STUDIO BRIEF 1 - PROFESSIONAL STRATEGY

PLAN

STRUCTURE

1. Review of year (level 4, intentions for l5, developing process, studentship)

2. Ethos and principles (development of a theoretical focus, promote tangible and engaging objects)

3. Manifesto/ Level 6 (find my place in the museums and galleries sector, learn about how not to go freelance, integrate in illustration community)

POINTS TO COVER

- Reflect on learning taken place on PP
- How have I changed as an illustrator and learner?
- Have my ambitions/ professional outlook changed over the course of L5?
- What personal concerns have I developed and how will I explore these in L6?
- Has PP altered my decisions about my career?
- What aspects of my developing skills set will I develop next year, particularly in the professional sense?

SLIDE STRUCTURE

1. Welcome & intro (bookend)

2. INTENTIONS - Successes of L4 and intentions for development over L5

3. SKILLS - Transformative moment - printmaking and half-toning (about the author)

4. PERSONAL PRACTICE - How my practice has become more and more grounded in contextual and theoretical research

5. PROCESS - Transformative moment - zines as a process of idea generation as well as construction of tangible object

6. PROCESS - practice founded on print and book binding, celebrating the absolute joy of tactile images

7. PROCESS - Developed an identifiable colour palette, print making as a means of attaining a focal point/ end goal, as well as process

8. ETHOS - Started to focus more and more on aspects of heritage, using my illustration practice to promote accessibility and visibility

9. CHALLENGES - My relationship with my practice has been topsy turvy, started to hate idea of being freelance

10. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Contacting Toby Rampton helped me to see how I could attain a balance between a personal practice and a community facing practice

11. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Taking part in exhibitions and print fairs to reach wider audience and creative community

12. MANIFESTO - How do I want to sustain and develop my individual concerns? Goals for L6?
13. Thanks & questions (bookend)



SCRIPT

SLIDE 1 : INTRODUCTION

Hello there. Reflecting on the year, I've broken my presentation down into 3 areas; a review of my year, my developing ethos and principles, and establishing a manifesto for level 6.

SLIDE 2 : LEVEL 4

-My approach to the initial stages of level 5 was largely informed by the successes and enjoyment of level 4
-My Men of Morris book and final PPP poster were both heavily informative to my emerging practice. Both projects allowed me to explore issues of heritage and tangible crafts, issues that have become pivotal to my practice
-Toward the end of L4, my character work become more shape based and abstract, another area that has solidified in my L5 practice
-Work was primarily focused on character and gesture, an approach I wanted to explore further this year

SLIDE 3 : TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT - PRINT MAKING

- About the Author served as a transformative moment in my practice as I learnt a great deal more about overlays and half-toning for print than I had previously practiced
- My image making became more informed and process led, considering my images as assets for print and simulating drawings for print development to explore the exhaustive approach my work could take
-Colour became key here too as in this project I really solidified my trademark, so to speak, a palette that has continued across all areas of my work

SLIDE 4 : RESEARCH FOCUS

-Starting with my research into Shakespeare, then onto heritage and brass bands, contextual and theoretical research has grown from a mere starting point, learning the basis of my subject, to a research practice that drives my work
-Research, critical reading and writing are pivotal to my work and I enjoy reading essays and articles around the themes of my work to really engross myself in the subject
-My practice is grounded in an ethos around the value of story telling and learning and as such, writing is really important to my creative practice, I'm at the point where probably 1/3 of my sketchbook is writing

SLIDE 5 : TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT - ZINES

-The zine task in About the Author was a real turning point for me. It forced me to work freely and quickly and generate playful and unlimited images. 
-Zine making feels like a very free and personal process and I found making a zine as a starting point really set my work in motion
-The context of a zine or book fits neatly in my intent for practice, to create tangible and engaging visual objects, so practically the process of making a publication is appropriate and creatively viable

