Crit Session Survival

It’s been ages. Briefly, I fritzed two laptops in unrelated incidents which freakily coincided with the week my main research paper was due, making for a tricky start to the academic year in September. Our first group crit session of the new academic year was with the brilliant, straight-talking Anne Howeson, (RCA). Group tutorials are a definite strength of C’well’s MA Illustration programme – at least that’s my experience with last year’s full-time students and the strong group of part-timers I’m amongst. I also had a tutorial with Janet Woolley, my professor, so along with my regular SCBWI crit group meeting, it seems like I’ve received, (and given) a lot of criticism over the past weeks. Today we had a briefing for a mid-point assessment which is around the corner, and afterwards a couple of us chatted about the post-critique haze we sometimes find ourselves in.

It’s a lot different than receiving advice in a classroom setting. An immediate difference is the often physical break before getting back to that piece or series. I live a couple of hours a way from college, so for a start there’s a lengthy period of reflection. Absorption isn’t always immediate, and so, as a starter, working with what I ‘get’ from the session is the way I’ve edged forward. At this stage, however, it’s become apparent that I need to shift gears and make some gigantic leaps in places! The year is running out and by Easter 2010, it’s all over, meaning, there is precious little time for developing anything new before the grad show.

Right now I”m re-reading notes from all my critique sessions in an effort to push my drawing towards illustration. And making another coffee.

MA Summer Show Private View

The Camberwell College of Art MA Summer Shows went off really well last week, though it’s sad to see a lot of great people leaving from Illustration and leaving a few of us part-timers kicking around the place! The work from Illustration was exciting, and as predicted, very diverse with editorial illos, children’s books, graphic novels, animation and more – something I really appreciate in this course. Group crit sessions and regular meetings meant that we all had an inkling of who was doing what, but most went an extra mile towards the end and a few suprises lay in store.

500 people came through the door in the first 15 minutes, and around 2600 through the evening. See some of my photos here and get more on ‘09 MA Illustration grads here (thanks Tom). The crowds made it a bit tricky to get photos so above are a few Illustrators except for the guy with the toast – a printmaker – who gave out an edition of ‘toast prints’ at the door.

Camberwell MA Illustration Show 2009

I’ve got the best week coming up – the last week of school (day job) before we’re out for summer, but firstly, two-thirds of my Camberwell contemporaries (those on the full-time programme) will graduate. Check out the Grad Show details here, and see who’s exhibiting from MA Illustration.

Hansel and Gretel – an illustration

This is a working colour illustration for ‘Hansel and Gretel’, based around this piece of text:

‘It was now three mornings since they had left their father’s house. They began to walk again, but they always got deeper into the forest, and if help did not come soon, they must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it. And when it had finished its song, it spread its wings and flew away before them, and they followed it until they reached a little house, on the roof of which it alighted; and when they came quite up to the little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar.’

My strangely proportioned candy and cake roof suspension of disbelief, as does the story. In an attempt to break away from the traditional Black Forest cottage look, I’ve gone a bit oversized on the roof, which inspired by the giant roof shape of the iron age round house, peculiar to Britain.

I may need to rethink the orangey gingerbread – not the easiest tone to scan, however it’s back to the drawing board for now.

Jonny Hannah’s Hot Jazz Special

One of the great aspects about being a student at Camberwell is having the opportunity to meet some of Britain’s best illustrators. Yesterday Jonny Hannah gave us an insight into the way he works, entertaining us with a wide array of examples; books and jackets, advertising and theatre work, and screenprints sold through his  business, Cakes and Ale Press. 

I first came across Hannah’s work displayed in the V&A Museum’s Illustration Awards in 2005, and subsequently purchased the book, Hot Jazz Special  (this photo shows one of the most popular spreads) which he graciously signed for me. 

Last night I did some very un-Hannah like drawings of a large Linzer biscuit. (These are little practice drawings for Hansel and Gretel, part of my MA project – anything with hearts or faintly biscuit-y/cookie-ish in nature will do….)

 

Illustrator Russell Cobb at Camberwell

Illustrator (and AOI Chairman) Russell Cobb lectured at Camberwell today, and followed up with an extensive Q&A session. He underlined the importance of sketchbooks as a tool, gave us an insightful talk on the freelancing life and treated us to a load of photos of his work and studio. A good day.

Illustrator Russell Cobb at Camberwell

Inside Cobb's Drawing Studio

Some of Cobb's sketchbook pages

Inspired by Fairytales

The basement gallery at ‘House’ which showed ‘Belonging’ by Carolyn Lefley, who was inspired by ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Belonging

Yesterday I dropped into House for an essential coffee on my way to Camberwell’s Wilson Road site for an informal meeting with some of the other new ‘part-timers’ on the MA Visual Arts (Illustration) programme. 
 

It was fortuitous to catch the last day of Carolyn Lefley’s exhibition of photographs titled ‘Belonging’, inspired by the tale of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, and the search for a home – somewhere to belong. 
 

At the moment I’m interested in exploring the way fairy tales have been told and illustrated over time, and like all good fairy tales, ‘Belonging’ is enchanting – visit Lefley’s website for a close-up look.

Dan Fone at House Gallery and Cafe

Yesterday my course reading list arrived from Camberwell College, (University of the Arts London) where I’m about to embark on an MA Visual Arts (Illustration) for the next two years… a good enough time to join in with the large online community of illustrators and designers.

Local gallery House is showing Dan Fone – currently at Camberwell (Digital Arts). Sarah, (who aspires to post an illustration per day on her blog) and I took the opportunity to drop in for a coffee and check out his exhibition. Dan is exploring the word ‘all’, and had us fill in a questionaire, which he plans to use in his digital work.

Photo: Dan in his exhibition/working studio space at ‘House’.

Posted by email from Kim’s blog (posterous)