Jane Horton

So I've set up a new blog at http://graphicdesignstudies.wordpress.com

Andrew Marr

This is where I will be posting work from now on.

When I reviewed everything I had done, I targeted two images I felt were unsatisfactory and re-did them, with better results. It was interesting to see that time, stimulus, reflection (and a deadline!) helped me to improve things. These were the Animals of the World book cover and the Milan book cover. My lack of certainty about these two images makes me think I should consider studying graphic design to get a richer sense of design rather than focus on illustration, but that just feels like hard work! What I do know is that I want to do more animation. It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction to achieve something in animation, and I very much enjoy looking at contemporary animators and trying to work out how they have achieved things. Visiting the artists’ book exhibition in Sheffield recently also made me think that I would love to produce one, so I have plenty of ideas to go at.

This is my last bit of fiddling before I submit my work for assessment. This was another exercise the outcome of which just didn't work.  Then I saw a post on the Open College of the Arts blog about Rob Hodgson and there was an image there that triggered this idea: of dividing the animals and birds into their own spaces, to tidy it up a bit.  I think this works much better.  I removed the centre animal from the square as it looked cluttered, then removed animals that had 'bits' cut off them so that they all sat neatly in their spaces.  Then I added a wood texture to it, to give it depth and give it an outdoor feel.  I am much happier with this one. (The irregular cut out effect is deliberate by the way, I think it gives it a rough edge which helps the theme!).

While reviewing my portfolio for assessment submission, I felt too uncomfortable about the outcomes on this travel guide not to give it another go.  I've changed the dreadful hand written font for Milan in type which improves it.  I am still not entirely convinced it works, it is now rather boxy, but it is better than it was.

My favourite website of the moment

I think this is a deeply touching and beautiful animation, and is surprisingly spare and provides subtle and fleeting suggestions in execution. It’s clever the way, at the end, it makes the transition from drawing to video so naturally.

I may have blogged about this before because its a Jonny Hannah design, but just in case, this is one of the most evocative short animations I have ever seen. So full of life, so full of ideas, and so beautifully conceived.

This is a superb and happy stop frame animation, in 5 minutes I laughed out loud several times. Very clever and imaginative.

Here is the final version of Solomon Grundy animation as my final submission of the Open College of the Arts Illustration course. I have really enjoyed making this animation and will definitely be making some more. I know I have loads more to learn, and deliberately veered away from adding backgrounds in this first animation, so that I could focus on learning the basics.

I've done a report on the fantastic Masterclass in Illustration I went to at the Guardian offices on Saturday. It's on the Open College of the Arts blog. 

Adrian Johnson was at the Illustration masterclass.  He's a man who, despite his rather negative tone, produces vibrant images, often from ugly objects.  So for example, he produced a vibrant image of a satellite, who'd have thought that was worth doing?  Well he did and the results sparkle.  he also started drawing cameras in beautiful colour tones, and now has a wonderful set of beautiful images.  I like what he does with unattractive objects, creating an aesthetic, such as the colourful cameras, and designed satellites. Something I would like to do is focus on unattractive objects and make them attractive (as I did with my Sheffield Illuminated images)? http://www.adrianjohnson.org.uk/

A family of piggies I saw at Castellar zoo.

This is a superb example of contemporary painting practice that stops you in your tracks and makes you think!

I saw a man who looked like a tomato today, carrying this bag.

Great day at Guardian masterclass with lots of brilliant generous speakers, will write up a summary and post soon