References

 Kettenmann, A. and Kahlo, F. (1993). Frida Kahlo, 1907-1954. Köln: Benedikt Taschen.

Moore, H. and Clark, K. (1998). Henry Moore's sheep sketchbook. London: Thames & Hudson.
Solkin, D. and Faroult, G. (2009). Turner and the masters. London: Tate.

Brereton, R. (2013). Sketchbooks. London: Laurence King.

Bang, M., n.d. Picture This.


Every Day Sketching Books:

Gregory, D. (2003). Everyday matters. Hyperion New York.
Gregory, D. (2014). The Creative License. New York: Hatchette Books.
Hobbs, J. (2014). Sketch your world. London: Apple.

People Sketching Books:
Chapman, L. (2016). Sketching people. Search Press Ltd.

Sketchbook Circle

Sketchbook Circle Participation:

As part of the course we were encouraged to take part in Sketchbook circles. At the time of my working through this unit I wasn't connected well enough with other students and could only find a prompt list version which was running by OCA students on Instagram. I took part for a couple of prompts; 'Stay' and 'Paper' and here are my drawings for those prompts.

by @lovemelovemyboat

I really love how my 'Paper Rose' came out, it was really enjoyable to draw and I love the overall look of it. 

This way of working a sketchbook circle didn't really work very well for me, I didn't feel connected to the other students and it was right in the middle of lockdown so I wasn't feeling motivated to keep going with it.

Fortunately, over the Summer I connected with lots of OCA students in the Discord forums and have got to know some of them better and joined a proper Sketchbook Circle. We are all working in each other's sketchbooks on different themes for each book. We are still working through this and should finish in December.

So far I am finding it both fun and challenging. It's really interesting to be part of another students chosen theme and to put your own work in their book is both daunting but also fun. I am trying to be more experimental in my approach and use different mediums and styles with it.

I will update this page once the circle is complete in December 2020.

Part 1 - Tutor Feedback

 Overall Comments:

The first part of the course focused on getting started, and overall you have made a good start. You have fully engaged with all of the exercises and the assignment to produce a good body of work in the first part of the course. Your research has been thorough, and this has contributed to successful outcomes in the exercises. Your learning log has shown your thought processes and reflection well and it will be good to see you develop this. Your reflective vlog at the end of the submission gave me a great insight into your feelings, motivations and hopes for the course. I hope that your confidence will grow through the rest of the course, now that you are comfortably on the right track.

I really enjoyed these initial exercises to begin the course. It was important to me to think about my past relationship with my sketchbooks and what my goals were going forward. Although I have tried lot's of different types of sketchbooks I hadn't really made my own before. I really enjoyed making the sketchbooks and used prints of my own artwork for the covers. I tried a couple of different binding techniques as well, this is something that I had some interest in and was keen to try. Tutorials on YouTube helped me learn the techniques before having a go myself. They were fun to try and definitely something I would use again for future sketchbooks.

Research/Inspiration - There are several modern day artists' work that I admire, I have noted them in my learning log for Part 1 research and I hope to use those inspirations along with the course unit to spur me on to try new techniques and develop my relationship with my sketchbooks. I need to learn to have more of a process before jumping into final pieces and to be more playful and free with my approach to my drawings so I am very keen to use what I learn here to help me practice those skills for future work

Assignment 1 Feedback:

It seems that for you, this assignment was a springboard into getting more familiar with using sketchbooks and it has obviously been successful in doing so. It was good to see you trying out some new techniques and experimenting with your media. This is something that you can really develop as you go through the course. I think though that you can be bolder with line and colour and see where it takes you. Perhaps try out using different ways of using line, brush, charcoal, dry brush there are so many things to experiment with. Also experiment more with the different papers in other sketchbooks and move away from the safety net of the plain white page. 

Being experimental is challenging for me in terms of drawing. and painting as I tend to find techniques I like using and stay in that comfort zone. It was good to try some different art supplies and be more loose with mark making, giving me more freedom to new try things. It did feel awkward and frustrating at times but I hope this will be a good start to help me to not be so afraid in the future.

Add more comments and thoughts into your sketchbook, this will act as both a reminder of your feelings at the time and a way to develop your ideas further.

I will remember to do this and aim to be more thorough in my reflections and thought processes for future work.

Going Forward - I am really excited for this course unit and look forward to the different ways in which I will be challenged in my drawing and sketchbook habits. I aim to gain more techniques and push myself out of my comfort zone in order to grow.

Part 2 - Tutor Feedback

Overall Comments:

This second part of the course focused on key areas of experimental mark making, working with “mistakes” and develop a series of characters. Overall your response has been very good, and your willingness to try out different ways of working and media in the exercises is good . You are obviously keen to keep experimenting with your work. Worry less about producing ‘accurate’ images and enjoy the process and freedom of mark making. Try to expand more on thoughts and working process in your learning log, and be more thorough in your reflections.

