This exercise ask of me to go back though everything I’ve done, reflected upon, my feedback from my tutor and to think about what I think about this.
(Above) in my course sketchbook I wrote notes as I went over everything to date.
For my first task I looked at the words and found myself not putting a single skull next to any of the words, so while I enjoy most things I will need to work out what aspect is most important to me.
I thought about just listing everything and my thoughts, but everything I want to say now is almost a statement, it is the conclusions of thoughts and feelings that has been growing since I started this unit as I’ve already had a lot of thought though out this unit, I feel I’ve made a deeper and more meaningful connection with my work and this is the message I want to continue. I want to use my voice.
At some point though out this unit I had developed a sense of purpose with my inner narrative, it stopped being about making my illustrations look good but about what the meaning/what I’m trying to say.
By these kind of statements is is clear I am on the route of “Narrative, Message, Expressive, imaginative and meaning“.
The statements I said at first seems still very much true, but one line by Sarah Davies not stands out the most “It’s like a friend that I can blurt everything out to”.
Due to the level of growth and both the limitation I’ve faced due to Covid-19 and continuing lock downs there is a lot I want to revisit, but I will not let this unit coming to an end means I cannot do it. In my own time and for my own growth I can revisit moments in the exercise though out my life and in the freedom of locations.
So I do not see sketchbook as a unit that will end when I complete this section but something lifelong that can continue in my degree, my personal sketchbook and my professional career. I want to use my illustration to express myself, my inner thoughts and demons, both to help others and myself heal. Then I have countless stories I want to give life to in the form of my art, these stories from the young child me to the adult I am today.
As for process/materials it depends how I feel.
Still very much a mixed media and I go where I feel is right for the piece, I have no reason to limit the way I now can express myself.
(But I still like watercolour/Gouache plus digital as my first go-to)
This unit has been a personal growth for me, I find it hard to just list things as each moment / each exercise / assignment has a story now attached to it. For a person that actually likes listing things/tick boxes it does not really sum up where I am at this point.
It’s like I’ve discovered my voice, how do I now use it, where do I want to take it.
I started this degree, to be more professional, learn new skills, push myself and get an education.
I thought all this was what held me back, but realisation a huge chuck is that I wasn’t sharing myself in my art, it was a secret I knew and this kept other from connecting with my work. Do not get me wrong I still need to build upon all the skillsets, but something that was missing from me has now been found.
I also would need to work out how to better express this in clients work as well as my own.
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 