The purpose of this exercise was find a simple way to describe my practice.
Key words from the brief:
- You will be used to reflecting and talking about the kinds of work you make and how you see your practice
- Distil this further by producing key information that you can use to discuss you and your work
- Identify around five aspects of what you do, and keep it simple
Five key talking points
[Comments added after completing Assignment 4 Presenting your practice] The problem I have with talking about my practice is that it is still divergent. To be successful I will need to narrow my focus onto a small number of areas of practice that I can develop so that potential customers/commissioners know what it is they’re buying.
I read some branding advice that said when describing a brand the language and messaging needs to be meaningful, motivational memorable. I realise the following statements fall short of this and I have some work to do to create a personal brand that I’m happy with. This will be an area that I need to resolve during Sustaining your practice.
1. My story
I graduated with Fine Art Degree in the early 80s and worked as a freelance graphic designer in TV before joining the BBC as a Graphics Producer. From there I moved to a digital agency and then into increasing larger and more complex projects in Government and Financial Services. In 2017 I decided to return to my passion and retrained as an illustrator.
2. My practice
Is based in observational drawing: reportage and life drawing.
3. What I make work about
It’s about storytelling. I mix pictures with words and use satire and humour to explore edge cases; people and places that don’t fit the mould.
4. Why I make it
I’m curious and often attracted to subjects without fully understanding why. Learning to pay attention to what I pay attention to and trusting intuition plays a big part. The work becomes an act of self-discovery.
5. How I make it
I love working with ink because of the range of marks I can achieve and its immediacy. I work with chance and accident. No erasing. My process is experimental and combines drawing and print techniques with speed, gesture and expression.
Reflections
This was a useful exercise. It’s helped me to focus on what I do and what I don’t do. It feels like work in progress and will need updating again before the end of the degree.
Most of the points came quite easily but I realised the area most likely to develop is what I make work about.
Illustration 