I was asked by Susan of oldfashionedsusie.com to illustrate her re-occurring “Agony Aunt Susie” article in Vintage Life Magazine. I was pleased to do so and am looking forard to seeing some of my work on print on a regular basis.
Though if you want to know what this article is about, you’ll have to read the upcoming issue of Vintage Life (available at WH Smith and other retailers).
I’m actively trying to be a more positive person. After a life time of ‘glass half empty’ outlooks and being rather predisposed to negativity, I cannot say it’s going to be easy. But I think it’s worth it. The anxiety being a negative nelly generates in me is the root of many problems in my life, mainly my depression. As far back as I can remember, I’ve suffer from anxiety, from hive-breakouts when I was a child, to the much deeper manifestation it takes as an adult.
I put a lot of pressure on myself and when I fail to be the best (in my eyes), I break down.
I am no longer going to compare myself to others, worry about what others think or what they’re doing. The focus is going to be on me, what I’ve achieved and what I can achieve using my talent. No more doubting myself. I know I have talent. I also I know I still have a long way to go, illustration-wise, but I do know it comes naturally to me and that I am good at it. I said it, I am good. Now, I don’t always believe that, as we all have our doubts about ourselves, but my long-term aim is to believe it and utilise it to the best of my ability. I want to be a confident, happy person. Not a lot to ask – whilst I’d love to win the lottery or a multitude of other things, they’re not going to make my happy deep down. I want to be happy by default. It’s going to be a long journey and it starts with turning negative thoughts into positive ones. Where that’s not possible, it’s about shrugging it off and seeing ways around it and finding the good somewhere else to focus on.
Those who know me in person know this will be a challenge, but it’s something I need to do and want to do. I’m sick of being unstable and emotional. I am going to be a better person and I am going to make it, no matter what anyone else says.
I’ve finally got past the “thinking and developing” stage of my first final major project for uni. To be honest, it lasted a little too long, but at least I’ve got something to share now. I’m not sure if I explained the idea behind this project, but if not, I’ll let you have a guess at what it’s about and will explain later! I’ve gone back to using paint and markers for this brief, which I’ve surprisingly enjoyed and which I think work quite well. It’s definitely made me put more thought into these pieces, being limited by media, than I have recently on other projects.
Here are the three pieces brought (near enough) to completion so far:
Let me know what you think!
PS. If anyone has tried to be in touch via email recently, I’ve been having trouble with my email, so I’ve set up a new account on a different server. So, if you have been in touch and I’ve not gotten back to you, please try again at: hello@megan-thomas.com.
I have had a website for quite some time now, having played with HTML, PHP and CSS for as long as I can remember having a computer. However, for the first time in a while, my website actually reflects me and my work and will hopefully lead to illustration work (which it already has, so grateful!). Whilst I am by no means a web-wizard, I think my solid understanding of coding has helped me immensely. My website will never be finished, by any means, as I will constantly be evolving and hopefully my website will evolve with me. I currently use a wordpress theme that allows me to update quickly and efficiently, and also allows me to keep things tidy. I would like to develop a custom theme for myself, but I haven’t got the time at the moment, so I plan on using what themes I can find that suit me and allow for some adaptability.
I like simple, non-fussy layouts, where everything is at easy reach and straightforward. I have to keep in mind, a simple page is likely the most attractive to a prospective client as everything is “there”, no trolling through links to find my work. The average viewer will decide whether or not a website is worth their time in the 1st ten seconds, so something to capture their attention and keep it is a must.
I like my current layout, though I do plan on making it more personalised over time. eg. Changing the menu text at the top to customised images and playing around with the project image sizes and shapes a bit more. However, I do like the fact that everything I need is on the front page, my contact details, testimonials and press, everything I want to share about myself just a click away. I would also like to personalise the logo more and replace the type with something hand drawn, as I quite enjoy drawing type and would like this to be reflected more through out my website. There are a few other little bits that I’ll be changing over the next few weeks, as I update with more projects and discover what needs doing by going with the flow as such.
For my final major project, I’ve decided (under the influence of Laura Gilbert) to digitalise my catalogue of research. Atleast, some of it. Mainly I’ll be posting visual inspiration rather than references (which will remain tangible in a sketchbook). It’s been a while since I’ve looked at other artists for inspiration, as I get quite overwhelmed with the copious amounts of work/artists out there. However, as I’m taking a new path in how I’ll be working, I thought it would be nice to remind myself of similar things that I’m striving for.
Some of the artists featured were found randomly through un-related google searches, and others sourced from other blogs. I think all have a similarity, beyond the way they work and I hope that my upcoming work will match the strengths and talents of these artists.
On the same day I had my meeting with Lucy at LIFTI, I was made aware of a visiting Surface Design lecture my friend Emma Thorpe. We both decided to go as we both have varying interests in textiles and surface applications.
We were a little bit late, as we only heard about the lecture as it was starting, and were introduced to Julie Haslam. She’s a textiles lecturer at MMU, as well, she runs her own business selling her designs that have been digitally printed (something I’ve been looking into myself for a series of silk scarves).
After her lecture, we were able to ask her questions. As illustrators, both Emma and I were a bit wary of asking anything, but in the end, I’m glad I did. My first question, asked in front of the other students was “As an illustrator, I’m interested in creating a series of scarves for which I’ve considered digital printing. Do you have an advice for someone approaching textiles from this angle?”, to which she replied that nothing should stop me if it’s what I want to do and gave me examples of a few artists she knows who’ve done the same, crossing the two pathways and quite successfully. She also mentioned a couple of businesses whom look for graduates to work with.
