COP2: end of module evaluation

As a start, I feel that this year's COP module went far better than the last. As a module I began to understand it more, how it works but also how it integrates into my own practice.

I chose the topic of the disconnect between the general public and the fine art world because I too felt that and wanted to investigate why- if it was a matter that came from me or them. (Also as an art student, I felt morally at wrong for feeling that way). As expected it was a mix of both, but it was interesting to investigate a topic that I felt was relevant to me in a critical way.  Writing about the disconnect between conceptual/ modern art and the public also made me start to evaluate the relationship between audience and work in my own practice, even though I'm in a different field of visual arts.

I think my essay writing had developed from last year, largely because I had chosen an essay question that made sense, and was less broad. I tried to approach it in a more systematic way but still struggled. I really wish I'd allotted more time for research and planning, and I think I relied too heavy on a few texts rather than looking towards a broader range that could have backed up my opinions and more and created a stronger essay. Once I had written the essay I found it hard to evaluate what was good or bad so was too afraid to make edits to it

I began to understand this year the connection between the written and practical work, but still found it a little hard to make visual work as I was researching and writing. This was mostly a case of bad timing as I was just trying to focus on getting the written work done over anything else. I see that for COP3 it would be a good idea to try harder with this, but I feel that as a module I will probably also have more time to do that kind of work.

I enjoyed making a publication as my practical response to COP this year. It felt more purposeful, and whilst I could have just made a book just about the topic I chose to make one specifically aimed at the people I was writing about in my essay, and chose the tone of voice and format accordingly. I think this made it a stronger project in all, and more relevant to my practice as an illustrator.

What I largely struggled with though was making, essentially, art about art. As an idea I think my publication worked, but I couldn't help but feel a bit odd basically using heavy referencing of other visual art as part of my own visuals. Seemingly it worked to serve its purpose, feedback in crits and tutorials said that the work came across as humorous and accessible (because of these heavy and common reference points) but if I am to do a similar project in COP3 I'd like to find another way of getting these sorts of ideas across. It felt a little questionable on my part, I felt my ideas and images were somewhat derivative as a result.

I can see COP2 as being a good springboard into COP3. I wouldn't like to call my work this year a 'practice run' but it really helped me get my head around the idea of Context of Practice, and how to work with this kind of project. In COP3 I hope to make a more cohesive body of written and practical work that are made as a sort of cycle, in response to each other.  After practicing my essay writing more and getting more into the academic side of things I'm starting to almost look forward to writing my dissertation. 

COP2: final publication

This is the final collection of images I chose to make my zine with. Asides from the title on the cover and artist names I changed my mind and changed the text to a font rather than lettering, really just because it was clearer to read. I think it still looks ok with this combination because it is simple.

The book itself was printed on to coloured paper in grayscale ink. As well as fitting the 'lo-fi' aesthetic I was going for, it also served practical reasons. Although this is really only a zine I've made as part of the submission to OUIL501 I wanted to treat it like it would be a zine that would be printed and handed out for free/ minimal price to people wanting to learn about art/ teach others about it. In fact, I do plan on printing more for myself to use in that way.

The washes of ink were planned for the cover and inside end pages but not so much for the illustrated pages. I found when putting it together that many of the illustrations didn't fit to the A5 portrait format so well and had too much space around them, which could have been avoided with planning but I think I managed to balance it out a bit with the extra washes. I worry it may look too distracting though, or maybe worse in this context, pretentious and off putting!

Following feedback in peer reviews from people who had seen the images pretty much completed but not in the context of the printed book I hope it has retained the humour and clearness that they had commented on. I added some more contextual text to the end of the zine, and I'm glad I did because once put together I don't really feel that the images said enough by themselves. The character had his own little narrative throughout the book and whilst I'm not fond of having to back up visual ideas with explanatory text it just makes it more accessible I think, which was the point of the zine.

 I also made a belly band with further text, which was less about the content of the book but explanatory of the context of what I want it to live in- to be shared and encourage.

I kept the sticker visually simple and tried to make it funny too. I didn't want them to be a massive focus, more of a thing to crack a small smile at the end.

All in all I'm quite pleased with the zine, visually and content wise. However I have doubts about how much the message I wanted to make gets across, and wonder if something with a little heavier text wise could still be un-intimidating but also thought provoking.

COP2 final essay

COP3 proposal

COP2: publication development / making decisions

Since the last peer review I've mostly been starting to think about the book. The format/ overarching idea hasn't really changed that much since I made the Don't Be Afraid hotdog book. I did some drawings to think about the character (in the end went for the blandest and least distracting one) and comic strips (decided they were unnecessary and would take up too much room in such a small publication). I've roughly decided on a list of artists of which I believe to be relevant to the interests and in the minds of those I'm making the zine for.

The premise of the publication is that it will be a zine produced to be distributed between people to encourage people who would not necessarily be interested in art to take a look at it, whether they like it or not. The zine will be monochrome and 'lo-fi' in production to suit this context.

I've begun to make images for the zine, opting for a combination of a loose wash of gouache and pencil crayon and brushed lettering for words and quotes. I think these will translate well to the printing method and at once look interesting to someone who comes across it but almost have that humorous tone of voice in its visuals as well as its contents- i.e. me trying to lend something from the likes of Shrigley or Paul Davis.

COP2: peer review feedback

The feedback from today's peer review largely suggested that I was at a good point to just start making really. I need to figure out what exactly is going to go in and how it is. There was some discussion about the sort of media to use in the illustrations, the gouache was appreciated but might not fit for the lo-fi look I'm after. The zine could be photocopied, and / or minimal colour.

Time to make!!!!!

But I actually have to make my book for 505 sooner than for this project because of how it will be printed, so it's a bit crazy right now. I think I have to prioritise 505 for the next week.

COP2: making it interactive?

I don't exactly want to turn this into an activity book because it is aimed at adults but I thought about putting little stickers in there, maybe at the back. Maybe just one. All of this would be in a lighthearted manner, quite obviously ironic and not supposed to patronising. Maybe they could pick and choose a sticker to correspond with how they feel at the end of it.

It could go further with say, a customisable plain character or spaces for your name and whilst I suppose this could all be done in a funny way it could easily feel superior. I think I'm maybe getting distracted from the actual content!

this one is called it's 07/04/16 and I still don't know what I'm doing but it's probably because I'm not trying hard enough

COP3 ??

This year I've been looking at gallery spaces, and I'm wondering if for the next stage of COP I could be looking at art beyond galleries, maybe at outsider art.

 

I watched this episode of Journeys Into The Outside with Jarvis Cocker. It was interesting and got me a little more interested in the idea of outsider art as a subject but also made me think about tones of voice when talking about art. I think one of the things that made this documentary so nice was that Jarvis Cocker is an accessible figure, and all the artists were treated with friendliness and humour, and it wasn't overcomplicated to watch. I'd like to watch the other episodes.

I was reminded of the Chichu Art Museum which I saw noted of in Wai Wai Pang's zine, Itenary which was about her trip to Japan. The museum is very focused on environment... but I haven't looked into it much.

All in all I feel a bit wary of it as a subject... just how possible is it to make illustration about art? Is it too... inward?