SLIDE 6 : BOOK BINDING BECOMES KEY

-From the first zine of the year, I have been encouraged to think of my work more as an object and book binding has worked hand in hand with my collage and paper cut practice
-Tangibility is pivotal to my ethos as I love the absolute joy of the interaction between pages
-Playful bookbinding enables me to explore a relationship between separate assets and attaining a more fluid narrative
-Book binding as a process corroborates my intent for practice, alongside print making, to celebrate traditional and tangible processes

SLIDE 7 : CRAFT & PROCESS

-As well as book binding, my practice has become seemingly focused around print. The limitations, or constructs of printmaking force me to think more technically about my image making
-Across the year, I have invested a great deal of time in the exploration and development of half-toning, I'm now at a stage with my print work where I find myself unable to make a positive with less that 4 values of 1 ink
-Technically, print making has driven my skills both practically and digitally through thorough practice of print processes and the manipulation and application of software to maximise my outcomes
-The joy of objects is key and I am keen to use my crafted approach to illustration to explore scale and miniatures

SLIDE 8 : DEVELOPING AN ETHOS

-Stemming from an underlying interest in social history, the role of heritage has flourished in my work this year, particularly through COP
-My intent for practice revolves around a belief in the value of cultural collections, learning and acquired knowledge
-I wanted my work to serve a conceptual purpose and drive a conversation about visual media and learning
-Accessibility naturally stems from the issues around culture and so my practice will continue to be informed by universality and visibility to a wider audience

SLIDE 9 : STRUGGLES & CHALLENGES

- My life has been fairly topsy turvy this year and as a result my work has suffered
- From the beginning of L5 I have been struggling with belief in my own work and a failing work ethic because of my mental health
- My practice has suffered from this as my motivation has ebbed and flowed all year
- January marked a turning point in my practice as I was really invested in my print practice and as a result, I made lots of work of a high technical quality, quite quickly
- From my struggles I've learnt that for my practice, it is important to throw myself into the approaches I enjoy, rather than getting hung up on the approach and structure that my peers take
-Spending a lot of time writing and reading is right for me!

SLIDE 10 : PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT

- The PP seminars and workshops we have had pretty much scared me away from illustration entirely. I knew I loved making work, but for a period, there was nothing that scared me more.
- I've learnt that I don't think I could be a freelance illustrator, I enjoy team work and want a community facing practice
-Speaking to Toby Rampton was a defining moment in my professional ambitions as he helped me to realise the place my practical work can have, alongside a community and education based practice, working as a print tutor and workshop leader
- I love making work and producing objects, but I like the idea of making them for myself more than making them for a client, and so I would like to channel my professional work into teaching others the value of creative practice

SLIDE 11 : PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

- Professional development opportunities have come in the form of print fairs and exhibitions
- The 'Off the Page' show at CMV was a really great first experience at working with an external venue for organisation and execution of an exhibition
- I took the lead on administration and liaison with participants, making labels and recording details of art work
-Opportunities like the exhibition and print fairs enable me to practice my organisation and communication skills, something I believe to be a strength of mine, I think my professional communication will definitely drive my public/ client facing profile

SLIDE 12 : ONWARDS & UPWARDS

-Moving into L6, I really want to zone in on specific areas of my current practice. My main goal is to become a master of book-binding; I want to celebrate and promote the absolute joy of tangible and crafted objects
-While heritage underpins my intent for practice, I need to embrace this more explicitly in my narratives, to really do it justice
-A community facing profile will be pivotal to my professional development post-graduation so I want to get actively involved in workshops and outreach opportunities, something which will be aided by my new role as a university outreach ambassador
- Finally, to feel completely satisfied with my degree, I want to make happy work to stay happy, I want to graduate as me, not as a shell of myself. I got this!

SLIDE 13 : CONCLUSION

-Thank you
-Any questions?

