Online Resources - Website Comparisons - BAIL104

Shop/Marketplace

Etsy

Etsy Homepage

Example of an Etsy shop

- Etsy is a great way to sell your work on a well known platform, however there are no limitations to who can create an account, and so you are against a lot of competition.
- Etsy allows you to create a shop, which you can link to your other social media profiles. This can be great at leading your followers to your different outlets.
- Etsy can become very expensive, especially if you're a small business. They charge fees for each listing (which only lasts for 4 months, or until the item is sold), and also take a 3.5% commission from each sale. Therefore, you can only really make a good profit from the sales on Etsy, if you are selling enough to cover the costs. If you already have an established following of people who are after your work, then Etsy can work more effectively. It seems to be the case that other social media profiles such as Instagram and Facebook would play a very important role at sending potential customers across to your Etsy shop - rather than gaining the interest on Etsy alone.

Not On The High Street 

Homepage 

Example of an NOTHS shop

- Not On The High Street (NOTHS) does allow shops to work on a very popular website platform, but without the volume of competition that Etsy has.
- You need to apply to the team at NOTHS in order to be able to sell on their site. This means that although it isn't as simple as just 'signing up' on Etsy, the team only chooses the best companies/items to be on their site. This process allows for shops to sell their items without fierce competition from similar shops.
- Customers also have the reassurance that only the best businesses would have been picked to sell their items on the site.
- All orders are still fulfilled by you, giving you that responsibility and independence.
- NOTHS charges you a £199 joining fee, and then charges a 25% commission off each sale. However there is no monthly charge for each item listing like on Etsy, which does all add up very quickly.
- NOTHS is the UK's No1 curated marketplace & advertises for you.
- So although NOTHS seems to be more beneficial than Etsy, you need to have a more established business to keep up with the customers expectations, and you have to be approved in the first place.

Folksy & Big Cartel 

Example of a Folksy shop

Example of a Big Cartel shop

An alternative to Etsy and Not On The High Street would be Folksy or Big Cartel. Folksy and Big Cartel offer cheaper fees, but on the other hand, are not very well known. However, if you do have a large existing following of people who want to buy your products, then you could link the store to your other social media profiles & gain publicity/interest that way. 

It's about weighing up whether it is worth paying more, in order to be on a more widely recognised platform, or to spend time on social media elsewhere, and then link to your online store. Ultimately its all down to whether you have the time to maintain these stores, as well as your other social media commitments. 

If time is an issue, then RedBubble or Society6 fulfil the orders for you, but then you get less money & loose out on the responsibilities of fulfilling customer satisfaction. 

Below is a table that I created, comparing the pros and cons of each website:

Portfolio Site/Showcase

AOI 

Example of an artists portfolio

- The Association of Illustrators' website offers a professional and high-end platform to display your work.

- Although not free, you will receive discounted services through the AOI, such as portfolio advice and support.

- The AOI is a recognised platform for potential clients to find your work.

- The website is also made just for illustrators, and not any other creative disciplines.

- However it could be argued that the website lacks the 'personal touch', which you get from more 'social' sites such as Instagram: 

Instagram 

Example of an illustrator's Instagram page

- Instagram is free to sign up, and is solely made for sharing photos - whether it be illustrations or not.

- The laid back theme of the site allows followers to learn more about the artist. It is more personal, as you also get to see the process and behind the scenes of some work.

- Instagram is also a great way to link to your website/shops, so you are getting publicity for your other outlets. 

- It's not the most professional platform, but is an effective way of reaching large audiences, which could catch the eye of a potential client. 

So perhaps it would be a good idea to have both types of portfolios: one professional, and the other more social. This way you can reach all types of audiences, and benefit from them both - you would just have to keep the two updated, which would take more time. However, your profile on the AOI requires less maintenance than Instagram, as you would just upload main pieces of work, rather than small projects and images of work in progress. 