I found this part of the course enjoyable and challenging at the same time. I discovered that I enjoyed using Micron pens for quick sketches, practiced timed drawings and contour drawings both blind and semi blind. This way of sketching freed up my process and taught me how to focus in a different way. I did find it hard to limit my lines and will practice this some more but overall the techniques were interesting and fun to do.

Visiting Henstead Gardens was a particularly positive experience and I am really pleased with how my drawings came out. This was my first experience sketching outside for the course which I didn't find too uncomfortable.

The Pareidolia exercise was a lot of fun, I enjoyed finding the faces in everyday things and this was an opportunity to be really creative and playful. 

Assignment 2 Feedback:

A very good response to the brief for your second assignment, you have channeled the work from the previous exercises into your images methodically and effectively. The extent of your character development and use of mock ups to visualise your ideas shows that you are approaching the briefs with a measured eye, which is great to see at this early point in the course. You clearly responded well to the brief, following the instructions given to produce successful images. Your learning log shows the process well and your reflective notes demonstrate that you can see scope for further investigation

I really enjoyed this assignment following on from the last exercise. Finding ways to use my marking making and sketches as backgrounds for my new characters was fun and allowed me to mix media by manipulating my work digitally to create new work. Overall I think my characters were successful and I can see that they could be developed further with additional time.

Part 3 - Tutor Feedback

 Part 3 Tutor Feedback:

I have included more of a detailed breakdown of comments for Part 3 because I felt there were a lot of suggested comments from my tutor that I wanted to address and in some cases re-visit so that I could learn from them and improve my work further.

Overall Comments:

 This part of the course focused on exploring drawing in everyday situations and developing skills of observation and documentation. Overall your response has been good, despite your struggles with drawing on location. Your research has been good throughout and you express your thoughts well in your learning log. It would be good to see you experiment more and play around with images and media more in your sketchbooks.

This is the point in the course where I started to become very challenged and completely out of my comfort zone. Drawing in public makes me very nervous, mainly because I am the type of person that does not like drawing attention to myself and because I am not confident sketching in public I don't want strangers to see my sketches or confront me as to what I am doing.

Exercise 1 Building a Tool Kit -

It’s sensible when starting out to pick items for your tool kit that you feel comfortable using, especially when you feel nervous about drawing in public. As you become more accustomed to drawing outside, you can be more adventurous. It’s a good idea to include colour and your small watercolour palettes should prove to be an asset. Maybe you could add some adventurous papers too. As you become more confident you can expand on your kit as you see fit. Headphones/earbuds are a useful addition. You don’t even have to listen to anything (and it’s good to absorb the sounds around you to soak in the atmosphere), but in my experience it does discourage interruption!

I found these tips that my tutor gave me very helpful and will use these to help me in the future.

Exercise 3.1: Understanding viewpoints 

This exercise asked you to repeat the route and record it in photographs. You clearly enjoyed gathering reference in this way and have some good photos for this task. They will provide you with colour reference that will complement your sketches well. You also made a good selection of reference videos in your research. 

Some points to consider: The photos you have selected for your sketchbook are all close ups. Try and add more variety of viewpoints from your photographic reference to your sketchbook, this will give you a better overview.

Viewpoints do seem to be a weakness of mine, I don't even realise I am doing it most of the time. I think drawing attention to myself when in public places is also at the back of my mind so I tend to go for the easiest views. This is something I will need to keep working on and hopefully improve my compositions.

Exercise 3.2: Working with external visual stimulus - people 

This exercise introduced you to observing single figures and then groups of people. I can tell from your learning log that you are really struggling with confidence in this area, but there is a marked improvement towards the end of the sketches. Figure drawing isn’t easy, except for the lucky few who find it so, but you will find a way that is comfortable for you. Don’t be so concerned about capturing ‘likeness’. 

If you look Jo Davies’ sketchbook drawings, her people are very much in her own style. Remember you’re capturing the moment when drawing people, especially groups of strangers, and only you know exactly what they looked like in the moment. So, try not to worry too much about ‘likeness’ and try and capture ‘essence’, much as it suggests in Frannerd’s tips. 

The last few pages in your blog feel more confident than the rest and your notes hint at this. Unfortunately, the only thing that will make you more confident is building your skills over time, it’s the same for everyone!

People sketching has been very challenging for me and I didn't realise just how challenging it would be. I was overly concerned with capturing likeness and found it hard to relax into the sketching. This is definitely an area I need more practice with.