STUDIO BRIEF 2 - CONTACT REPORT

STUDIO BRIEF 3 - COMMUNITY ART COMMUNITY

SCRIPT

ABBIE

We are Muddle Collective!

HOLLIE

Who are we?

Muddle is a collective of students who aim to educate and promote the awareness of mental health,
breaking the stigma that still surrounds it. We want to create an informal care network for students
like us who would value from something like this within the university.

LUCY

Our business concept:

We intend to break the stigma around mental health through an informal care network - this will be
made up of a quarterly zine and a weekly society.

LIV

Type of business within the current climate:

Muddle is a not-for-profit student community collective, run by students for students. There is no
current society or student-based outlet of this nature. We believe that this is more approachable
than a professional adult service, with the zine serving as a middleman between struggling and
seeking professional help.

MEGHAN

Delivery system and platforms:

We are proposing a printed zine that will be distributed around the university and local businesses.
A zine model would be sold as a starter kit to other universities who are looking for or would benefit
from a mental health based society.

ABBIE

Potential partners:

Other local universities such as the Uni of Leeds and Leeds Beckett

Local charities such as Mind, Samaritans and Inkwell Arts Centre

We would also seek funding partners such as the Princes Trust or the Students Union

HOLLIE

How is it funded?

We aim to be a not-for-profit collective, but we realise that we can’t do everything for free. There
would be a small charge per zine to cover the cost of printing, as well as an annual membership fee
for the society. Weekly drop-in sessions would be held for free but there would be monthly sessions
with talks and activities which can be attended for a small fee to those who aren’t members.

We would also earn money through selling the zine model to other universities.

LUCY

What does it look like?

The zine will have a playful yet sensitive aesthetic, promoting a supportive tone of voice. We each
have our own individual ways of image making, but the tone of voice is often similar and so would
work well together.

The society will be informal, welcoming and accessible. Both outlets will support and complement
one another.

LIV

Promotion:

Both the zine and society will be promoted through social media and university emails, as well as
in-house poster promotion and distribution of flyers within local areas.

MEGHAN

How is it structured?

Our zine will be published quarterly as part of the in-house society.

Management - planning and deciding on content for the zine and society

Promotion - having an online presence - social media, posters, emails

Finance - costs, budgeting,

Communication - ensuring that everyone is on the same page, organising society events

ABBIE

Personal goals:

Our main goal is to establish a service that can work as a model for other universities, that we
ourselves could benefit from.

War Cry:

Muddle Collective; An open conversation, to break the stigma

HOLLIE

Thanks for listening!

SUMMARY

Establishing a collective with a common goal and ethos has been a really rewarding yet challenging process. Luckily, we all shared a common interest in the support and promotion of mental health and all offered a different personal insight. Establishing a business concept was fairly easy as we identified from the outset that there was a stigma around mental health and a lack of friendly and accessibly support. An informal care network offered opportunities to collaborate with professional health services and charities, and work more closely with he university union and welfare team, whilst driving an in-house care network that thrives on creative values and the importance of self-care. The nature of an accessible student support network did raise financial problems as we did not want finance to be a barrier to people getting the care they need, but thorough investigation of grants and membership fees made this approach viable yet inclusive.

SB1 - Study Task 10 - Presentation Skills

The presenter - a professional version of ourselves

CONTENT

• ‘Heart’ values, beliefs, purpose and ethos behind illustration practice
• ‘Head’ distribution, functionality and purpose behind illustration practice

STRUCTURE

• Bookending; frame presentation with goal or ethos behind your current and emerging practice
• Power of 3; summarise practice through 3 central values; authenticity, heritage, play
• Bones; structure presentation in 3 parts; development, transformative moments, future aims

BOOKEND > OUTLINE STRUCTURE > BONES/ POWER OF 3 > BOOKEND

STYLE

• Speed; vary, chose speed up, slow down according to importance and content of narrative
• Volume; vary to demonstrate importance and clarity, must be heard throughout
• Pitch; emphasise to pose a question or direct attention to concerns
• Pause; give audience chance to absorb and process content
• Eye contact; engage with your audience so they remain engaged with you, vary your attention