Online Resources - Website Categories - BAIL104

The first task of BAIL 104 was to categorise different websites into the grid provided:

Flickr https://www.flickr.com/

- Site not specifically for illustrators, but can be used to present work online

- Site is made with creativity in mind, most common purpose is photography portfolios

- Can be made into a more professional portfolio site, if the right content & information is added by the user

Association of Illustrators (AOI) http://www.theaoi.com/

- Very professional portfolio platform

- Need to be approved & have to pay in order to be shown on the site 

- Specifically aimed at illustrators & potential clients sourcing the perfect artist

- They produce 'Varoom' and portfolios, which showcase the illustrators on the site

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

- More 'casual' portfolio platform
- Good way to communicate and learn from other illustrators
- A way to gain a fanbase/following
- Not made especially for illustrators, but artists usually make accounts dedicated just to their illustrations
- Can link to other websites and contact information

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/
- Very casual platform
- Although not designed to be a portfolio, illustrators can make a page to showcase their work in a more professional manner
- Easy sharing can be an effective way for spreading your work across large audiences
- Normally attracts smaller and more personal commissions, rather than work from big corporate businesses.

Folio http://www.folioart.co.uk/
- Illustrators agency that showcases artists work
- Professional platform
- Need to send in an application & need to be approved in order to be represented
- Good platform to be recognised & be picked up by big named clients

Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/
- Informal platform
- Good way to get your work around
- Effective way to gain a following, especially a young audience
- Perhaps wouldn't catch the eye of big businesses
- Free to sign up & personalise as you wish

Big Active http://www.bigactive.com/
- A collection of successful illustrators work is presented online
- A very 'high-end' following of clients, so would be a great way to get your work recognised
- Would have to be well known enough in order to be accepted
- Also specialises in graphic design & other creative disciplines
- Your work that you upload, would be re-posted by users & would spread across audiences that way

Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/
- Could be used as a portfolio, but not a very professional platform
- Would be a great way to get your work 'out there' & to gain a following
- Free to sign up, but design of page cannot be customised
- Would attract fans, rather than potential clients
- Opportunity to learn new skills and techniques
- Usually links to professional websites
- Not made just for illustration, more of a lifestyle website
- Good for inspiration & finding starting points

Handsome Frank http://handsomefrank.com/
- Illustration agency
- Would have to be accepted in order to be represented & to have work shown online
- Small portfolios of artists work
- Would attract future clients
- Blog sits within website, which highlights recent works

Behance https://www.behance.net/
- Online portfolio website
- Would be a more professional online portfolio when compared to traditional social media sites (this one is more specialised)
- Free to sign up
- Easy communication with other illustrators
- Not specifically just for illustration, as it is for all creative disciples
- Support networks & opportunities to learn new skills

Twitter https://twitter.com/
- Social platform
- Enables fans to keep in touch
- Allows you to build a social network
- You can upload photos of work, but would most likely link to your website/online portfolio
- Could help to attract future clients by posting recent work
- Could easily reach large audiences through re-tweets and likes

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/
- Acts as an online CV & would present your skills and experience to employers
- Maybe not suited well to illustrators, as it showcases all subject areas & specialities
- Could lead to a support network

Illustration Friday http://illustrationfriday.com/
- Weekly illustration challenges/competitions
- Free to sign up
- Blog integrated in site, which highlights weekly winners
- Great way to meet similar people, gain a following & to learn new skills
- Links to your website/social media, rather than uploading onto the site
- Online community
- Opportunity to advertise on the site (paid)

Blogger https://www.blogger.com/
- Website is for all blog types, but you can freely personalise the look of your blog to fit your work
- Free to create an account
- Slightly limited with the presentation of your work
- Could attract fanbase & clients
- Allows you to see other people's work & processes

It's Nice That http://www.itsnicethat.com/
- Online blog/news feed that features upcoming illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, and artists
- You have to be discovered by the team that runs the website, in order to be featured in one of their articles
- You can submit your own work, by using the online form, which helps your chances at being noticed by the team
- Focuses on certain projects, rather than all work done by an artist
- Interviews with artists allow you to lean new things
- Publish 'Printed Pages' which includes examples of work from illustrators/graphic designers (published twice a year)
- Would be a great platform to be noticed by clients & to gain a fanbase