I did go back and re-visit Jo Davies people sketches and have added further thoughts to this exercise.

https://nikisillustrationsketchbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/exercise-32-working-with-external.html

Exercise 3.3: Illustrative drawings 

This exercise asked you to travel your route again and interpret landmarks in your studio. You have taken elements from your sketchbook and combined and interpreted them well. It would have been good to see you being a bit more experimental with your compositions and use of media in the comfort of your own studio. 

Some points to consider: Have a look at the accuracy of perspective of the drawing of the monument.

Addition:

I have since returned to this exercise to try to explore more viewpoints and learn about composition and have completed a series of extra thumbnails to show continued learning. You can find the additions here: https://nikisillustrationsketchbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/exercise-33-illustrative-drawings.html

Research Task 3.5: visual research 

Research and respond to the work of Pam Smy. Good research, comments and reflection once more. It was good to see that you found the article so interesting. 

Some points to consider: Think of ways you can use Pam Smy’s examples on collecting visual research in your own practice.

I really enjoyed reading about Pam Smy's process of visual research in the article: 'Searching for the Green man: a sketchbook quest'. Her approach inspired me because I too love nature and could see myself going to places like allotments, sketching all the plants and trees. I also enjoyed how Smy and the author Linda Newbery spoke about their process together, discussing what the Green Man would look like and other details of the story illustrations. I found it all fascinating and would love to find more articles like this to read.

Assignment 3 Feedback:

You approached the assignment in a focussed, considered manner, collecting and collating the information you needed. It’s a shame you couldn’t have been a little braver and done some of the reference gathering in your sketchbook. Could you have found a window overlooking, or looking out onto the market? Perhaps you could invest in a large more obvious set of headphones to discourage unwelcome questions, it usually works for me. If you are nervous about drawing, start by making little notes in your sketchbook and just adding a little drawn detail next to them. And if do feel the need to concentrate on photographic reference, perhaps you could be more creative with the viewpoints. Take a few from a lower angle, crouching down and looking up or finding a higher viewpoint for an overall view.

 

Overall I really love how my market sketches came out and the final sketch for the poster design. I agree I need to work on my perspective, which I am actively working on now. Improving that would have made the sketch stronger. I feel the ink and watercolours were successful in giving the vibrant feel of the flower stall and getting the right message across. 

In terms of the visual research to get to this point, again my lack of confidence really got in the way of me collecting much in the way of variety in terms of viewpoints. The flower stall at the time was also positioned in a place where a lot of people gathered and there wasn't a lot of room to take the photos. The stall was opposite a row of shops so there wasn't a lot of room in front either. I did like the view I chose, I feel it made sense for the poster design and had I taken this further I think I would have maybe done a montage of illustrations, including some flowers on their own like the single sketch I did in my sketchbook.

There was a lot to this assignment and the supporting work for it, I certainly learnt a lot and know what I need to move forward with.

Part 4 - Tutor Feedback

 Overall Comments:

This part of the course focused on the sketchbook as a repository to instigate ideas and develop these into short sequential narratives. Overall your response has been good and well engaged with the course. You could experiment more with materials and composition, and how your images can integrate with textual narrative. Your learning log shows good reflective notes. Spend more time developing drawings from different viewpoints to create variety.

Adding in narrative with my sketches was a really enjoyable part of the course for me. I found Brandon J Wallace's film and tv scenes fascinating and when I attempted this for exercise 4.2 I realised how challenging it was for me. It took a lot of concentration but I learnt a lot about how scenes are filmed in a way to convey so much information to the viewer in terms of lighting, clothing colours, viewpoints etc. As a viewer I had never really appreciated how much goes into each scene and this exercise really opened my eyes.

It looked like you really enjoyed this exercise and the comments you added were great, adding an extra dimension, a story behind the images. The two that you re-worked both work well. It’s good that you tried a variety of placement for the text. Personally, I prefer the thought bubble for the second image. It makes her seem more isolated to me, that she’s just thinking to herself. You make an interesting and valid point though about her looking down at the words, it’s interesting how the same image can speak differently to different people. You also created a nice atmospheric image for the last part of the exercise.

I really enjoyed adding narrative to my previous sketches, thinking up what my characters were thinking and going on to use different media to create a new drawing. Narrative seems to be something I enjoy a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing how I can use it in my work going forward.

