Illustration corp

21 / Illustration student / Manchester

[laurajcasey-blog]

Hover over links on my homepage and you can see my other websites!

[laurajcasey-blog]

Self-development

So, my semesters ending at university and I can’t help but feel extremely proud of myself, not only for completing work on time but for how much I've changed and improved. Over these past few months I've really took the time to just focus on what I'm doing and in a way appreciate it. I've always been just ‘’meh’’ about my art and my confidence levels in it were quite low, even though everyone around me thought completely differently and told me again and again that I have such huge potential. Looking at my illustrations this year compared to last year, I feel like I've grown so much in what I do! I just seem to have so much more motivation to do the best I can do and it’s such an enlightening feeling.

I’ve been thinking about my future this year and where I'm heading career wise, it’s really given me the drive to succeed.

5 things I learned this semester

To not be so hard on yourself about your work, what’s rubbish to your eyes can be gold to another’s.

Be patient! Don’t give up on an idea, it may turn out great.

Don’t expect everything to be handed to you as you leave university. You have to make things happen! Promote yourself, do EVERYTHING you can to get yourself noticed.

Stop forcing yourself to abide by a certain ‘’style’’ just let it flow and you’ll find yourself.

Positive thinking leads to positive results.

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Creative C.v.

C.V Page 1 PDF

https://www.scribd.com/doc/310295874/Cv-Page-1?secret_password=UZHi4SkKnpTaQ1c5FrtP

C.V Page 2 PDF

https://www.scribd.com/doc/310297061/Cv-Page-2?secret_password=Yhlzyy0VmHjzhtYWNADP

Cover Letter PDF

https://www.scribd.com/doc/310297153/Cover-Letter?secret_password=vigCroop5LU7HdA5SWuy

Note: I’ve taken away contact details for privacy reasons.

So here it is! My creative C.V.

I’ve never made one before so this was new to me. It took me about 6 hours due to making it from scratch on Photoshop. I searched loads of fonts and banners, clipart etc. to fit my preference and it took forever to find the right things but I wanted to make it perfect!

Before my tutor told me about creative C.Vs, I honestly didn’t know anything about them and that you had to have one if you wanted to get jobs in the illustration world. I was still under the impression that it was just words on paper! I’ve found that these types of C.V.s are so useful for selling yourself, to be able to personalise it and make it your own is so refreshing to us arty people because we’re all about jazzing things up and adding a personal touch to things.

Standard C.V.s can be extremely boring to look at I imagine, the words can be all the same on every cv so really, you don’t get to find out much about that person. Images can say more than words sometimes! In my opinion, with a creative C.V. you can almost imagine what that persons like, what they’re interested in and of course whether they’re suitable for the position they’re applying for. It’s almost like a trial shift but on paper.

E.g. If a person’s C.V. is full of bright, bold colours with bubbly text I’d assume they’re quite a happy, bubbly person! Or if it’s dark and creepy….Well….you guessed it, they might be a dark and creepy person. If the C.V. is sharp, monochrome, grey and very aesthetic looking, then I’d assume they’re quite a classy individual!

I wanted to keep my C.V. short so the viewer wouldn't get too bored with it. I stuck to the 2 sides of A4 requirements and I tried to minimalize information on work experience but still keep it informative.

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Promotional postcards.

I gotta say…these were awfully fun to make.

As you’ve probably noticed, I love to use light, dreamy themes in my work. I love the positive energy that comes from it! I’m all about feel good vibes and I try to live life as optimistically as possible. I try my best to see colour in every dark situation and you could call that ‘’living in colour’’, hence the slogan in my postcards.

You’re probably thinking ‘’Okay, a little overdramatic.’’ But that’s the only way I can describe it!

I want people to feel happy and enlightened when they see my work. I want it to take them to a little floaty, dreamy place of bliss. To have that power would mean the world to me.

I’ve had so much positive feedback about the postcards and even offers to buy prints! It certainly gave me that push to do more postcards and maybe even a calendar. I could sell them on Etsy and advertise them on Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram etc. As an artist, I think that social media is a great platform for promoting your work and being able to make a living from it. I’ve been thinking about selling prints of my illustrations for a while now but I guess I just felt too shy to ask people for money, plus I wouldn’t know what price to sell them for! I’m going to give it a try nonetheless and see how it goes. Trial and error, right?

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Promotional poster!

 I've always been a fan of posters and from experience, they have enabled me to find new artists.

I’d love to at some point, start printing them off as stickers and (legally) slapping them onto lampposts, walls, doors etc. Partially not even for promotional benefits but just to have my very own art in the cities for everyone to see. There’s just something so exciting about that! A piece of my very own work stuck on the walls of Manchester, Italy, London so on.

Whenever and wherever I’m out and about, I see posters everywhere of peoples bands, art and other activities and if I like the look of it, I'm on my phone straight away looking at their websites. I mustn't be the only person that does that so there’s hope for me yet when I finally get my posters stuck around.