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/
- Website only has videos
- Would be better suited for animators, as they would be able to post their final pieces
- However, illustrators can upload videos showing their process, and discussing relevant topics. For example Holly Exley creates videos all about illustration
- Would be a great way to gain a following, which would then be interested in buying your work
- Could link to your other social media websites
- Could attract the attention of clients
- Learn new techniques and processes
- Allows creative discussion in the comments & creates an online community

Skillshare https://www.skillshare.com/
- Online classes which allow you to learn new skills
- Free to get started
- Not just art-based classes, so it's not specific to just illustration
- You can upload an online portfolio to show others what you have made as a result of the classes
- Online community

Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/
- Way to sell your own handmade products
- Free to sign up & to customise your profile
- Can link to other social media
- Online community of other creative people
- Etsy does charge a monthly listing fee & takes a fee when a sale is made
- Can build up a reputation through reviews

RedBubble https://www.redbubble.com/ Society6 https://society6.com/
- Upload your designs & orders are made and fulfilled by the company on your behalf
- Free to sign up & to create a profile
- The company takes a percentage of the sale. You just get paid for providing the design

BigCartel https://www.bigcartel.com/
- Allows you to create a platform for an online store
- You have to pay for a 'plan' which is proportionate to the amount of listings you have (charged monthly)
- All orders are made and fulfilled by you
- Allows you to have the support from the company, rather than being solo with your own personal website shop
- Online community
- Doesn't take a fee from any sales

Not On The Highstreet http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/
- All orders are fulfilled by yourself
- UK based
- Really useful & well known platform to get your work recognised
- Have to be approved to be able to sell on the site
- One-off joining fee (It costs £199 £238.80 including VAT) to join, and you pay a 25% commission (plus VAT on each sale) [1]

Folksy https://folksy.com/
- 'UK equivalent of Etsy' [1]
- Smaller platform, but just suited for handmade items (no manufactured or vintage items)
- 15p per item, or unlimited listings for £45, with a 6% (plus VAT) commission on each sale
- Would need to build up other social media profiles, in order to drive traffic to these sites

Tiger Print http://www.tigerprint.uk.com/ Ohh Deer https://ohhdeer.com/
- Professional network which sources illustrators to create work to sell
- These companies work with well known clients, so is a great way to get your work out there
- They would also promote these products, which would bring publicity back to you - further your client base and following
- Very limited illustrators and artists working with them

[1] https://www.theguardian.com.money/2015/feb/05/make-money-from-hobby

Final Editorial Illustration - BAIL102

It's hand in day! Here is my finalised editorial illustration:

Evaluation:

List the positive aspects of your STAGE ONE experience – explain how have these progressed and influenced your STAGE TWO work and by continuation your FINAL OUTCOME.

I think that during stage 1, I was able to create a big variety of work, experimenting with different styles, techniques, and processes. This is what I had found particularly valuable for when moving forward in stage 2. However, perhaps what was most valuable for me was the mindset that the ‘reduced imagery work’ gave me. I found out that creating an image is one thing, but to be able to reduce down and to eliminate what isn’t important, is what was most valuable. 
The piece of advice that really got my ideas developing, was to jump straight in with rendering my designs. This way I was given a more instant indication to whether the idea would be successful or not, rather than just playing around with colourless sketches.

These skills came into action when making my final illustration for my article, as I kept reminding myself to get rid of the elements that weren’t adding anything to the final image. This also helped me to think about simplicity in terms of colours and detail, so that I would add just enough, without it becoming too overpowering as a finished editorial illustration, accompanied with text. 

What feedback did you receive from your PEER/SELF ASSESSMENT and GROUP TUTORIALS? How has this been applied to your project work?
Other thing which stood out to me in my feedback, was to make the most important elements of the image really bold and to stand out. For example the swimmer inside the timer wasn’t obvious enough, so that lead me into making it bolder and more of a focus than it was before. It was these little adjustments which helped my final image to become as successful as they can be.

How might the FINAL OUTCOME be developed further? What would you continue given another week? 

