Introduction

Welcome to my blog. I am currently studying art and design at Blackpool and the Fylde College. Im 23 and recently got back into full time education after a few years and many dead end jobs. I have recently rediscovered my passion for drawing. I can recall the moment when I had to turn my life around. I had recently lost a very close friend to me, which made me realise there is more to life than just barely existing. I was losing sleep, and after staying up late to finish one of my sketches, I took a step back and a second look at what I had created. I realised my potential to make a career of something I actually enjoy doing. So I took a big step, quit my job and looked into starting college.
So there I was straight out of work and back into full time education, I had no idea if I was going to fit in, or if I was able to keep up. The experiences on this course have been a great eye opener for me. I hope to start university in September and start honing my abilities into a course in graphic design. I would really like nothing more than to attend Manchester Met University as it would be my first choice above anywhere else.
Below are just a few examples of my work from my ongoing portfolio which I hope to have doubled in size by the time I finish my current course.

Graffiti Sketch

This was an image I created in my spare time, originally on paper with pencil, I scanned it into Photoshop for some final adjustments. I created my own 'tag' as I was interested in that specific art form, and liked the idea of creating unusual fonts.

Analytical Drawing of Skeleton

Presented with this complex object threw me slightly at first. I had some difficulty with the measurements and proportions, but with a lot of perseverance I managed to resolve it with a certain degree of satisfaction. Although unfinished, I have a certain 'bond' with this drawing as it taught me a lot about myself and abilities.

Sketchbook

A few pages from my specialist option sketchbook for graphic design depicting the progress of my book project. I was given the brief to reinvent the book as it stands today. I took a playful approach to this subject and made my final model into an inspirational instrument rather than just a book. Here I show my research and understanding of the idea of the notion 'book'.

Analytical Tonal Painting

Medium: Paint on A1. This was a study of the tonal value of everyday objects using just black and white paint. I had a collections of objects set out before me and I was asked to focus on a particular part with various tonal values.

Life Drawing

Study of our life model in pencil on A1. This was a intensely measured sight sized drawing completed within 6 hours.

Mixed Media, Layered Composition

Medium: Paint, coloured paper, newspaper, card, marker pen, glue and sawdust. 

This piece was to illustrate the use of layering over time, then scraping back to reveal the original image underneath. It was more about time than the finished piece, and is a good way of depicting the thought process over the space of two days.

Lighting, Veiwpoint Composition

The brief given was to produce a drawing based on 'film stills' which borrow extensively from Renaissance and Baroque painting. We had to consider odd and unusual view points.  I started by drawing a sight sized picture of the scene set before me. I really liked the composition of the scene it was as if there was a 'exciting' narrative unfolding just off screen. Then I decided to zoom in and analyse the models hand, to intensify the presence of a human. The innocence of a hand seems quite threatening in this context

Print

Print made with print plate. I really enjoyed this process. First I started cleaning and polishing a metal plate, then covered it with ground, scratched my design onto it and placed it in a bath of acid. The result was a reversed image of the final print on the plate. I then covered my plate with ink and ran it through the press against a sheet of paper. I was really impressed with the final product.

Typography Collage

On A1 paper, paper, card, masking tape, paint, compressed charcoal. Typography collages, first one clean, clinical and light, second one in complete contrast to the first, darker and rougher, experimental piece.