4 Talks, One summary - Â October/November 2019
The excellent series of lectures we have on the MA are always fascinating and informing, even when the featured guest may not practice in my particular field. I thought for tmy Critical Dairy I could summerise this termâs talks to date.
Mathew Clayton, the A-Z of publishing.
Having been in childrenâs book publishing during the 80âs and early 90âs and latterly CUP/Immediate Media much of this lecture was very familiar territory but that said Iâm always on the lookout for tips and advice, I still plan to do a book for my MA show after all. My hastily scribbled notes are thus:
Thematically arranging a book is the hardest way to organise content.
Collaboration always enhances and can enrich, leading into things in your work you would never have thought of. I think much of the tutorials and peer to peer review does cover this to a degree.
Fit in the heroic journey
Twitter v Instagram - @postcardsfromthepast â I have posted about this book already, interesting that it didnât work so well on Instagram â a thought about promotion here.
One line description, reductive, can you apply this to your MA project?
Poorly drawn cats â simple ideas can go a long way
As my course leader over at Edward Street where I tutor I was familiar with Paulâs work, though some years since I last saw this so was pleasantly surprising at just how different it was.
Some of the way Paul collects, be that vinyl, fan art, outsider art, photographing unusual street finds, echoes much of what I do but only more so. His speciality Sex Pistols fan art covers were intriguing.
Subversion, Paul covered this well with some great examples (see pics above), more apt for my teaching so pinched some of these examples for my Hastings students!
The most mainstream illustration talk of the term from a very talented Dominic Evans included all the tips I give my students and was ebullient, fresh and funny. A successful commercial illustrator, his take on LGBT issues timely and popular, he his found his niche in the market. Iâd be intrigued where he will take his work, which will have to evolve (the hand/brush font thing going in illustration is beginning to look overused in the market - just visit thortful cards to see thousands of examples). Â Dominic seems just the kind of illustrator who knows how to survive the ups and downs of freelanceÂ.
A powerful and sometimes dark, challenging and bravely honest talk from Andrew (particularly with regard to mental health) Â reminded me that passion and research should by the keys to my final work. His OCD attention to massive artworks that takes months transfixed me. I chose some quotes below from his talk that chimed with me.
âsometimes things just grow and grow and you just have to trust that something will happenâ
âthe subject is owned by everyone and the picture had itâs own lifeâ
âHow can you use your time to the best of your ability to produce work thatâs importantâ
âWe are carrying the history of what has gone on before, things seep through, some vanish, theyâre goneâ
âI communicate through your knowledgeâ