching (by helping and observing) because I've been on the fence with the idea, yet I'm still definitely on the fence. I don't consider it a wasted placement, because I learnt a lot about the professional side of teaching, and it is just what I expected. Hard work, of course, but rewarding and fulfilling. However, I'd much rather gain experience in the industry creating work either for a company or myself in freelance first, if I did end up in teaching. I think being a teacher definitely restricts you to the place and the people, but working in a company or in the world of Illustration as an illustrator/Graphic Designer/Graphic Illustrator would be a whole different experience. I intend to get more work experience in different fields like this later in life. It'll be fantastic research into that order of life before actually approaching it; Companies and freelancers.
In terms of my entire Professional Practice, I feel this module has had the most use to prepare me for the future. I had no idea where to start when it came to pricing my work and understanding the industry, but I've researched and had the experience that is necessary. I'm now much more confident and ready for the "real world", or at least Self-Promotion next year. Over the summer I may look into making a creative CV as well. Here I focused on a business card which you'll find above - it's not final but it's definitely a start.
From my experience through placement and research, I've come to the conclusion (currently) that I want to go into freelance and/or a company for illustration. Starting with minor freelance will help build a name and portfolio for myself, then to approach a company and gain experience there I think is a good bet, then finally, and ideally, I'd like to focus solely on freelancing, doing my own stuff along side perhaps being a regular artist for a client: like Charlie Adlard for "The Walking Dead" or Tom Gauld for "The Guardian" Newspaper. I honestly feel though, that the best way to get out there is to dive in head first and actually start making a name for myself, but it is difficult to do that right now because I still haven't settled on a certain style of work, and I'm not 100% confident in my abilities - saying that though, I'm sure there aren't many artists that actually 100% like their art or style. This is something I need to focus on now, the "style" that I'll do the majority of my work in. I understand that the term "style" can be a bit taboo in the industry of illustration, but I don't know how else to explain what I mean. Everyone's work I look at has a recurring, majority theme and style so there must be some value to that term when talking about one's work. From the writing of a story to the brush stroke of a painting. I may have a style, and just can't see it. Or maybe what I want is to just be confident in my ability, to improve to a point I can appreciate. Perhaps that's what I should focus on, and the style would naturally follow... I'm not sure.
What I am sure about though is that I feel this module has gone quite well. I didn't attend some lectures unfortunately, a couple times I had too much other coursework to do (that had deadlines that day or week) and another was because I was at work experience in Weston-super-mare. Regardless, the teachers have been there for the help I needed.
There are a lot of things I'm still unsure about, but that's a lack of experience. I need to get out there and start making a name for myself. I'll start by creating my online Portfolio blog which I've been meaning to do when I got the chance. Come the summer I'll start that, and I've lots to put on it now, and along side that I'll develop real Business Cards and Creative CVs. I believe that's a module for next year anyway, so an early start shouldn't hurt.
I'm definitely looking forward to the future, my career. I've said where I would like to go, and it's up to me now to follow through with the plan.
Bibliography
Wikipedia - Tom Gauld (30/04/2014)
tomgauld.com (30/04/2014)
South Park - 6 Days to Air (Documentary)
South Park/Matt Stone and Trey Parker various interviews on Youtube (04/05/2014)
Wikipedia - Trey Parker (05/05/2014)
http://businessofillustration.com/pricing-your-illustration-work/ (05/05/2014)
South Park - 6 Days to Air (Documentary)
South Park/Matt Stone and Trey Parker various interviews on Youtube (04/05/2014)
Wikipedia - Trey Parker (05/05/2014)
http://businessofillustration.com/pricing-your-illustration-work/ (05/05/2014)
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