End Of Module Self Evaluation

I feel that during this module I have gained and developed a fair few new skills, particularly with new practices to me such as with using indesign software, and bookbinding, both things that were entirely new to me before the start of this module, and both things that I now have a basic covering in that I feel I could go on to be able to use them again, adapting them to what I am working on. I particularly enjoyed the book binding, and creating the hardcovers bound in buckram, I loved making them as precise and neat as could try to. I think however most importantly I have as a personal gain really developed my photoshop skills. Four months ago I could barley use this software at all, and I was wary of it and found it frustrating to operate, so for me to be able to produce all of my artwork for my book using it is a huge and very important progressive step for me, as photoshop is essentially the tool that can make the difference in my work from what I might produce in my sketchbook now, to that of a more professional level. 

Leading on from that, with regards to what approaches and methods of image making I have developed, using photoshop is definitely one way. I used a layered approach, usually having a line work drawing and then using tracing paper, applying any colour or texture in block forms, and then using the multiply tool and fiddling with the levels of the image to create my finalised artworks. Although overall I am a little disappointed with how my artwork turned out on the final printed book, I am still pleased to have been able to produce work this way, and I do feel that my image making had improved from the last module. This module I also had the opportunity and introduction into screen printing, however due to the nature of my images and the time constraints of the brief I did not utilise this at all, but I very much hope to in the future. Other approaches to image making that I have tried out in this module and have found to be successful is using masking tape as a medium for drawing with. It creates the most wonderful texture to images, and this is even better when you add colour, particularly when polished with photoshop. I think that this approach suits the way I work and the type of images that I like to create. One further new approach that I have developed into something that was successful and useful, was printing out letters, cutting them out and using them as a stencil. This proved a convenient alternative to more mass production methods, yet was still a much neater result than if I had only used my handwriting, the uneven quality of lettering that it produced lended very well to the aesthetic of my book too. 

A strength that I think I can identify in my work is what I would like to think, inventiveness. My book design was quite a different approach, and it turned out to work as I hoped it would as I discovered in crits, which I was very relieved and pleased to discover. I wonder if looking at the works of Nigel Peake helped me to think out the box more in this respect, as although his book formats were more conventional, they way he regards the world and chooses to display that though his images perhaps influenced me to display in a more unique and interesting way. Also to a small extent I think that I used a little bit of inventiveness with regards to my image making, such as using masking tape and tracing paper layers, both ways that suited me and benefited my finished images. One thing that I really am pleased with in regards to my work for this module, was how I went about achieving all of the work that I had to as the deadline approached, It allowed me to keep a clear head and finish everything to a schedule. 

Weakness that I can identify in my work are that the drawings, and my finished artworks used were not thoroughly considered or planned enough to suit and look good on my chosen format. I realise now after seeing the printed results that I should have been drawing and testing to that scale, using media and more delicate line quality that would have made my images more impressive, and effective on the page. I think the image quality was degraded by it being reduced down, a good example of this is the feather image. I feel in general that my artwork could have been a lot more interesting, and perhaps a little more tied together or similar to make the book that bit more impressive, I should have pushed it on further, and in the future I think it will be important for me to keep this in mind, I need to factor in more time for this with my planning. I also would have liked to have improved the layout, presentation and composition of my images as it would have been better to have shown these collections in a layout that reflected the obsessive way in which they exist together, are gathered and kept, as opposed to how I seemed to display them which was often nothing more than a random gathering of things.

However I am still pleased with a few of my artworks, even if on the whole they do not look as good together as I might have liked. The marbles for example are my favourite piece, I like the way that the image consists largely or shapes, and does not require shadows, it looks vibrant and finished, and I think its simplicity allows it to me more successful on the smaller scale. Perhaps it turned out so well as it was something that belonged to me personally and has connotations to me. I was also pleased the quality of image of the shells and the train tickets, the colours with the more delicate line makes these images more interesting and effective at looking good on the page, and being impactful enough to the viewer. 

The skills that I have gained in this module are ones I hope to keep a hold of and use again in the future to help improve and inform my practice as a whole, they have been greatly useful to my practice and approach to image making, and I think had allowed my work to improve a little.

Five things that I will do differently next time are, to firstly produce much more, and a far more varied array of drawing and image making, this is to push myself further, and to allow time for extra planning and a greater development of my final artworks. Secondly this one is very important, I need to use composition as a visual tool, to not be scared of frames, this will benefit my image making so much more, and perhaps even take it to the next level. Thirdly to lay some of my notes more logically out and carefully with this module if my initial note making had been more organised and been more helpful further down the line. Fourthly it is important that I really use all my time wisely, I think that the Christmas holidays broke up my progress and affected the quality and quantity of work I produced in a very bad way. Finally I want to keep using to do lists  and organisational charts, they are so satisfying and they really keep my mind in order and me on track.

Attendance = 5

Punctuality = 4

Motivation = 3.75

Commitment = 4

Quantity of Work produced = 2.5

Quality of Work produced = 3

Contribution to the group = 3