We Are UEL Illustration

UEL illustration took part in the UCAS fairs in London and Manchester. Take a look at the stall we shared with other programs from the school of ADI

Printmaking is one of the core subjects we teach as part of the BA, along animation, drawing, textiles, bookmaking, 3D media and digital illustration.

We like to experiment in the Illustration class! Here are a few shots of our day doing Live action painting improvising an immediate response while listening to a variety of songs. Fun! Fun! Fun!

The first years of our illustration single horns BA are given a proper grounding in a variety of skills that illustrators need, such as observation drawing, printmaking, casting, woodwork, etc...

Last but not least, a few close ups of hand printed t-shirts the level 5 professional practice students made as well as the masks the level 4 students in illustration made and exhibited at the end of the year show they have every year. It was a blast!

A few other photos from the opening night of the week long exhibition organised by the illustration and illustration and Animation BA Hons degrees in the Art and Design school gallery of the University of East London.

Some photos from the level 4 and 5 BA Hons Illustration and Illustration/ Animation end of year exhibition.

Student spotlight: Zeba Sheikh. Zeba is a level 6 student on the illustration single honours degree. These are drawings Zeba made for last year's Bad Taste project.

This year, we have had a wide range of visiting lecturers coming to do lectures on the programme. Satirical political cartoonist Martin Rowson, professor Lawrence Zeegen, graphic novels publisher Nobrow, curator, writer and Comica festival founder Pail Gravett and Folkestone Fringe all shared their extensive knowledge of the illustration industry. We aim to do even better next year!

Some more photos of The Art Matters workshop with Bob and Roberta Smith. This time, it's indoors in the illustration studios.

The third years spent this week some time working with the risographer machine and making some beautifully professional looking posters, fanzines and other printed matter.

Students this week finished the first stage of their 3d illustration project. They spent some time in the casting studios playing with clay and making masks. Afterwards they finished doing their sets then photographed them with professional equipment. And look at the results! Well done, illustrators!

Newham Tableau Event in the illustration studios! 8 Newham Schools were invited to select a group of 6 students to produce a group tableau to be photographed and used in the publicity material for the borough Exhibition 2015 and to feature in the exhibition itself. This was an opportunity to take part in a high profile creative event where students will be able to collaborate with University of East London tutors and students and Artist Patrick Brill (Bob and Roberta Smith), whose work has inspired the project. Each participating school was challenged to create banners and placards and/or performance, around the idea ‘Art Matters’ Students were encouraged, with their teachers, to think about the experience of Art in their own schools, throughout history, in the wider society and the media. Students staged a ‘protest’ tableau using their banners and any other relevant props, which was photographed. Schools set up and photographed their tableaux during a workshop and photography day event that was held on the Wednesday 4th March 2015 at the University of East London, from 10.30am. The images and art work created will form a display in the Newham Borough Art Exhibition. All participants will be represented. A selected image(s) will be used for the exhibition poster and invitation and will be exhibited across the borough. A short film may be made during the day and used to promote the exhibition online. Schools used costumes, props, imagery and lettering to communicate important information. Students were encouraged to play roles within the protest tableau and to be as inventive and creative as possible in their interpretation and presentation.

The second years Illustration students went last week on a field trip to Paris that lasted 4 days. They took in the major sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Catacombs, the Arc de Triomphe and Montmartre. But they also went drawing in Le Louvre, visiting various museums such as the Palais de Tokyo and le Petit Palais. The trip was organised by the textiles and Fashion department and was a cross department trip involving graphic designers also. Module leader and French citizen Valerie Pezeron was there to give a personalised guiding tour to the city! 

The academic year 2014/15 so far for the UEL Illustration programme- a few photos from the first years engaged in life drawing, life size animation project...and crits! Because you gotta have feedback! 

The first years posing wearing their masks for their Facecrook project

The 3rd years BA Combined illustrators put on a show for the University of East London annual showcase extraordinaire. We had a mix of 3D, animation, books, drawings and prints, reflecting the vibrant and idiosyncratic dynamism of our students.