CREATIVE NETWORKS AT LIGHT NIGHT 2017 / BODY OF LIGHT

The Body Of Light 

During the Light Night in Leeds we went to the show called 'Body of Light'. The show was about using the motion sensor ability of the Kinect One, light bends, contorts and reacts to the dancers as they move, creating a duet of light and movement. The idea behind it was to introduce human as a paintbrush.

This performance featured pro dancer, Adam Russell, and CAT students from Nothern School of Contemporary Dance. 

                                               

                                                     Millennium Square - History of Leeds 

In Millennium Square projected with the illumination of the history of Leeds. Like starting with how Leeds began and then evolved over the years. For example war, technology, circus, carnivals, football, mills and so on.  

SELFIE TO SELF-EXPRESSION - SAATCHI GALLERY

During my visit to London I have visited 'Selfie To Self-Expression' at Saatchi Gallery. Saatchi Gallery and Huawei have joined forces to offer artists, photographers, and enthusiasts around the globe a chance to show their most creative selfies internationally, and have their work exhibited at The Saatchi Gallery as part of the #SaatchiSelfiecompetition. 

Photos from Exhibition 

Link: https://www.saatchigallery.com/selfie/

PPP / Brief

Brief One

Personal Branding

You will be required to demonstrate appropriate preparation for your stated progression ambitions through research into self promotion material (business cards, letterheads, creative cvs, stationary etc.) and methods (mail shots, websites, blogs. etc.). Post graduate study (project proposals, application).

The research and development of your personal design collateral should be evidence through ongoing documentation and evaluation to your PPP blog.

You will be required to submit print-based and/or digital personal branding.

Module Self Evaluation

Initially, this module for me seemed the most fun and relaxing of all of the modules given to us this year. I have enjoyed engaging with industry and speaking to people who's work interest me. It was something which I probably wouldn't have the courage to do myself. Talking to Rik Lee was amazing experience mainly because he is a person who's work I admire and been following for a couple of years already. On the beginning, I have struggled to send him an e-mail because I was afraid that he will not reply to me, but he did which made me happy. The interview was quite short, mainly because I didn't want to bore Rik with a massive list of questions because I understand he is quite busy now working for different clients, especially when he just started creating clothing collection with his wife. In the interview, I have asked Rik a question about advice he would give to his younger self he told me that if he could he would 'encourage my younger self to be more confident'. I can really relate to this answer as being a confident person is not my strongest side but now, finishing the second year of Graphic Design, after all of the briefs especially the collaborative practice and a couple of presentations in front of people I feel I have become more confident which I am very happy about it. 

I have tried to really push a lot of my briefs this year sometimes forgetting that I have other briefs to do and thinking that I will still have time to do it later. It was a huge mistake which I have done this year mainly because I have been struggling with the other briefs on the end. Also, my time managing on the beginning wasn't very good, which I am not very proud of. After submitting some huge modules like Cop or Responsive I have started to create a mind map with all the things I need to do to finish a brief/project setting myself a task and targets for each day. This taught me how to manage my time properly to finish other briefs on time without staying for the whole night finishing my work. I am just regretting that I haven't done it in the beginning of the year.

I really liked 'Life's a Pitch' brief and working in groups on how we can promote the individual works of the collective. With Bobonut, we have come up with the idea of creating a box which looks like a book with designed postcards using our work created through our degree. We are pleased with the outcome so now we will try to get our work out there in the real world of Graphic Design. 

This year I have also created an Instagram account using my own photography, this was kind of funny for me at the beginning but the account started gaining lots of followers which gave me lots of motivation. I am receiving lots of positive comments and messages about my photos which makes me very confident about what I am doing. The Instagram account allowed me to try something new for me like working for a company 'IndaHash' using my photography skills. This is related to speaking with a lot of people, engaging with them and promoting products for different companies. Now when my confidence has grown through this year I am not afraid to speak with people and try to engage with them. 

