Reflective commentary
Throughout this unit, you will be asked to produce reflective commentaries as a way to summarise and reflect on your work in progress at each feedback point. This is an opportunity to revisit your documentation, identify key learning moments and project outcomes, to reflect on your critical and/or creative strategies, and to check progress against your plan. Use the summary to talk about connections between your practice and research.
A summary is useful in taking stock of what you have achieved so far, and helps your tutor understand what you have been doing. It’s worth remembering that your tutor has limited time to view your work, so use your summary as a way of concentrating their time on what you think has been valuable, and what you would like feedback on.
My first reflection is of the unit so far:-
So firstly I didn’t realise there was going to be 19 exercises and 6 research questions along with the feedback point 1 (assignment) for the first part of this unit!
This seemed excessive for the first one, but I understand this is set up like this so it covers the whole unit and what the expectations are. But it was still a lot to get done and I felt some of it wasn’t relevant until you had got into your project a bit, and other parts were repetitive and I felt like you were writing the same things again. So some of them I have left purposefully to fill in a bit later down the line, and obviously some you regulary up-date anyway as you go through the project.
After 7 weeks I still haven’t started my actual project yet as i’ve been writing the exercises and research questions, but at least the foundations are written out now and are in place to get going, as Im eager to start!
I feel my project is exactly what I want to learn and grow more from. I have broken down the project into stages and smaller projects to work on each month. This will show regular progress and keep me motivated and also have regular check in’s with my tutor, to keep on track.
I intend to spend 1 full day a week on research and learning and 1 full day a week on art work. I want to submit to the Spring’ 25 assessment, so finishing in Aug/ Sept will give me plenty of time to get ready for the assessment.
I have added in all the areas I need to improve upon, and found some courses and learning projects for some of these (In Design, Domestika courses) , which will help to grow my knowledge and understanding better. I have already been to The London Illustration fair, and also the Immersive exhibition for David Hockney at the Light room in London. I intend to take a trip to the V&A museum in the new year and also some other Illustration exhibitions I am interested in.
I have spent a lot of time in different book shops recently and found some new Illustrators I am inspired by, and have purchased a few children’s picture books, to help me look at composition and layouts.
After completing all the exercises and research questions I have a good understanding of what the expectations are also how I intend to complete my project. As with everything though there is room for change and to re-evaluate if needed along the way, as I have learnt with this degree some things don’t turn out as planned.
I am itching to get started and stuck inland excited to learn all the bits I need to hopefully illustrate a children’s book successfully.