End of module self evaluation-Visual language

1.  Which practical skills and methodologies have you developed within this module and how effectively do you think you are employing them within your own practice?
From start to finish I feel like I’ve learnt so much. For me, the most noticeable developments came   in the second part of visual language, such as composition, value, and line of sight. Understanding the components to each of these essential parts of image making, and how much effect they can have on your work was really eye opening for me. Every time I produce a piece of work now, I consider the composition, the line of sight and how it will be read by the viewer. The freedom of experimentation that came with this module was also something I’ll definitely take away. From screen-printing to working with shape and texture, and everything in between. Its all been such valuable learning for me.
2. Which principles/ theories of image making have you found most valuable during this module and how effectively do you think you are employing these within your own practice?
Learning about composition was definitely the most valuable principle I learnt when it came to image making. The idea that roughs can all be so very different and yet have the exact same components has really stuck with me, and has really helped me to develop and refine my own work. Understanding that the composition can change the atmosphere of a piece is another highly valuable theory that I've taken away from this module. I understand all about these theories and techniques now, but need to continue practicing them and reflecting in order to effectively progress.
3. What strengths can you identify within your Visual Language submission you capitalise on these?
Experimenting out of my comfort zone always seemed to work well for me. I really loved using various techniques to make images, such as using my own photography, and creating my own costumes. For me, visual language was an eye opener in the sense that illustration is not just pencil and paper. It gave you the ability to get creative, and to do things i never thought I would. The 3D lens and lens brief was one of my personal favorites, as well as the collage posters, mainly for the reasons above. To capitalize on these I must continue to work with array of media and vary the techniques I use throughout the next two years and beyond. I would like to incorporate photography wherever I can too.
4. What areas for development can you identify within your Visual Language submission and how will you address these in the future?
Drawing from observation was something I really struggled with during the first few weeks. For a while I really lacked confidence in getting the information down as soon as I saw it. I hated making mistakes. As the course progressed I don't feel as afraid to get things wrong anymore, but I definitely need to continue working on this. To improve on this I would like to start going to a life drawing class, and also taking an hour or two in the week where I simply sit and draw things from life. I would also like to continue to develop my compositions, as sometimes I feel I still think inside the box rather than the bigger picture. I’m slowly getting there, but know it'll take some more practice before I'm content with the work I'm producing.
5. In what way has this module informed how you deconstruct and analyse artwork (whether your own or that of contemporary practitioners)? I can’t look at a piece of work now without looking for the line of sight, or where the artist has used texture etc. I analyze work in a whole new light thanks to the Tuesday sessions. The components we have been taught when it comes to image making have always been in the artists works that I love, its just now I know that they're there, and see what they do to the piece in order to make it work as well as it does. Coming away from each session and personally researching and then creating work based on each method also helped me to analyze what works and what doesn’t. This module has given me the ability to understand where the strengths and weaknesses lie in image making.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance					x
Punctuality					x
Motivation					x
Commitment				x
Quantity of work produced				x
Quality of work produced				x
Contribution to the group
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.

A copy of your end of module self evaluation should be posted to your studio practice blog. This should be the last post before the submission of work and will provide the starting point for the assessment process. Post a copy of your evaluation to your PPP blog as evidence of your own on going evaluation.

I will..

Saying it is one thing, but having it in writing makes me much more determined to complete and achieve each statement on this list. Some of them are a case of keeping up with what I'm already doing, others I really need to work on. Like blogging daily, simple things that will make my work load a lot easier to handle. 

10 things...

Making lists is fun. Makes you think of the possible, and makes you eager (for me anyway). I may have gone off track a little with the things i would change. Sometimes i just wish i could make a difference, hopefully one day i will. Perhaps not on the scale of north Korea though. Visualising what i need to do and want to do makes it more memorable, and makes it all seem possible. Theres always things i want to change when it comes to me and my practice, but with everything else going on its easy to just let it slip. So in that sense the session today was really good for me to remember what I want to get better at, change and know more about.

Self promoting poster

Self promoting poster was a good eye opening brief for me. Made me realise that i really need to work on poster composition, and eye catching designs. After reviewing them all today, it was clear that the most successful posters were the humorous, well composed, eye catching ones. Im not unhappy with my personal outcome, but i need to work more on making a poster that stands out, and thats a clear promotion.

Visual map

This was a piece that reflects my journey from the beginning of the course to now. Its quite hard to visually portray the things you've learnt. Its really easy writing them down, but converting that into an illustration is difficult. This is a portrait of me, a train travelling to the city and all the important things I've learnt so far in the boxed. I used mark making to make it personal to me. Its pretty fun turning words into visual imagery, even if it is hard. Always solving problems!

Super Powers

I am no good when it comes to character design. But I'm having a lot more fun with it these days. This was an interesting PPP task. Making one of our fellow pupils into a superhero after having a brief conversation with them. Self promotion is something i find really difficult. Im not good at bigging myself up, but am aware that i need to do this in the competitive illustration industry. These PPP sessions are really helping me lately. I feel a little more self confident after these sessions, and i feel they help me to understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it a little more.