On another note.. I think it’s safe to say, judging from the work I've been doing lately, I’ve found my voice with my art. I was always held back with promoting my work because it was all so different! A couple of months ago if I posted various pictures of my art in a promotional way, people viewing it wouldn't know what belonged to who and I can imagine it’s confusing because the styles were so different!

If I want people to see my work and think ‘’that’s by Laura Casey!’’ I need consistency within my art.

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A sketch a day.

SO! I’ve been a bit late on starting the sketch a day task I set for myself but I finally got there! And surprisingly I’m keeping up with it. There’s not much there as you can see and it may be a bit messy but I’m not really concerned with the quality of the sketches. The main aim of this for me really is to just let go, free-hand and draw whatever I see right there and then.

I always struggle finding something to draw then I sit there like…wait..what am I thinking? I’m surrounded by things to draw! It doesn't have to be perfect or pretty if the only purpose of this is to improve/find my style.

I’m currently just drawing parts of objects/buildings, simple stuff. I wanted to start perfecting my line-work, see what goes best for example, messy lines or perfect lines. I found that trying to draw perfect lines was very time consuming and just didn’t have that playful sketchy feel to it like my work normally does.

I found that doing the sketches once a day for about 10 minutes (or more) is extremely relaxing and quite therapeutic! In that gap of time I can just turn off and explore my surroundings, drawing little details from an object I’d normally disregard. I think there’s something so sentimental and lovely about a sketch a day because you’re recording the places you’ve been to, the things you’ve seen and you can look back at them, just like you would with a photo album except they’re your own little interpretations of the surroundings you once visited.

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London

Not long ago, my tutor Leo organised a little trip for our class to London. We was to go to the house of illustration (university) to see a lovely illustrator, Merlin Evans for a talk about how she got herself known in the big scary adult world. I found the talk so useful and informative! She taught me that you can’t just expect to fall into your dream job when you finish university.

The few small jobs here and there are okay! Those small jobs are the kind that could just get you through to what you’re looking for. Building up and improving your portfolio can open up various opportunities for you. She explained that, times may get hard but you should never lose hope in doing what you love.

Times may be slow and money may be short but as long as you try your best and keep doing what you’re doing, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It was also very comforting to me that Merlin's art had started off SO different to what it is now. From doing small jobs here and there she had improved greatly with her illustrations and is now greatly talented in what she does. She told us not to be so obsessed with “style" and to just do what you do best. Let it all fold into place and your style will come naturally. This reassured me greatly as I've stated in my previous blogs, I struggle finding my style. I'm more than glad I attended the London trip as I've learnt quite a great deal from it.

I've certainly began to think a lot differently now and for good reasons.   Check out Merlin’s blog below, she posts loads about her medical art which is beautiful and a joy to look at. http://merlinevans.com

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INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN THE MULTIVERSE - AL AND AL

Recently my girlfriend and I decided to go on an art gallery/museum crawl through Manchester, we set out to go to Manchester museum, Whitworth art gallery and Home gallery. All 3 were extremely enlightening and held beautiful exhibitions but one (Home) made a huge impact on me. Incidents of travel in the multiverse, fascinating title right? I was instantly intrigued seeing this title online as I’m obsessed with theories and facts of the universe and space.

Al and Al, the creators of the exhibition displayed 3 Journeys, finely linked to one another. Portraying details and fantasies like no other. Outstanding, realistic use of animation and graphics put together to create an eerie, depressing yet blissful feature.

One of the 3 journeys; the creator, I had to watch twice. I’d of watched it more than 10 if it wasn’t so long and with the gallery shutting at 8pm. I could have stayed there all day in that tiny dark enclosed room, head resting on my partners shoulders, mesmerised by the imagery before me.

It featured a man called Alan Turning talking to what seemed to be a therapist. He was discussing his recent dreams, confused and unsettled by them. Drifting in and out of consciousness to yet again experience the happenings of the dreams. The dreams consisted of a range of themes; robots, space and tarot reading. All with imagery which is both comforting but unsettling for the audience, hard to tear your eyes away from it.

I definitely recommend going here whilst it’s on. No matter where you are in the country, it is worth the travel.

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I don’t think I've enjoyed a brief so much in my life! The Batsford prize brief has really enabled me to explore my style which I struggled so much with before. And look! A person! I drew a person and it didn't look completely rubbish for once. Maybe I'm not too bad at this stuff.

I'm doing a series of illustrations surrounding the beautiful cities of Tokyo, one of my most favourite places to draw. It holds such a euphoric feeling and mesmerising sights. With it’s tall intimidating skyscrapers and crammed together apartments, the neon lit up signs on every square of the streets and the smell of street food dragging you from place to place wanting more and more.

Illustrating and researching these kinds of places and cultures makes me happy beyond words. Enabling me to get lost in myself, spending hours and hours sketching down buildings, signs and now people too!