I am looking forward to summer where I really want to focus on my Instagram profile to start uploading more photographs and working with more companies. As well I would like to focus on getting my graphic design work out there via social media and shop which I have created. I want to start selling my designs instead of keeping them only on my computer or in the sketchbook. Furthermore, I am looking forward to the 3rd year and finding my own briefs, focusing on my individual specialism and focusing on my self-branding so that it is more fluid. Also, I need to find a place to go on placement for. 

Creative Report

https://issuu.com/anetasidorko/docs/convert-jpg-to-pdf.net_2017-05-04_1

For my creative report as a layout of each page, I have used illustrations done by Rik Lee. This idea worked well with the interview content and really brought it to life. As crating a presentation using Issuu is the minimum requirement I have decided to develop it more. As Rik Lee is selling lots of posters and gifts cards using his illustrations I thought I might me a good idea to use it to present the interview with him. I have decided to use the idea of a gift card as I feel poster might be too easy to do.

Issuu Publication

Front and Back cover 

Middle Pages

Using thick paper, which is used for gift cards I have printed out a real copy of my gift card with the interview. Here is the outcome of it:

Summer Plans and targets

During this summer holidays I would like to focus more on my work and how can I push it into the real world instead of keeping it only on my computer on in the portfolio. As we won't have any briefs I can spend more time on it. What I would like to focus on?

Instagram Account - Photography

As my Instagram account get so many followers in short period of time and people very appreciated my photography work I feel I should continue it. Also, it allows me to work with different companies like IndaHash or Amazon Associates for now. During the summer holidays, I would like to get accepted and start working for others companies. Photography is my hobby, after finishing my university I am thinking of taking some Photography courses to improve my skills and gain some knowledge about it.

Online Shop - Mitsuvanity 

My next target is to focus on the online shop which I have already created. This will help my work to be seen by others. Using my illustrative skills I would like to design simple things like phone/MacBook cases, some notepads, posters, postcards taking the inspiration from Rik Lee. 

Fiverr 

Fiverr is freelance service marketplace which allows creating and selling different designs to others. I feel it would be a good start and it will allow me to gain some experience while working for different clients and on different briefs. They have a range of interesting categories to chose from like Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, Advertising and more...

Those three are my main targets for this summer holidays which I would like to focus on. 

Life's a Pitch - Final Idea

Designed Box with Postcards

This is the final outcome for our designed idea. We have printed out a set of postcards containing our work like illustrations, photography, typography and chosen quotes from our interview. We have also printed out a page on tracing paper with the information about the box and all my and Bobonut's contact details, so everyone who might be interested in our work might check them out. The only issue which we had was the sticker for the box as it was printed out in A6 size and it was to small for for the front and back cover of the box, eventually we decided to keep the size of the sticker because the white background looks like a frame around designs. 

Distribution: 

Our box can be distributed in book shops like 'Waterstone' and shops like 'Urban Outfiters'. It can also be requested online. As production of the box was quite expensive we have decided that instead of giving the box for free we can try to sell it for small amount of money. 

Overall we are very please with the outcome, as it shows what we wanted to achieve. I think the idea is simple but unique at the same time. If we would have more time on this project we would like to produce an online version of it, so everyone who might be interested purchasing this product might request it to buy it. 

Life's a Pitch - Idea generation

Me and Bobonut have decided to develop our idea of creating a book or catalogue which could be distributed in 'Waterstones' or in 'Urban Outfitters'. Our first idea was to create a book with postcards which each of them could be taken out from the book and posted. The idea seemed easy for designing a book but we thought about costs and different binding methods. As stapling the book is the easiest and cheapest way to bind the book it could not be used this time as we have to many pages to bind together and other binding methods will be to expensive.

Going further with this solution to this brief we have come up with the idea of crating a box instead of the book as it will lower the costs of the production and it will be easy to make. The box will be looking like a book with designed front and back cover. Inside the box there will be a selection of designed postcards.

We have made some notes of the stock and the work which we want to use. Also we have come up with the title and the text which would be used for the back of the cover.

