This project has been a major learning curve for both my practice and myself as an individual.
I entered this unit with the intention of exploring illustration within the context of theatrical set design.This was mainly influenced by my previous projects which were were both interpretations of theatrical performances. During the summer, I had got involved with the first Reading Fringe festival, meeting with directors, actors and theatre enthusiasts alike. This was a great opportunity to network with other creative people and feed my enthusiasm for theatre and the arts. I also had a great opportunity to design a poster for the first production of the season at AUB. I was really chuffed and felt like my direction towards becoming more set design based was realising. However, I feel like that my approach to the design of this poster may have put me on the wrong course for the PMP unit. Even though, I had directed my practice more towards paper cut and 3D illustration, I chose to create coloured pencils drawings. These of course do you not reflect my current practice. I felt like I had come round in a circle once again in my practice, feeling unprepared for third year. In effect, I allowed self-doubt to overwhelm me.
Despite this difficult time, I did produce a lot of imagery, focusing on the naval references in the novel. I drew lots of abstract and expressive drawings which most definitely helped a lot later in the project when I was in need of extra inspiration. A lot of my initial drawing came from found imagery or those from books. I think that its important in the next project to collect a vast amount more of my own imagery sourced either through photographs I take myself or location drawings. These perhaps would give me more scope for development and make sure I don't rely so much on secondary research.
My initial drawings led me to experiment a lot with 3D paper modelling. A lot of the skills I applied to these experiments derived from the convergence/divergence unit, where I experimented a lot with paper masks and costume accessories. In contrast, this project took me further. I found myself making large objects out of cardboard and thick paper card. I started to think of the objects as installation pieces or pieces that could be added to a set. I do regret not taking some of my initial making experiments further. For example; an abstract paper head, in which i weaved paper through to create hair never as finished nor used. Many experimentations never got finished because of my lack of enthusiasm at seeing them finished. I also regret not taking them further with varied materials. Some experiments that didn't necessarily work in a particular material could have worked better in another: My only comment about this is that there was obviously a reason behind this and that is that i needed some middle ground between drawing and more tactile illustration. I didn't fully acknowledge this until past the mid-way point of the project. This was my recognition of my paper cut artwork as a technique worth investing time into. It was a evident way in which i could translate my often expressive mark marking style of drawing. Compared to the mechanics of paper modelling, I was given more scope to be fluid and more abstract with my creation of imagery. As I started to become confident in this technique, image making became much easier again, and I thought more clearly and constructively in my image planning. Furthermore, I constructed a way in which illustrations could become performative. This would involve layering simple paper cuts to create an overall sophisticated image, with the help of a box. These would be then be photographed as an installation. The atmosphere created within this photograph would overall be as performative as a theatre performance itself. I also love the interactivity with my work from the paper cutting to the creating the installation, and find that physicality really exciting. I'd like to think that the photos suggest some of this.
In my final major project, I'd like to explore performance in other methods of installation work. I would also like to focus more on an original topic rather than a chosen text. At times I felt limited by the text to create imagery. I like the idea of creating work that relate to issues closer to home. I think it is important that i base the next project on more primary research than this project.
I am happy to say that I no longer aspire to be a theatre designer but an illustrator that explores the idea of performance in her work.
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