Although I am really happy with how my final illustrations came out, I would have liked to have more time with experimenting with the background. Despite the plain background working well with my illustrations (as it helps them to stand out), it would have been nice to experiment with different options & ways to make it perhaps a bit more interesting. Maybe even after trying different designs I would go back to a plain backdrop, but the process of experimentation would have been interesting, and could have sparked a different thought path. 

* Full and complete evaluation in sketchbook *

Experience Reflection - Interior Design - BAIS300

What was the experience/workshop/session?
For my first interdisciplinary experience workshop, I took part in a short workshop which introduced me to the basics of interior design.

The first session was spent discussing photoshoots and what equipment is required. We were then put into groups and were left to work out what we wanted to create for a photoshoot. The following week was a test run, and then the final shoot was the week after that.

Group mood-board (click to enlarge)

How do you feel about the process?
If I was completely honest I was a little disappointed with the whole experience. Firstly I had signed up to learn about interior design, however when it came to planning for the photoshoot, the tutor said that it didn't have to be of an interior - which I thought was quite pointless. Because of this I found like everyone wanted to do different things, so when it came to working in groups, it was hard to settle on a group idea. This perhaps limited how successful we all were, as if we were set limitations to create something within interior design (as expected), then I think time could have been spent just concentrating in that field, rather than considering other options.

Furthermore, I feel like we were left to our own devices, rather than being taught some new skills - which was a bit disheartening when I had expectations to learn something new.

How will you apply this in the future?
Although I didn't learn many new skills, I did build on my team work and basic photoshoot skills, which would come in handy in many different situations.

What would you like to build on?
I would have liked to learn more about photoshoots specific to interior design. Also to work with natural lighting, rather than studio lights.

How could this relate to Gods & Monsters?
I could create a photoshoot using a model/image of my monster in the real world.

Sadly I wasn't able to attend the last session due to illness, but below is what my group created:

Discovering Time in the Spatial - BCOP100

Today's lecture was a continuation from last weeks. We continued to discuss the idea of 'space and the everyday', and how in order to become a successful illustrator, you have to be able to question the ordinary. The digital space of the internet allows people like us, to share our work instantly all over the world, with one simple click - and this space is a totally different type of 'space' that we normally associate with.

After we were taken out on a walk (a walk in the spatial), and discovered elements of the city that showed us aspects of time. We talked about how every city is a palimpsest, as they show traces of history in the physical structures. These are normally intertwined with buildings and new developments that are modern in comparison, but as a collection present a space in which time is evident and history is layered. 

Palimpsest is "something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form" [1], and a prime example of this is vellum, in which previous writings are scraped off the 'paper' in order to write over the top - however the traces of previous text can still be seen underneath. 

On our walk we came across paving stones which were made from limestone, which were pitted in effort to make them less slippery. We also found the same stones that were used to decorate the exterior of church windows - which is now used as a lecture hall, instead of a place of worship. We also found buildings on the campus of Plymouth University which were made of prehistoric stone - in which if you look closely you can see fossilised oysters and ammonites. This material was also used to make the flooring inside too.

The pitted paving stones

The prehistoric stone

All of these examples presented the idea on how time can be found on the spaces that we see everyday. Most people who walked the same path as we did will never stop to notice these hidden details which indicate past history. However it is only until you look in the opposite direction as everyone else, you will discover these treasures that give an entire space a new meaning and reason for appreciation. 

My response

In response to the theme of the lecture, I decided to look through the photos I have on my phone to see whether any of them showcase beauty in the ordinary, or examples when I have noticed something extraordinary:

Its hard to see as the photo is blurry, but this was taken on New Years Eve this year. It's of a table at my friend's restaurant and I had noticed an ammonite in the stone, just like the ones we discovered on our walk. I asked my friend whether she had noticed it before, but she said that she hadn't - this is a perfect example of discovering everyday things by being observant and curious!

This photo looks like it was taken by a mistake, but actually it was quickly snapped from the bus window as I had spotted something quite beautiful:

It was a single perfect yellow leaf. Although mundane and ordinary for some, it is another example of finding something beautiful in the everyday. Most people would have never noticed it, but I personally felt the need to take a photo to document the moment. 

