SLSA News Story
UWE Illustration is pleased to announce this years SLSA will be Steve McCarthy. Steve is a recent graduate from the BA (Hons) Illustration program and we look forward to his contributions during the 2016 / 17 academic calendar. To welcome Steve to the Illustration team and its students we have conducted a small interview about his work and thoughts on studying Illustration at UWE.
UWE Illustration: Please tell us a little bit about your work.
S.M: I would say my work is inspired by Film Noire and Science fiction, although I think it varies because I’m interested in a lot of things. For example, the Building series that I have been working on, is about creating an atmosphere through a series of cohesive works. The Building’s invoke a mixture of melancholy and awe with a view to creating a contrast for emerging themes.  I see the imagery as lonely and low places, capturing moments in between their imposing settings.
UWE Illustration: Can you tell us how you make the work?
S.M: It is a mix media approach that includes a lot of layering. I start by thumb nailing my rough ideas in order to develop what I want to accomplish in the design. Then I’ll refine the idea by collecting associated imagery that help inform the ideas whilst experimenting with processes to develop the making side. For example, I will use water colours, inks, print processes and photo collage to create the backdrop. This work is then scanned into the computer and from here it’s about mixing digital techniques with traditional. I look at this combination in the same way that the film industry used to composite backgrounds and matte, it’s all about setting a tone and establishing a scene. UWE Illustration: Do you think there is a particular setting or audience for your work?
S.M: I feel the building series would work well in an exhibition setting, especially at a large scale. However, I would like to make enough illustrations that I could turn them into an art book. I certainly think my audience is more adult and would have an interest in architecture or science fiction.
UWE Illustration: Why did you choose to study illustration?
S.M: I was burnt out with animating after doing a BTEC and then I explored a variety of making techniques during my foundation. When I started the illustration module, I found that the discipline really resonated with me as an image maker.
What I enjoy about Illustration is that it isn’t just a sum of many parts like animation; the outcome is focused and more immediate.  Especially within UWE where there is no house style, I felt comfortable moving through different mediums that subsequently began to come together with the way I wanted my visual language to develop. UWE Illustration: Was there a particular part of the UWE Illustration course that you enjoyed?
S.M: I enjoyed how open the course was to my experimental way of working. I was given a lot of equipment and facilities to use and I believe this had a big impact on how I use and understand processes today. I also found that having the support to further my work with lots of different types opinions and tastes was important to advancing the way I choose to work.