Title: Life's a Postcard

Stock:
A6 Format
Front and Back cover - Designed sticker - glossy paper
Cards - Thick, Matte paper

Designs which we are going to use for postcards:

Aneta:
6 - Tattoo Girls Illustrations
8 - Instagram Photos

Bobonut:
6 - COP Signs
4 - Fish Illustrations from Responsive Brief
2 - Illustrations from Stickers

Together:
6 - Typography designs
4 - Quotes taken from the interviews

Text for the back cover:

A wonderful collection of designed postcards, each featuring a selection of some of the best - loved artwork from Graphic Design students.

Life's a Pitch - group presentation

In groups we had to come up with the idea of how we can promote our work in the real world and prepare the presentation for it. Working with Bobonut we have come up with a range of ideas: 

- to create a real exhibition in any coffee shop/ pub in Leeds with the shop for students - the idea of the shop was taken from the 'Colours May Vary' collective created by Illustration people. The idea would allow us to meet new people interested in our work and get some feedback from different audience. We also thought about sending the invitations through social medias like Facebook for students and friends, by email for professionals.

- to create an online exhibition - catalogue - and send the link to the web page through emails. This would allows us to get feedback from different people around the world, who might not be able attend the real exhibition. Also promoting  by social  media and creating an online web pages become very popular those days so this would help us to gain more audience. 

- to create a catalogue/ book with our chosen work, which could be distributed in book shops like 'Waterstones' in Leeds as well like in coffee shops, galleries of shops like 'Urban Outfitters'. This book/ catalogue could be given out for free or we could take a bit of cash for it. 

Second Year Presentation

1 - Person who inspires me 

2 - My interview 

3 - Instagram - Photography work, Behance and Pinterest 

4 - Work which I have enjoyed this year - Collaborative, Penguin, Design For Screen. 

5 - Summer Plans 

6 - What I would like to focus on next year. 

Anthony Burrill on making a statement, not “visual wallpaper”

I have watched another talk founded on 'It's Nice That' by Anthony Burrill, Anthony is UK’s best-known graphic designer. His impactful typographic posters are instantly recognizable, and he recently compiled the best of them alongside stories, sketches anecdotes about the artworks in a mega new book Make It Now!

Speaking at Nicer Tuesdays, the designer sheds light on the book, the action-inducing messages behind his works and his design ethos. “Make sure you say something with your work,” he says. “Don’t just make visual wallpaper. I was built with a voice… I know I have stuff I want to say.”

“Nice is a strange word,” he continues in typically candid fashion. “A lot of people don’t like it but I’m glad It’s Nice That likes it because how else do you say ’don’t be an arsehole’?”

Jon Burgerman - Doodling on photos - Instagram

Looking at 'It's Nice That' I have found quite interesting speech done by Jon Burgerman talking about his utterly brilliant Instagram experiments.

Illustrator Jon Burgerman may be renowned for his characterful hand-drawn doodles, but is followed by tens of thousands for his utterly brilliant Instagram account. Doodling on photos and using the medium of Stories for animation experiments, he brings character and silliness to day-to-day scenarios in remarkable ways.

For Nicer Tuesdays he hopped over from his NYC studio to tell us more about his work and process. Kicking off with a high-speed introduction to himself, the “power of doodles” and other ridiculous things along the way (poodles, strudel etc.), and showing hilarious insight to his creative approach, this talk cannot be missed.

Here is the link to the video: 

Katagami – the Craft of the Japanese Stencil

This exhibition celebrates ‘katagami’: Japanese resist dyeing stencils. Although produced simply as tools, in recent years the katagami have come to be appreciated as beautiful objects themselves. It was beneficial for me to attend the exhibition with the style of work I have never produced. The exhibition contained lots of different designs in the 'katagami' style. The exhibition took place in University in Leeds and is live till 7 December this year. 