Assignment 4 Feedback:

Having decided on your structure, you could have spent more time developing your character and your compositions. With such a simple narrative, think about how you could have used more dynamic compositions to give the story more impact. If you look back at the Brandon Wallace exercise and the effect of a dynamic composition on the flow of a story you will see what I mean. If you had developed your images further at the thumbnail stage, there would have been more variety in your illustrations. As it is, all of them show Edith from the waist up and most are from the same viewpoint. Also there are only six images and not eight in your 8 point narrative. Colour-wise, the idea of starting with muted tones and adding more colour as you moved through the story was a good one. Perhaps you could have emphasised this by starting in black and white or just grey tones and working through to colour as Edith becomes happier. As for the narrative, I’m left wondering why the stranger buys her coffee. At the moment, it looks like the assistant buys the coffee, it might have been nice to have the stranger in the background of the image with their own thoughts about why they made the gesture. 

I wasn't very pleased with my foldy zine in the end, I definitely rushed it due to time constraints and that was reflected in the lack of quality and lack of development overall. Given more time I would have tried to think more about what I was trying to communicate and how I could have shown my character 'Edith' in different angles and viewpoints to enrich the illustrations. It definitely needed a lot more time and thought put into it but I did like the overall concept. 

The same areas keep popping up for me in terms of perspective, composition and viewpoints and this is something I am gradually working to improve my understanding and application of.

 

Part 5 - Tutor Feedback

 Overall Comments:

 This final part of the course asked you to reflect on your work so far and create a final sketchbook. Overall your response has been good and showed a good willingness to respond to tutor feedback and embed this into your work. You have demonstrated some experimentation with your work and you are developing ways to use both your traditional and digital skills. I feel like you are developing a good workflow and are growing in confidence with your mark-making.

Part 5 of this unit has been such an enjoyable process for me. Looking back at everything I've created and learnt and what I can work on more to improve. I particularly enjoyed creating my visual journal to show my themes and areas that I want to move forward with.

Some points to consider: Remember it’s not always possible to watch the entire video clips you have included, especially the long ones. In previous submissions you’ve added notes and videos in your learning log. When it comes to final assessment, assessor’s time is limited and there won’t be time for viewing all of these. I wouldn’t therefore rely totally on video summaries, it’s better to add notes in your learning log as well. 

I have taken this onboard and since updated and amended the videos and added notes as well. 

Exercise 5.0: Taking Stock 

You were asked to go through your completed sketchbooks and identify the positive aspects. You have taken a very through approach to this and revisited responses to earlier questions as well as commenting on the visual work. Your video was a detailed and well considered commentary on your experience of the course and was a good way to communicate your thoughts. 

You have a clear idea about what you enjoyed and what didn’t and how your responses to initial perceptions have sometimes changed. This all demonstrates good self awareness and analysis of what you have achieved during the unit. 

Some points to consider: Although you may not want to revisit some subjects or ways of working, bear in mind that it can be necessary to explore areas we find more challenging to expand our practice overall.

Following on from my tutor's feedback I have since re-visited a couple of exercises to show continued work on improving my understanding of viewpoints and composition. I still need work on this some more but have already recognised a difference by just playing around with thumbnail sketches which you can see here:

https://nikisillustrationsketchbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/exercise-33-illustrative-drawings.html

and

https://nikisillustrationsketchbooks.blogspot.com/p/assignment-5.html

You can also find a list of additions and amendments on my Assessment page here:

https://nikisillustrationsketchbooks.blogspot.com/p/learning-log-assessment-selection.html

Research Task 5.0: Visual Language 

You were asked to choose an illustrator and write a 200-word statement on their work and visual language. You have written well about Holly Wales’s work, making good observations about her style and use of media. I can see you enjoying experimenting with her bold use of colour and I hope you manage to get hold of her book for inspiration. 

I still need to get hold of this book and I'm sure when I do it'll further my inspiration for marker sketches.

Assignment 5 Feedback:

It was good to see you explore the different ways of working that you have tried through the course. Starting off with exercises to loosen you up was a good approach and showed the benefit of these early exercises on your work. You went on to try out different ways of rendering the elements you wanted to add to the keyframes, and again you did this thoughtfully and methodically. 

Having decided on your keyframes however, I think you could have spent more time working on composition and viewpoints. Although you talked about these aspects and mentioned wanting to experiment with both, all of the final keyframes are from a very similar viewpoint and perspective. It was good to see you using the technique from the making connections exercise having created your elements. 

It’s interesting that this was an exercise that you didn’t engage with to begin with but after finding your feet you’ve used it again in a successful way. As you say, these are starting points for the final illustrations, and it would be interesting to see what approach you would take if you were to develop one of these further. 

I spent a lot of time on the preparation for assignment 5, I really enjoyed this part and tried no to rush to the final frames. However I think I spent a bit too long on that process and ended up rushing the thumbnails for the frames. I am pleased with the end results but agree with my tutor that a bit more work on the compositions and viewpoints would have made them better.

I've really loved doing this unit, it has challenged me a lot but also taught me so much. Moving forward I am more aware of my weakness to work on and am glad to have found some strengths in my process also.