This is not a typical agile backlog although the table does share some of the characteristics. The main function of this backlog is to have a place where problem statements captured during my illustration practice can be captured and tracked, so that the opportunity to learn is not lost.
Backlog of problem statements
These backlog items are currently not in priority order.
| Ref | Problem statement/area of investigation | How is the problem being addressed? | Comments |
| 16 | How do I test whether cut-ups or final artwork (e.g. for A strange masquerade) is most successful? | ||
| 17 | How would it be using abstraction as part of my visual language? | ||
| 18 | How do I pay attention to what I pay attention to? | ||
| 19 | How do I use oil pastels as per the Russian illustrator? | ||
| 21 | Make figure models from your figure drawings | ||
| 22 | Artist review: • Algernon Newton – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Newton | British landscape artist known as the “Canaletto of the canals” | |
| 23 | Artist review: Eddie Campbell – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Campbell Illustrator of “From Hell” | I’ve bought “From Hell”. Will move this item to closed once I’ve read the book | |
| 24 | Alan Moore – Author of ‘Watchmen’ but especially ‘From Hell’ – Powerful manipulations of time | I’ve bought “From Hell”. Will move this item to closed once I’ve read the book | |
| 25 | Artist review – Charlie Kaufman’s film ‘Anomalisa’ – innovative use of puppets | Will close this once I’ve watched the film | |
| 26 | John Yorke’s talk about narrative dynamics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0UZHUnB5pQ | Will close this once I’ve watched the video | |
| 27 | Ridley Scott’s interview about thumbnailing/storyboarding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljjlXSGdSYs | Will close this once I’ve watched the video | |
| 29 | Working on the substantial content of future critical reviews earlier in the course unit. Once the topic is know, build the research into the rest of the coursework and use the opportunity to build theoretical and practice research into the coursework. | Will close this once I’ve started work on the substantial content of my next critical review | This will happen as part of Visual Research |
| 31 | KEY QUESTION: How do I use the expressive visual style from my figure drawing in my ‘finished’ OCA work? | Close this once I have a satisfactory answer and evidence. | |
| 32 | Use scratchboard using more of a caricature visual style | Close once this activity is complete | |
| 33 | Get a better understanding of Illustrator | Illustrator 2021 Master Class on Udemy. | In progress |
| 34 | Learn how to take white good quality photographs of flat artwork under the rostrum camera | Get a lesson from Jessops | |
| 35 | Develop my watercolour skills | Follow exercises in One Watercolor a day (2013) Veronica Lawlor | |
| 36 | Experiment with using dip pens on location | ||
| 37 | Explore figure drawing with movement | ||
| 38 | Explore the use of handwritten typography | ||
| 39 | Explore use of illustrator to make hybrid digital/analogue images | ||
| 40 | Update whoshugh.com to reflect latest view of portfolio |
Closed items
| Ref | Problem statement | How the item was addressed | Comments |
| 01 | How do I draw figures more fluidly? | Attendance at Zoom life and figure drawing classes – usually 3-times a week. Using gestural techniques and many short poses. Evidence here. | |
| 02 | How do I incorporate research into my practice? | The process is defined in Practice research approach. Evidence is this table of closed backlog items including evidence to show how the item was addressed. | |
| 03 | How do I store and catalogue my sketchbooks? | I’ve started to add start and end dates as well as what part of the OCA course/unit I’m currently studying in the front cover of all new sketchbooks. | |
| 04 | How do I practice figure drawing under lockdown? | Attendance at Zoom life and figure drawing classes – usually 3-times a week. Evidence here. | |
| 05 | How do I link narrative to Brookwood Cemetery? | This topic was substantially covered during Assignment 5 Rethinking and realising | |
| 06 | How do I ensure that lessons learned or new areas of research identified through reflection are acted upon? | Capturing lessons into the backlog is part of the definition of done (DOD) for each exercise. DOD is defined here. | |
| 07 | How do I balance the need to retain control over the desire to lose control? | I had a realisation moment during Assignment 3 Movement that experimental processes that man I ‘lose’ control can be used as a means to an end i.e. I can take and use them as much/little as I like. This eureka moment os documented in the Reflection section here. | |
| 08 | How do I take more creative risks and build this into my practice? | Capturing creative risks into the backlog is part of the definition of done (DOD) for each exercise. DOD is defined here. | I would argue that the whole premise of Visual Exploration is to encourage more risk taking. This is a question I will explore in detail in Assignment 6 Critical review |
| 09 | How do I ensure that tutor feedback feeds back into my research/practice? | ||
| 10 | How do I use more automatic/play based processes in my work? | Assignment 4 and Assignment 5 in Visual Exploration embedded to use of experimental techniques into my practice. Creative risk taking which includes using experimental techniques is embedded into the practice research process reference the DOD. | |
| 11 | How do I use the word list process in my future work? | Assignment 4 and Assignment 5 in Visual Exploration embedded to use of experimental techniques into my practice. Creative risk taking which includes using experimental techniques is embedded into the practice research process reference the DOD. | |
| 12 | How can I use the process and rules based approaches from PART 2 Visual approaches in future work? | Assignment 4 and Assignment 5 in Visual Exploration embedded to use of experimental techniques into my practice. Creative risk taking which includes using experimental techniques is embedded into the practice research process reference the DOD. | |
| 13 | How do I use model making as a way to learn more about creating facial expression and caricature? | I used clay to model facial expressions which I then used as reference. This process is written up here. | |
| 14 | How do I use models/sets as an approach to create future narrative illustrations? | I used models and mini sets as props to create four of the six Assignment 4 illustrations. This is evidenced in the following video. | |
| 28 | Refresh my portfolio website and organise it to be more focused | Will close this once the site has been updated | Refresh after completion of Level 2 complete |
| How do I get more character into my characters? | Build this requirement into daily practice | I feel like I’ve achieved this through live drawing classes Ref: Assignment 1 personal statement. This is an ongoing task. | |
| 20 | How do I understand the OCA assessment criteria? | Closed after making two assessment submissions. The new guidance is clearer | |
| 30 | Use video for the final reflective evaluation for Visual Exploration (part of the assessment submission). | Will close this once I’ve published the final reflective statement video | Done. Final reflective video is here. |
Illustration 