Monthly Review: December

How am I doing generally?

Thankfully I'm feeling a lot better than I was! Recharging my batteries over Christmas has helped settle my mindset, and has made me excited to come back and work hard in the new year. I'm feeling more confident in my work too, as I have made significant progress on my 504 work, which has motivated me in all areas of practice- yay!

Who's work do I admire at the minute?

Whilst searching for references for 504, I came across some illustrator's work that really inspired me. As my topic is based on neurology, I came across Chris Madden's editorial work for The Lancet that gave me an idea on how I could make my work look less literal and more metaphorical/conceptual in relation to Oliver Sacks.

Madden's work has also increased my interest for editorial illustration; I could potentially see my work going in that direction when I graduate (if that doesn't count as wishful thinking!)

I also came discovered Ben Kirchner's work, who has done SO WELL to be commissioned by National Rail, gaining a huge amount of customer awareness to do with his work. I was mostly drawn to his beautiful illustration below, for the guardian, the colour scheme is restrictive yet superb, and has really helped me to distinguish the importance of colour within my prints, how to compliment them with each other and reinforce symbolic and metaphorical meanings.

What am I proud of?

Before the Christmas break, I managed to do a few test screens of my 504 prints, which really helped me to distinguish HOW I would create the prints, which is great peace of mind!
It allowed me to make developments in all three of my prints, and produce the final positives ready to print in the new term.

I have also finished my sting! Plan to get some feedback at the start of term to allow me to make any amendments before submission.

One thing I really struggled with was planning my time efficiently. I have started creating weekly colour coded timetables, with my time being planned backwards from the deadlines. This gives me a more accurate sense of when things need to be completed by.

Orange:504
Blue:PPP
Yellow:Responsive
Green:COP
Pink:Work
Purple:Down time

December Timetables

It was difficult to completely commit to work throughout the Christmas break due to having a part time job, and spending time with my family and friends. However, I used my lunch breaks at work to read my books for responsive which was very useful. I will continue do plan my time in this way in the new year.

What am I struggling with?

Although the timetables are helping me plan my time more efficiently, it is really difficult to pay equal attention to each module. It always seems as if one or more modules sit on the back burner whilst there is more pressure on the others. I'm pretty worried that I'm going to become quite behind with responsive, as I haven't completed my substantial brief before Christmas, but I'm sure that is something I can concentrate on fully when I have completed my work for 504 in the first few weeks of the new term.

Plan of action

• Try to complete all 504 work within the first two weeks of term, allowing myself more time to catch up with other modules
• Keep writing timetables
• Always take into consideration allowing time to socialise,relax and exercise it is important to feel good!

Life's a Pitch: Further Research

We all agreed that it would be a pragmatic option to rent out a studio space in which we can work in, which will serve the purpose of having a main base. We also agreed that Leeds would be a suitable location to base Visuwallise, as 3/4 of us are living and studying here as students as well as it being a large city with many creative links and opportunities.

Studio spaces in Leeds:

Temple Works: 
Location: Holbeck LS11 
Website: http://www.templeworksleeds.com/2012/09/10/we-have-space/
Cost per calendar month: from £100

Duke Studios:
Location: 3 Sheaf St, Leeds, LS10
Website:http://duke-studios.com/workspace#workspace-benefits-and-costs
Cost per calendar month: Co-working space- £85pm, Desk rental- from £250, Studio space- from £360 

East St Arts (Patrick Studios):

Location:St Mary's Lane LS9
Website:http://eaststreetarts.org.uk/studio/patrick-studios/
Cost per calendar month: £95-250 

I also had a look at the prices of regular offices to rent out that were in a central location at an adequate price. The only negative of this is that we will most likely have to source our own furniture at an extra cost.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-37480845.html?premiumA=true

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-54567623.html?premiumA=true

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-51370849.html?premiumA=true

Having looked at a number of office spaces to rent, the prices are considerably high in comparison to those of art studios. We have decided that renting a studio space would be the best option for us starting as a new business, but also in a creative environment which will keep the level of focus and motivation constant.


Logo Designs

For our next meeting, we all drew up some logo designs. I found this difficult as Visuwallise is very much a broad business working on a large scale, and it was hard to summarise this in a small logo.
I decided to keep the logo clean and simple with the aim of developing it if I generate any more advanced and visually interesting ideas.

Initial Mock-ups

As of yet I am unsure in what context my work would look effective, and what kind of images I am aiming to produce for which types of customer. Initially, I have produced three mock-ups using an image I have previously created using vectors that visually represents the characteristics of Leeds.

Locations:

Colours May Vary pod

 Leeds Train Station

Colours May Vary regularly change the skin on their temporary shop pod at the train station, with designs from creatives such as Krystena Baczinski and Matthew the Horse. This is a great way of promoting illustrative practice on a personal note as well as raising the profile of creativity, as hundreds and thousands of people pass through the station every week and are sure to take notice and interest in any visual stimuli.

Wall Space/

Waiting Room

This wall space isn't really in a specific context, but many waiting rooms, offices, public places like to display artwork that reflects the character of the city, for example, a lot of the time hospitals and care homes  display old photographs of their town/city to show its history and make patients/customers feel more 'at home'. My illustration could work well in a quirky or contemporary setting, or serve the function of brightening the place up, for example making a dull waiting room look more lively, or being displayed in an independent bar or coffee shop.

White Rose Shopping Centre

The White Rose centre just outside of Leeds attracts thousands of visitors per day. Having my illustration displayed on the main welcome banner would be an interesting and colourful first impression to customers, also making them feel more in touch with the characteristics of the city. 

Evaluation/Next Steps

Carrying out more specific research has made me more aware of the contexts I can apply my illustrations to, on a personal level to contribute to the working creative practice of Visuwallise. I feel like this area of research has covered the basics of our business aims and steps to progression, and with a few more group meetings and further research we will tie together our ideas and efficiently refine our business concept.
Between now and our first meeting back from the break I/we aim to:

• Research further into costings and materials
• Look into corporations that might provide us with start up loans or funding
• Develop ideas for more refined mock ups, and research specific contexts in which I can apply them to