It was a wake up. I know that I've split my time unevenly and dedicated far more time to the research and writing of my dissertation. From this point on, it's absolutely vital that I pull my finger out with the practical work. I know what it is that I want to achieve but I haven't been doing it.
At this point now, I have research, concepts, sketches, specific ideas for my outcome and some beginnings of compositional roughs. However I need to carry out tests and really explore lino.
After all, the whole point of this practical element is to get good at lino cutting and produce some really beautiful work.
For today's peer review I made some design boards demonstrating the direction of my work:
The feedback that I got was positive in some respects. However, I'm aware of my downfalls already and know that I need to produce far more work, blog more, really explore linocutting and experiment, refine the ideas and come out with some really well crafted, high quality prints.
One thing that was pointed out was the idea that my practical doesn't relate to the theories I have learnt about in the research for my dissertation. I will address this properly in a separate post, where I will analyse the aspect of synthesis and my thoughts and feelings regarding the project.
I'm fully aware that I don't have all that much time left, but I'm also aware of how I work and am confident that I can pull this back in my favour, and make the project work for me through hard grafting and no-life-ing it.
In the second half of the crit, I came up with a visual explanation of my project proposal. It contained roughs of potential outcomes, and details of the format, number, scale, processes etc. I pitched it to the group.
Feedback following the review:
- Great that I'm considering stock, paper quality and printing methods
- Ask print room staff about slight embossing when printing linos. I think this would have a really great effect, adding an additional tactile element to the prints
- The leather wrap is an effective approach for presentation that could look really beautiful and authentic.
- Embossing the leather could be difficult, have I thought about laser cutting it? Is it even necessary?
- The idea of the illuminated letter ties the whole project together and is really relevant to the time period I'm looking into
- One colour could be more effective and more relevant to old woodcut imagery than two. Also less time consuming, meaning I can spread my focus across multiple outcomes instead of spending too much more time on each one.
- Focus on creating really well refined designs, and really push the quality of the linos. If this means making 8 instead of 12, it doesn't matter.
I'm hoping that because I'm a key holder, this will make it slightly easier for me to access the print room. However, I'm not relying on this because LOADS of people will be approaching deadlines and needing the facilities. I want to make sure I'll be able to get into the room after xmas (which is realistically when all of my linos will be finished) so I'll check with the print room staff as soon as possible.
I was concerned about this peer review, because I was aware that I had fallen behind with the practical work. But I'm so glad of it, because it's given me that kick up the arse that I need, and made me realise that if I knuckle down now, I still have the opportunity to make a really successful project.
As long as I focus on:
- Blogging: Everything. Make a note of all practical work, all thoughts, directions. Practical, conceptual and theoretical developments - to demonstrate synthesis.
- Practical Production: Don't just talk about ideas. Actually MAKE them.
- Proposed Contextualisation and Distribution: Formats / scale / media etc. What do I need to do before I leave for xmas?
- Realistic Time and Project Management: Set time scales / work out the time I have left and what I need to achieve. Is it achievable?
- Reflection and Evaluation: Do it as I go. Blog. Annotate all points to ensure effective communication of my thought processes and ideas
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