When I received my third feedback, I looked at the suggestions and questions to reflect on my practice.
Below are some considerations and answers to questions arising from the feedback.
When I draw quick sketches of people during my commute, does it impact what I choose to draw, or do I just draw what is there? Can this prevent me from broadening the range of subject?
I have noticed that I tend to draw the same things as I draw mainly on the platform, and it ends up being a bit repetitive. As a result, I have felt less motivated and have sketched less while commuting recently. However, it is probably worth sustaining the practice provided I make sure that I have other opportunities to sketch as it is still a good way to observe. I should probably try pause in different parts of the station (mainly London Bridge) and do a quick sketch before proceeding to the platform.
When drawing from photos, am I influenced by the focus of the photo?
I tend to have two different approaches. I sometimes start with a point of interest and expand the sketch as I go along. I like this approach as I often discover interesting compositions. Other times, I crop the image to draw a composition I like. I am also more and more selective regarding elements I want to keep in my drawing. I do not have to include a sign that I do not like for instance.
When I created backgrounds in the previous section of my project, I now realise that I have not experimented so much with cropping to play with compositions once the background was created. This is something I could look at when I put everything together at the end of this project.
In this part of the course, I have mainly concentrated on everyday sketching and developing characters.
Everyday sketching
(www.catherinerouxillustrationdegree.uk/illustration-year-3/project-1-sketching/everyday-sketching-update-feedback-point-4/)
After the enthusiasm of the beginning, it has sometimes been a bit more difficult to keep my daily practice, but I have still sketched most days. I suppose that I am at that stage where I do not see regular progress. It does not mean that I am not making any, but it is not really apparent. In a sense, it might be a bit like learning a different language. The idea is to practice regularly for a certain length of time to see some results.
As mentioned in another part of the log (see link above), I have started doing life drawing classes online but as suggested in my tutor’s feedback, it would be interesting to use TV programmes to draw some interesting poses and angles as well.
Coloured paper would be a good idea to explore tones, and I think that I will do that next.
Characters (www.catherinerouxillustrationdegree.uk/illustration-year-3/project-2-focus-on-specific-areas/develop-characters/)
I feel that I have learned a lot from spending time on that subject without taking anything else into consideration.
I have learned a lot from my mistakes and the challenges I have encountered. When I created illustrations in the past and reflected on the outcome, I considered all aspects (composition, colours, concept,…). As a result, I might not have identified so clearly the difficulties I had met to make my characters stand out.
One challenge was the time it can take to find the right references, practice how to draw with accuracy human poses,… I realise that the best answer to this is to keep sketching regularly. It means that I will find it easier to draw various things but also that I will have more references at my disposal when I need them. This works well with my other project that consists in sketching every day.
I think that the research I have carried out will help me in the future to keep creating better characters as I have taken the time to focus on principles I was not completely confident with.
Timing
I tend to spend more time that I intend to on the different sections of the project. This means that I am a bit behind in terms of what I had planned. I have to either be more strict and follow the timing I had decided at the beginning, or reconsider why I spend more time on part of a project. It could mean that I need to readjust my original plan.
Steps forward
The next steps will be to focus on 3 main elements.
I will carry on sketching every day. At that stage, I want to focus on human anatomy and watercolour sketches. I also intend to research artists and techniques.
I will move on to the next section about colours, tones and contrast for my second project.
I will also explore potential subjects for the dissertation.
I would also like to spend more time on developing a timeline and a glossary.
Catherine Roux Degree in Illustration 