SB1 - Study Task 9 - CV

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME:    Abigail Mooney

ADDRESS:   9 Hayfield Close, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD17 6TY

DATE OF BIRTH:  17 November 1996

TELEPHONE:   07905868571

EMAIL: abigail_mooney@hotmail.co.uk

EDUCATION: 

2008-2015 Guiseley School

GCSEs:  English Literature A*, English Language A*, Maths A*, Core Science A, Additional Science A, Music B, Food Technology A*, Religious Studies B, Applied Art A*, French A.

Other Qualifications: ICT function skills pass, Btec Music Distinction*

As-Levels: Fine Art A, Photography A, English Literature A, French C and Critical Thinking B.

A-Levels: Fine Art A*, Photography A*, English Literature A and Critical Thinking C

2015-2016 Leeds College of Art: Foundation Diploma in Art and Design Distinction

2016- Present Leeds College of Art: BA(hons) Illustration (achieved an overall First for first year)

EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE: 

September 2013 to 2017 Bars and Catering Assistant, Bradford Theatres

September 2017 to present Bars and Catering Supervisor and Duty Manager, Bradford Theatres

I supervise and lead a team of staff in the provision of food and beverages at Kings Hall and Winter Gardens at a range of functions. My role involves delivering high quality customer service, ensuring all customers are dealt with in a polite, friendly and efficient manager and dealing with customer enquiries or complaints appropriately. I am take responsibility for tills and banking, monitoring stock levels.

July 2015 to present Sales Assistant, Paperchase

Sales Assistant duties include:  Sales floor customer service, handling telephone enquiries, till operations including daily cashing up and float checks, processing refunds and exchanges, handling customer orders, calculating daily and weekly sales targets, handling deliveries and maintaining stock on the sales floor and in the stockroom.

February 2018 to present Student Ambassador, Leeds Arts University

My work as an ambassador involves creating a professional and welcoming forward facing profile for the university, promoting the university, offering support and advice to prospective students, and promoting the value of higher education and creative practice through outreach work.

June 2017 Teenage Market, Kirkgate Market, Leeds

Stall exhibiting a range of my prints, cards, and postcards.

February 2018 Off the Page Exhibition, Colours May Vary

Collaborative print exhibition. I was responsible for administration and liaising with participants for the recording and collection of art work.

April 2018 Wes Anderson Day, Belgrave Music Hall

Stall exhibiting a range of my prints, cards, and postcards.

SKILLS:

I possess high quality communication skills, which I use frequently in both my existing work positions to deal with a variety of customer enquiries with ease. I am able to communicate effectively within a wide range of groups.  For example:
- As a volunteer in a primary school I have led art based activities, including participating in an outdoor learning day, assisting at an after school art club, and accompanying children to an art workshop at a local gallery.
- In 6^th form I have represented my peers, speaking at open days and presentations.  I have also presented my work at end of year GCSE, AS and A Level exhibitions, responding to comments and questions about my work and that of other exhibitors.

My active involvement within my secondary school’s art department has extended to preparing resources and materials for workshops and lessons, assisting the art technician with the installation of end of year exhibitions of up to 200 students’ work. It also included creating presentation boards for school open days and events. These opportunities encouraged me to work independently whilst responding to the school’s brief and at the same time ensuring I remained fully committed to my studies to achieve high grades.

Regarded by my tutors and employers to be an intelligent, hardworking and driven individual, I am both punctual and reliable. My commitment and conscientious approach to my learning and professional work, is evidenced in both my paid employment and academic achievements, completing first year on BA Illustration with a 1^st.

REFEREES:

Miss Victoria Holder, Paperchase Store Manager

(contact details)

Mr Thomas Willoughby, Kings Hall and Winter Gardens Manager

(contact details)