This last one was taken during the first week at PCA. Many of us found the collection of chalk dust quite fascinating and all took photos of it. It could be argued that this is too a kind of palimpsest, as the layering of chalk represents the layers of messages written on the board above. 

[1] Oxford Dictionaries (2017). [online]. Definition of palimpsest in English. Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/palimpsest [Accessed on 24th January 2017]

[2] Vellum & Palimpsest: Wikipedia (2017). [online]. Palimpsest. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palimpsest [Accessed on 24th January 2017]

Feedback during BAIL102

STAGE 1 Feedback

After receiving feedback for STAGE 1 of my project, I was able to see the areas that I could improve on when moving forward into STAGE 2. I definitely plan to enrich my work with some artist research in the next stage, but I also need to document my thought process more clearly. Plus, to try new processes and to keep pushing & developing my ideas. 

Feedback during STAGE 2

The group tutorials have been very helpful when it comes to suggesting new ideas and processes that I would have never had thought of. I was suggested ways to save time when rendering my ideas, and encouraged to get stuck in straight away with bringing some of my sketches to life. All of these pieces of advice and suggestions all feed into making my final design as effective as possible. 

I also received really helpful advice from my peers and family, which too all helped me to view my designs from a different perspective. 

I think when it comes to making the most successful and impressive illustrations, it is essential to receive feedback frequently, to keep your development of ideas on the right track. 

Space & The Everyday - BCOP100

Today we focused on the concept of space. We started by trying to figure out what space was, which ranged from: the galaxy, distance, the universe and everything around us…

Descartes describes space as being extension, and so anything that has extension exists in space. 

A place becomes a space when someone occupies it, for example when a street performer occupies a street, it becomes a performance space. The way that we see a space, is how we affect it. 

We can walk in all directions in space: up, down, sideways... and Georges Perec believes that we should look in the direction that others do not. We should take notice of the mundane, common and ordinary and to make them essential to us. In this day and age it's always the rare occurrences and extraordinary events that are brought to light in the media. However, it's the quotidian that we should focus on.

When someone asks you, "what did you do today", commonly we answer "nothing". But really this is not the case, as each day we do so many things and see so many things. We are so quick to gloss over them because they are 'the normal to us'. It's only when we begin to stop and notice the ordinary things is when we can make them essential to our life and recognise the beauty of them. Very often we do things automatically and live without thinking, when really we should be observing every little detail of what surrounds us. 

"question your tea spoons" - Georges Perec [2]

As artists we should document the everyday and question everything, rather than ignoring, assuming and just accepting things that have become 'normal' to us. 

I decided that in response, I would try to look into something 'ordinary' to us all: bus seats. It's something that we all just glance over and don't think twice about, but really there is a reason for the typical crazy patterns that we find:

Really they serve a purpose to mask, hide, and disguise the dirt that accumulates over the years. The busy fabric print works as an 'illusion' which seems to make the dirt invisible. So what seems a 'normal' occurrence to us, really is there to make the seats appear clean and acceptable to sit on. 

"Their complex mind-reading designs are employed to hide unwanted graffiti and disgusting stains so that to the commuters eye, it's a normal (albeit, ugly) seat." [1]

To further my response, I created a collage focused on trying to replicate the fabric pattern on my bus:

Even the simple process of trying to replicate something, whether it be a drawing, painting or collage, you are forcing yourself to notice the details that you would never have noticed before. During this task that I set myself, I looked at each element of the design in order to recreate them accurately: the background 'block design', and then the orange and yellow shapes, which ended up reminding me of bananas and jelly beans - which is something that I would have never observed before.

[1] Short List (2015). [online]. Ever wondered why bus seats always have rubbish patterns? Available at: http://www.shortlist.com/news/there-s-a-good-reason-why-bus-seats-look-so-ugly [Accessed 17th January 2017]

[2] Georges Perec (1973). [online]. The Indra-Ordinary: Approaches to what? Available at: http://daytodaydata.ellieharrison.com/georgesperec.html [Accessed on 17th January 2017]