Why Am I Here?

Why did I choose to study this programme?

I chose to study Illustration at Leeds College of Art to become a better illustrator, I chose this as it feels more engaging than Graphic Design or Fine Art. I want to illustrate my own children's book or graphic novel one day and this programme is the best way I can think to do that. Furthermore when I attended the open day the programme was really sold to me confirming my decision. I am most looking forward to working with people of a like minded capacity for illustration and learning.

What do I want to learn during my time on the programme?

My main goal is to learn and hone my illustrative style, I can draw already but I need to become better. This I can only do by applying myself which is something else I need to learn to do over my time on the programme. I need to be more professional in the way I handle myself in the study as well as the way I take my workload as I expect this to be a very intense course. I'm quite an introverted person so becoming more open socially is something I want to learn to do. I plan to do this by putting myself in social situations I wouldn't usually be in. Finally I need to accept my mistakes when creating work; I cant bare putting a foot wrong when illustrating but I've got to learn that making mistakes is what makes you a better artist.

What are my strengths?

In the context of illustration I feel my strongest skill sets are my line work and my water colour skills. I've only started using water colours in the last few weeks but feel they've really improved my work quality by leaps and bounds. In a professional sense I'm a very punctual person who listens more than I talk and takes a lot of notes. I feel these three attributes are very important in keeping on track of everything going on.

What do I want to improve upon?

Obviously I want to improve on my illustrative skills, this I'll do through learning new methods and experimenting more. But I also want to learn to handle myself in a more professional manner as this will be important when I come to actually work in the illustrative industry. Another thing I need to work upon is my social skills how I will do this I have already stated above. Finally my research and reflective skills need to be improved. These are integral if I'm going to work professionally and actually make a career for myself.

How will you evaluate yourself?

I will evaluate my continually day to day as I work with self critical thoughts and notes. On a less immediate, but still important time frame I'll be writing on a reflective blog which will be visible to my peers and tutors. My peers will also be able to critique my work in peer review sessions and group critiques after my own critical analysing this will be the next most common form of evaluation I'll have. Another form of evaluation will come from my tutors who will help me using their experience in illustration to guide my decision making with my work. Finally I can receive evaluation of my work through modular results, however these results are a last port of call so to speak in evaluative information.