Don't Think I Haven't Forgotten The Text

The text of course plays a big part in any card range, whether it be inside or outside, the text can make or break a card range.
I have opted to stick to a handmade theme, not only to fit in with the current market, but if i do end up producing these to sell myself at any fairs they can be easily reproduced at my own cost.
I am planning to use my hand stamper that, once again, i have used in previous successful projects, so i am confident in producing work with it.

I plan on the text for the front of the cards to be 'I Wish You Were Here...' after much experimenting and developing within my sketchbook, using various sized stencils and stamping letters. The '...' leads nicely into the inside message which i will come onto later.

Here are my front letters in context:

From what i have hear i then tried to blend in to give a cleaner feel (Live Traced in Adobe Illustrator), and by doing so feel that i have ruined the aesthetic handmade quality that the letters held. Although bolder, i think that they are harsh:

I plan on using this earlier, crisp, hand-stamped text for the covers of my card range. The inside text size and style will continue in this fashion to please the eye of the beholder.

I have encountered one major problem during the experimentation of title placement, and that was how high or low on the card. Now, i can obviously have the text relatively low and sit it comfortably just above the centre of the page when it's shown with the Sofa or Coffee Table, but with the burner and the chimney it needs to be raised. So i have had to compromise and produce the text high enough to exceed the stacks, but low enough to please the eye.

Background Develpoment

Moving forwards and looking back at my reflection focused on the development of the background;

"Upon reflection i think that i is a bit too much to coat the whole page in the colour, and so perhaps i could take inspiration from previous students and wash just the base around the image as this seems to be contemporary at the moment, and therefore a greater selling point with my brief in mind." - Imagery background

I am planning to pursue a simple, yet effective water colour swell at the bottom of my image for it to stand on and stand out from the blank white page, adding depth and interest into my work. Here are my initial outcomes:

 

 

This is the first of two similar yet different swirls i plan on voting for. I have kept this colour style as it is warm and reflecting of previous projects which i think is important for portfolio outcomes. 

This is the 2nd swirl outcome:

 Although this one appears to have more texture and is clearly darker, i don't think that it suits on the grounds of it being too bold in colour and therefore colder.

So, in conclusion on the background front, i plan to continue the use of the first water colour swell for now unless anything more exciting comes along.

On a miscellaneous note, i have experimented by putting the first water colour swell through the Live Trace function in Adobe Illustrator. It has given a very strange, yet interesting effect ... Following this i have added an old blank postcard in the back ground with the opacity way down at 25%:

This is the original postcard used in this experiment.

Using the 159 x 159 as the template, you can see my experimental outcome. Unfortunately both time the tediousness of this avenue at this stage would not allow me to pursue this. However i will bare in mind this process and outcome.

Red Ties

As i have mentioned earlier, i was looking for something that ties all of my imagery together within this set of four cards. Initially i thought about a bold red as that shows warmth. I mentioned this in an earlier post:

"Having drawn various items of furniture from a variety of Habitat magazines and books i have been thinking of tying the cards together with a theme, for example a simple colour featured on one cushion or chimney etc... I have chosen to use a red as an example as this is a warm colour and something bold that will attract attention to the card."  - Outcomes So Far

Here are my outcomes from this little venture shown with what is currently draft imagery on a draft background:

 So you get the idea of tying my images together with a theme. I do however think that this idea is a little too bold perhaps for now. I need to experiment with other forms of media and background work (which can equally be the tie that binds).

Background Imagery

I realise that the image needs to stand out from the rest of the page, and initially i had planned on using the background from a previous project which was a water colour wash for a book cover.

I have used it here to show how my images would appear with this wash.

Upon reflection i think that i is a bit too much to coat the whole page in the colour, and so perhaps i could take inspiration from previous students and wash just the base around the image as this seems to be contemporary at the moment, and therefore a greater selling point with my brief in mind.

Chimney Stack

As i have taken the chimney stack further, i have tackled the ways to show the vents in the focal flue. Eventually my outcome is shown below, it's simple and basic, which is what i am after for my design. 

The Wood Burner / Fire Place

Sticking with the idea of using either a wood burner or fireplace i started to draw from reference around the house. I want to use a fire place or a wood burner because it provides perfect imagery for my theme of homely warmth, and it also partners nicely with the chimney stack, as the sofa and coffee table go hand in hand.

Although my initial outcomes of fireplaces proved simple to take further i felt that the burner offered more in terms of a modern home and therefore seemed a more contemporary design to develop. 
My final Burner outcome is at the desired angle that reflects and complements the other pieces of work in the range:

Maria Taylor

http://www.mariataylorillustration.co.uk/

Maria Taylor's work for various greetings cards companies inspires me. It all holds a similar theme and comes across very punctual.

Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 16:53:45 +0000

From: njeffries24@yahoo.co.uk

Subject: Transition from student illustrator to practitioner.

To: mariataylorillustration@hotmail.com

Good Afternoon Maria, 

I am a third year student studying Illustration at Plymouth College of Art in the UK and I'm currently looking into researching various jobs that relate to my practice and the artists that influence me or surround the job's I'm interested in.

I am very interested in finding out other artist's career paths and how they got to where they are today, so i was wondering if you'd mind letting me in on how you got to where you are now... whether you had other jobs along side your practice to start with, how you got your work out there in the big wide world and become 'established' in your field, and what events do you find most helpful for networking, if any...

I hope you can help me in my transition from student to practitioner in as many ways possible.

Hope to hear from you,

regards,

Nathan Jeffries.

Hello Nathan,

The transition from student to practitioner was pretty quick. I worked in house for a while and then went freelance....

I went to the Princes Trust and received a grant to buy a computer and software. The Princes Trust also provided great networking events and short courses.

I did have another job for a while (teaching aerobics).

I then taught illustration evening courses and then taught on the illustration degree course part-time.

My personality preferred to work freelance....and perhaps if I get to a stage where I cannot afford to pay bills I would work part-time again.

I would say that as an illustrator starting out you will need to have a part-time job along side freelancing (unless you are a secret millionaire).

It also helps your sanity to see people and network.

The only tip I could give you is " Work like a dog!, don't think about it.....just get on with it!

Hope that helps abit?

Warm Wishes Maria