Online shop - Mitsuvanity

During summer holidays I would like to focus more on my online shop. For now, I have only created a web page with my logo and the name of it which is going to be called 'Mitsuvanity' mainly because I am using this nickname everywhere on social medias and people know me by it. I had used handwriting font style for mainly because the shop will contain different illustrations or designs for phone/MacBook cases, and designs for postcards, notepads etc... I thinking about connecting this account with my Instagram profile as well. My idea is to add some photography work to create postcards etc.

I have looked at different already existing online shops to get some ideas and inspiration. I have started from looking at Rik Lee's online shop mainly because he is a person who really inspires me. The other blogs/ online shops show how I want my web page to look like.

Rik Lee's online shop: http://riklee.bigcartel.com/

Home Page

His web page starts with his logo on the top and a range of different options/buttons to chose from like products, about, faq, contact, cart, clothing and subscribe. On the bottom of the page, there is a collection of illustrations/designs created by Rik Lee.

About Page

The next page is 'About' page with contains all the information about Rik Lee like where he lives, his hobby, his biggest clients and a bit about his work.  I think this page is important so clients may know a bit about myself. 

Contact Page 

The contact page is designed to allow customers to contact with him. 

 I have found a couple of more online shops which shows what I would like to achieve.

I have also look for some youtube videos about 'How to start a Business online' which quickly explains and gives different helpful tips.

Behance Account

As I don't want to keep my work only on my computer or in the portfolio I have decided to create an account on Behance to show my work to others and maybe get some feedback about my work from a different target audience. I have decided to upload my the best work which I created during my study and free time. I have gain couple of appreciations and comments about my work.

Behance Profile - Link 

Creative Presence

After a short wait he has replied and provided me with the answers. Rik was very kind answering those questions. The answers were pretty educative and useful. I am very happy that I got in touch with Rik and managed to get reply.

His answers were:

What's your favourite animal? 

1. I like dogs. I have two, a black Labrador and a Bali Dog (a mix breed street dog that we found, here in Bali) Labradors would have to be my favorite animals, they have such beautiful personalities. So much patience, caring and love.

What is your personal favourite piece of work to date? 

2. Ohh, that's a tough one! I don't think I have one particular favorite as such. I like pieces I've made for different reasons. For example, I may be proud of a drawing from a technical point of view, while I'll be happy with another for it's creativity or originality. My current favorites are the more recent illustrations I've made, including "Return", "Together. Forever", "Kitsune" and "Evil Twin"

Do you have a personal motto? 

3. Love what you do and work harder than everyone else.

Who inspires you? and why? 

4. My friends. Because they're the best. 

If you could, what piece of advise would you give to your younger self? 

5. Drink less, draw more! Hahaha. Seriously though, I'd encourage my younger self to be more confident. I think I passed up a few opportunities and didn't pursue things I wanted because I was shy and afraid of failure. Looking back now, I think I would have been more successful than I had thought and even if it hadn't gone to plan, it would have been a worthwhile experience and a good story. Which is what life is all about really. 

I have also responded to Rik: 

Creative Presence

The questions I wanted to ask Rik were short and I tried to ask quite 'fun' questions too. I did not want to bore Rik with standard questions however I knew it would be foolish not to try and gain some tips, advice and knowledge regarding his work. I have started the interview with the fun question 'What's your favourite animal?' to break the ice. I have only created 5 questions as I understand Rik might be very busy with his work now. 

Whats your favourite animal? 

What is your personal favourite piece of work to date? 

Do you have a personal motto? 

Who inspires you? and why? 

If you could what piece of advise would you give to your younger self? 

Creative Presence

Rik Lee

Rik Lee grew up in Melbourne, Australia. He currently lives and draws in Bali, Indonesia. Rik has illustrated for a diverse range of clients, including big international brands, advertising agencies, small independent companies and the kid next-door who wants a new tattoo. His client list includes, American Express, Virgin Australia, Ray Ban, Air New Zealand, Myers, Stussy, Mister Simple, Little White Lies, Nylon and Vice. Rik has exhibited his work in Melbourne, Sydney, Bali, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Besides drawing, Rik spends his time surfing, traveling, riding his bike and walking his dogs, Tiaki and Susu. Recently, Rik and his beautiful, wife Regina launched their own clothing collection - Rik & Reg. The garments feature Rik's art work and Regina's fashion design. 

