summative position statement

As an illustrator I feel my practice is one that is very experimental and process led, focused on an exploration into shape and texture. The playful aesthetic within the developmental work is often transferred into finished pieces using a mixture of processes such as mono print, lino print, collage and digital. My practice approaches a verity of themes and subject matters but is all held together by a strong tone of voice. My work currently fits mainly into editorial and publishing, due to a love for literature and illustration with a sense of narrative. However, I am very open to all opportunities where my work can be applied.

I have been sending my work out to publishers, magazine art directors and agencies, and will continue doing so through the form of emails and mailers. I have set up an internship at the advertising agency J Walter Thompson for two weeks over the summer. Just the experience of going for the meeting and talking about my work gave me a insight into how it works, how agents sell the people they represent and how illustration fits into advertising. Going for the internship will develop my professional practice even more so by boosting my confidence in selling myself as an illustrator as well as building up contacts for the future.

Traditional print has been a big part of my practice, and something I intend to carry on. So I have looked into affordable print studios I will join when I am back in London; this will allow my process to continue to develop and not stagnate. I will need a job when back in London but alongside that I will continue to produce work, create briefs for myself and enter competitions while also sending out my work very regularly to relevant people. My plan for the not-to-distant future is to be an established illustrator with my own studio space, with enough frequent commissions to be able to sustain myself solely on my practice.