It would be such a huge achievement for me to win the batsford competition but if I didn't, it wouldn't matter too much because I enjoyed the brief so much. £500 is a pretty good prize though, eh? Best get working.

I’ll keep you up to date on how I'm working with it!

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Styles of work and TalentHouse

Recently I’ve been having a little bit of a struggle finding what I’m good at, style and all. There’s so many styles I can do, it’s hard to just choose one and stick to it. Some people say I’m lucky but it’s more of a curse than a blessing! From simple to complex and child-like illustrations to really sophisticated (complicated) illustrations for a more adult audience. 

Trying to do briefs that make me step out of my comfort zone are good! But god, they are so hard for me especially since I’m not too big on drawing people and animals and don’t forget hands, hands will be the death of me! I think I just need to practice, draw 10 minutes a day and just roll with what I can do. Practice makes perfect right? Let’s hope I can just stick to it and not let my laziness get the better of me..oops. 

On another note I’ve signed up to a website called Talent house, from what I can see it looks great for artists trying to get recognition. People who need graphic designers, photographers, illustrators and so on, put ads up  to design something for them and in return will get the lime light they need (and money) I have a few followers on it already!

It seems really open and not too much of a struggle to work with. Hopefully this can be help me get out there??? Who knows! I’ll let you know how my one-sketch-a-day goes.

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Adult World

Starting off after I graduate is beyond scary but I've recently discovered that it doesn't have to be that way if I find my baring, what I want and do a whole lot of research. I think most people in university think ‘’just get through uni and you’ll be in a job and viola!’’ Not the case I’m afraid... some (most) students end up graduating and not knowing what to do with themselves, they struggle and struggle to find what they’re looking for and in the mean-time having to work the most undesirable, mediocre job to pay the bills. Some stay that way for the rest of their lives due to not being able to find the job they've worked so hard for. It’s sad really!

I've figured out a way for myself to try and prevent that from happening. All I need to do is start searching before i graduate, so I'm prepared and set up for when i leave university. Even doing the odd volunteer jobs just to gain experience...experience is essential now-days!

I've been set a task by Leo, my tutor to go on a little job hunting adventure to see what’s out there for post and under graduates. Looking into the jobs that could be available to me after I graduate helps give me a better insight into the requirements and standards they expect to be met. It helps me to develop my work into something desirable to employers and make sure my portfolio is to a professional standard, as well as finding out about any other requirements there may be (such as work experience)

1. National

Lisa marie design limited

http://community.ucreative.ac.uk/article/45727/Illustrator,-closing-1st-March-2016

2. International

Science illustrator USA

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/page.aspx?pid=2381

3. Regional

Creative artworker Manchester, UK

http://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/creative-artworker/28892881#/jobs/illustrator-in-manchester

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Where do I start…To me, here’s the most inspirational, most talented and my most favourite artist, Julia Barminova. 

This artist is so underrated! Her work is stunningly beautiful and takes my breath away every time I see a new piece of hers. I’ve followed her for years now on Instagram and probably haven’t gone at least 2 days without checking for new art. The way she captures still life and transforms it in so many ways, and her use of line and watercolour portray such melancholic and euphoric emotions and feelings. 

 From what I know, she creates all of her illustrations inspired from her own pictures and from actually being there in person, which makes her art truly original. Not to mention…I haven’t seen any techniques or style quite like hers (so far). She could capture a place, object or person and transform it into something so full of life yet so unique. To be able to have that kind of filtering talent must be an amazing gift to have which is why I feel so inspired by Barminova. She travels from city to city to capture her sights on paper, almost like taking a picture for the memories of a beautiful place. 

Her use of colours flow in such compatible directions, soft yet harsh, complementing each other in the same way as sweet and sour. They bring you in and soothe you, making you forget everything that’s going on around you and just for a little while…you are lost in her work.

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Love comes in all shapes and sizes (building shapes in my case). This is where my inspirations start. Beautiful cities full of mesmerizing architecture, so beautiful I need to sketch them down instantly, sometimes just with fine liner, sometimes with watercolour to give them a bit of life if needed.

Travelling quenches my thirst for new buildings and places to draw, carrying around my little travel pack of artsy fartsy supplies. The different cultures I’ve been surrounded by all have different styles of architecture enabling me to use a wide variety of methods to portray each one’s best features.  To be able to manipulate the reality of the buildings into my own perception and style adds a dimension that wasn’t there before.

This is part of what I love most about illustration. Being able to take a common object and interpret it in a way that makes it original not only to the artist but the person viewing the art. Everyone has their own interpretations of everything going on around us and being able to be a part of this cycle of creation is a feeling like no other.

This blog will be my journey towards further self-awareness, better understanding and more inspiration from the world around me.

Photo Credit: Kasey Cochrane (my partner)

Photo destination: Seoul, South Korea.