Major project, Graduation and post univeristy life!

Alot has happened since my last blog post! I achieved a 1st for the Historic Dockyard Chatham project which I was very pleased about, got a 2:1 for my Dissertation as well as a 2:1 for my major project entitled "British Piers" and finally I graduated univeristy in July 2012 with a 2:1 in Illustration! A very successful year for me and a time which will be remembered fondley. Most of my last term at uni was spent working away at every chance I had (hence the lack of blog posts) and it has only been recently that life has calmed down abit. I entered the Puffin design 2012 competition with a book cover for The Brothers Grimm, which was very different for me; it went through a lot of changes but was ultimatley something which I was very pleased with and got a good mark on, and the tutors even liked it enough to put on the wall!

My major project was a reportage project based on the piers of the local coast line, focusing on the way they inhabit the modern world of the declining sea side industry, and looking at how some are thriving while others are left decaying, their future uncertain. This is probably one of the more demanding reportage projects Ive ever undertaken having to visit 8 piers all the way from Bognor Regis to Southend which took a lot of time out of my project just getting in all the site visits. Once again the history buff in me read up and learnt as much as I could about the history of these fascinating structures and this culminated in a series of 16 A2 charcoal images bound in a hand made portfolio with a small information page on the history of each pier. Again I got very into this project and was pleased with the result. Below are 3 of my favourites from the final piece as well as how the portfolio looked displayed in uni.

So life after finishing uni has involved showing work at D&AD New Blood, working full time at the Historic Dockyard Chatham and looking for full time work in the creative industry. Its a long process but one thats going relatively well; for now Im enjoying life being a little bit easier since graduating and trying to get my work out there! Theres a few interesting things in the works as far as my Illustration work goes so keep an eye out for blog posts in the near future...

Finished!

Its finally finished! Hung all of my final pieces today. As much as Ive enjoyed the project, Im relieved its over. Proudest hand in of my life! If youd have told me when I was in college that Id be making work like this Id never have believed you. All thats left now is assessment and to show the Dockyard....

Only one more to go!

Two more images done this week for my final piece, I cant start the next one till I go into uni on monday and see if the paper they had to order in has arrived yet, but hopefully Ill be able to get it all finished before the deadline on the 27th! Spent around 4 days on the second image, the White Yarn Store, and I did most of the first image, the Timber Seasoning sheds, today; 9 hours straight drawing on that one.

3 down

Finished abit later than I wanted due to Christmas interupting things, but, 3 down, 3 to go. 4th starts tomorrow!

Chatham Historic Dockyard Reportage Project

This is a project which has been on going since September for my minor of 3rd year at uni. A reportage project based in the disused buildings of The Chatham Dockyard (where I also happen to work) in Kent that the public dont get to see. Its been an incredible experience going in these buildings that are in most cases completly empty and unused; Ive got over 400 photos and the history buff in me has had a great time spending the last few months absorbing as much information as possible whilst there. These images are what Ive been working on so far (a couple are some buildings the public can get into, and a couple are the main theme of my project); A1 charcoal and rubber drawings of the buildings, which has been leading up to the biggest project final piece Ive ever undertaken! 6 images that are 3 times the size of A1 paper, so bigger than A0, all in this style. Its roughly going to take 5 weeks to get them finished, spending around 3-4 days on each picture from 9-7 each day in uni. Starts on Monday! Exciting times!