Before preparing interview questions for Rik I have looked for questions he has already answered as I didn't wanted to repeat it. I have found a FAQ page on his official web page: http://riklee.bigcartel.com/about where I could see what kind of questions he has been asked already: 

1. What materials do you use to create your art?

I use a range of materials. All my line work and shading is hand drawn in pencil or marker pen / sharpie. From here my technique varies depending on the style of the piece.
Sometimes I’ll scan the illustration and manipulate it in Photoshop, adding colour etc. Sometimes I’ll continue working by hand, colouring it with pencils, markers, gauche or watercolours. And sometimes, i'll just leave the piece as a simple pencil drawing on paper. I just go with whatever materials I feel will work best (and i’m confident using) for each piece.

2. What brands / type of pencils and paper do you use?

I use Faber Castell “Polychromos” pencils and Copic markers.

I draw on a variety of papers, but my favourite is Archers smooth watercolour paper. Recently I have been working with a beautifully, textured handmade, recycled paper. I get this locally in Bali, where I am based. All other items that I have listed are widely available.

3. What’s with you drawing in red pencil all the time?

Originally I started using red pencil so I could get the basic lines of a drawing down. Then I could trace over the lines I wanted to keep in a darker tone. Lots of artists use this technique. Thing is, of all the pencils I use (Faber Castell “Polychromos”) the red is my favourite. What I mean is, the lead of all coloured pencils differs slightly. I find that the red is soft and perfect to draw with. The blacks and greys are kinda scratchy and not so good. Therefore, I began to draw almost exclusively in red. It comes down to personal preference. Like all my techniques, I have discovered them through trial and error (often a lot of the latter). I suggest you do the same. Mess around, and find out what works for you. Every artist is different and every artist will prefer different materials. While I may like the red pencil, another person may prefer blue or green. Try them out and decide for yourself :)

4. Did you study art / illustration?

I have no formal education in either. All my drawing is self-taught. Lots of practice and once again, a lot of trial and error (and error and error and error)

5. Do you mind if people get your art works tattooed?

Generally I’m cool with it. I’m flattered that someone likes one of my drawings so much they’d consider getting it tattooed. I do, however, prefer if you ask first. In some cases, I’ll create a work for a specific commercial purpose (a T-shirt print for example) and if you don’t want to see someone wearing a shirt with the same image that’s tattooed to your arm, this can easily be avoided by asking first.

My old commission pieces are an exception. In this case a client has commissioned me to design a personalised tattoo for them. So it sucks when someone else rips it from online and gets it themselves.

I generally ask that if and when possible you purchase the piece you plan to get tattooed as an art print from my store, www.riklee.bigcartel.com. This way you can take a hard copy in for your tattooer to trace the stencil from ensuring they capture all the detail and you get the best quality tattoo. Much better then having them trace from a low-res screen shot. Obviously you also get a signed, art print to keep and I get a little compensation for my hard work too.

6. But I really, really want one of your old commission pieces tattooed...

If you’re desperate to get one of my commission pieces tattooed, I suggest you take that particular work to a quality tattooer and ask them to re-design you a new, personalised tattoo inspired by my illustration. That way your tattooer gets to tattoo their own work, which is usually preferable to them, plus you get a unique tattoo:)

If you have any more questions regarding getting my work tattooed, please don’t hesitate to email me: riklee.illustration@gmail.com

8. Could you design a tattoo for me?

Unfortunately i’m too busy to accept tattoo commissions and have no plans to take any on again in the near future. I apologise for the inconvenience.

9. Can you draw me? My boyfriend? My girlfriend? My cat? My dog? My boyfriends cat? My cats boyfriend? One Direction? Rihanna? .......
No. Once again, I apologise for the inconvenience but I just do not have time to take on personal commissions / requests.

10. Is illustration your job?

Yes.


Examples of Rik's work :