Kim (in print)

It's been ages. Briefly, I fritzed two laptops in unrelated incidents which freakily coincided with the week my main research paper was due, making for a tricky start to the academic year in September. Our first group crit session of the new academic year was with the brilliant, straight-talking Anne Howeson, (RCA). Group tutorials are a definite strength of C'well's MA Illustration programme - at least that's my experience with last year's full-time students and the strong group of part-timers I'm amongst. I also had a tutorial with Janet Woolley, my professor, so along with my regular SCBWI crit group meeting, it seems like I've received, (and given) a lot of criticism over the past weeks. Today we had a briefing for a mid-point assessment which is around the corner, and afterwards a couple of us chatted about the post-critique haze we sometimes find ourselves in.

It's a lot different than receiving advice in a classroom setting. An immediate difference is the often physical break before getting back to that piece or series. I live a couple of hours a way from college, so for a start there's a lengthy period of reflection. Absorption isn't always immediate, and so, as a starter, working with what I 'get' from the session is the way I've edged forward. At this stage, however, it's become apparent that I need to shift gears and make some gigantic leaps in places! The year is running out and by Easter 2010, it's all over, meaning, there is precious little time for developing anything new before the grad show.

Right now I'm re-reading notes from all sessions I've participated in, in an effort to push my drawing towards illustration. While making another coffee.

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The Camberwell College of Art MA Summer Shows (University of the Arts, London) went off really well last week, though it's sad to see a lot of great people leaving fromIllustration and leaving a few of us part-timers kicking around the place! The work from Illustration was exciting, and as predicted, very diverse with editorial illos, children's books, graphic novels, animation and more - something I really appreciate in this course. Group crit sessions and regular meetings meant that we all had an inkling of who was doing what, but most went an extra mile towards the end and a few suprises lay in store.

500 people came through the door in the first 15 minutes, and around 2600 through the evening. See some of my photos here and get more on '09 MA Illustration grads here (thanks Tom). The crowds made it a bit tricky to get photos so above are a few Illustrators except for the guy with the toast - a printmaker - who gave out an edition of 'toast prints' at the door.

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I've got the best week coming up - the last week of school (day job) before we're out for summer, but firstly, two-thirds of my Camberwell contemporaries (those on the full-time programme) will graduate. Check out the Grad Show details here, and see who's exhibiting from MA Illustration.

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Latest challenge from college - Write down an object on a bit of paper, fold and chuck into the centre of table, then each draw out random selection and create an illustration using all the words....

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One of the great aspects about being a student at Camberwell is having the opportunity to meet some of Britain's best illustrators. Yesterday Jonny Hannah gave us an insight into the way he works, entertaining us with a wide array of examples; books and jackets, advertising and theatre work, and screenprints sold through his  business, Cakes and Ale Press. 

I first came across Hannah's work displayed in the V&A Museum's Illustration Awards in 2005, and subsequently purchased the book, Hot Jazz Special  (photo shows one of the most popular spreads) which he graciously signed for me. 

Last night I did some very un-Hannah like drawings of a large Linzer biscuit. (These are little practice drawings for Hansel and Gretel, part of my MA project - anything with hearts or faintly biscuit-y/cookie-ish in nature will do....)

         

Click here to download:

Jonny_Hannahs_Hot_Jazz_Special.zip (2265 KB)

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Illustrator (and AOI Chairman) Russell Cobb lectured at Camberwell today, and followed up with an extensive Q&A session. He underlined the importance of sketchbooks as a tool, gave us an insightful talk on the freelancing life and treated us to a load of photos of his work and studio. A good day.

         

Click here to download:

Illustrator_Russell_Cobb_at_Ca.zip (387 KB)

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