After the lecture, I waited until everyone else had left to ask one more question. Though I have a lot of interest in creating textiles myself, I also have an interest in fashion illustration. She had mentioned a fashion illustrator she had worked with in her presentation, so I thought I’d ask for some advice regarding that. I asked how I should approach working with textile designers and she told me just to do it. Email, write, call magazines or designers that I think my work would suit and just do it. I told her I worry, as an illustrator and as a student, about contacting people. She told me not to worry and just do it. If my work was strong enough and relevant I shouldn’t be afraid. She said I might get ‘no’ 99 out 100 times, but it only takes the one person to say yes to start the ball rolling. I then asked her if she would take a quick look at my fashion illustrations (as I had my portfolio handy from my earlier portfolio visit) and she kindly obliged. She said my work was distinct and definitely strong enough for me to contact magazines/etc about working with them. So, I think I shall do.
It was good to get the opinion of someone who works in fashion and textiles, as my tutors don’t specialise in the area and can only give me so much feedback. I’m glad I went to her lecture, for it was both interesting and helpful as well as great to talk to someone in another design related industry about my work.
I had originally been booked into see Stuart at LITFI, though he was unable to make our meeting. However, his colleague, Lucy stepped into his place.
It was an excellent and very positive portfolio viewing, like the others, which is nice. It’s lovely to get a much needed little confidence boost. I’m still struggling to find a happy place when it comes to my work and I still bring myself down so much. I see others, who I know I’m better/more skilled than, who have so much more confidence than myself. And that’s why they get work. So, if I want to carry on getting work, or an agent in the future, I need to step it up and feel proud of myself for what I can do, rather than be so hard on myself. Though easier said than done.
Anyway, so Lucy and I spent a good long while chatting about my work and she made me think about how I can apply it to more than just paper. I’ve been thinking about this for a while myself, but Lucy, as a graphic designer, sees beyond just pretty pictures. She gave me some ideas to think about, ones that had never crossed my mind, and it excites me to think about where I can take my work in the future. I’ve always been afraid of pushing it, for the fear that no one else will like/understand where I’m coming from, which holds me back in so many ways. I know I have some great ideas, it’s having the confidence to say “this is what I’m doing, whether you like it or not”. It was good to be pushed into thinking about it more and actually conversing with someone outside of my head (I talk to myself a lot). I’m going to start recording my ideas in a book, because knowing my goldfish memory, it’ll all be gone by tomorrow if I don’t.
She liked my entire portfolio and couldn’t decide on a favourite piece, but she said she loved my fashion illustration and could see it working in many ways. Just another confirmation it’s what I should be doing, because it’s what I love and what I’m good at. I enjoy all types of illustration, but fashion just comes so naturally to me.
Lucy has told me she wants my final end of year show to be the biggest and best and told me to keep in touch. I hope I don’t let her down.
A quick jump back to September and my personal project from term one… Well, it hasn’t happened yet. I was all over the place in term one and quickly it got out of hand. So, having been blessed with a second chance (and a Dr’s note), I am finally settling down to work on this project. Again, like my final major, I don’t want to share the theme quite yet, but I am quite excited to say it will involve animation. Outside of a bit of stop-motion animation that I did in first year (you can see the atrocity here, I’ve not done anything like this before, so have enlisted the help of a friend from the Moving Image course, Kirsty Newman to help. Also, as it turns out, this term we’ll be with the Moving Image instructor one morning a week to pick his brain, so that should come in handy as well.
I am looking forward to this little project, as though it’s something I’ve not considered much in the past, the idea has definitely grown on me and I can already see the finished product in my head.
A while back, before Christmas (actually, a long while back…), I had a chat with my tutor Ian and went over my portfolio. I had, at that point, already had a few portfolio visits so was late to the game having Ian look at the layout. Luckily, he liked the general order of things, also agreeing with me (and others) that my fashion illustration is best kept in it’s own section, as it’s strong as deserves it’s own space.
Pleasingly, he also agreed that I should concentrate on my hand drawn illustrations, as he feels my strengths shine through and would set me apart, as he says not many other illustrators have those hand rendering skills. I, in the past, have relied heavily on digital work as it’s so much quicker for a procrastinator like me, however, I have decided to change this and take longer to consider my projects outcomes.
My newest project is my final major project for university. I have decided to break the project down into three smaller projects, as I feel sixteen weeks would have been too long for me to focus on one project, impatient as I am. During my talk with Ian, we touched on this and he told me to look at my interests/themes before deciding on a possible client for the outcome. I’m quite strong at fulfilling clients needs, but often have difficulty writing my own briefs, so I think was essential to help me get “creative” again. He also told me that as I work in a decorative way, but often lack more depth in my pieces (I admit, I do look at pretty before content – naughty me), to find artists who work in a similar way but within context. I have found this quite difficult, as many decorative illustrators seem to be in a similar boat to myself and just “make pretty”. I would like to change that about my own work, giving it more meaning and depth, which would then broaden my scope for future work and clients. If anyone out there can recommend artists as mentioned about to me, I would be very grateful.
Whilst I have not decided on themes for all three projects (am taking it in my stride), I have done so for my current work. I’m not going to divulge my ideas here quite yet though, but will as they come together. I may even share little tidbits out of context and see if you can figure it out on your own.
Last week I had a second portfolio visit with Craig Oldham of Music, a Manchester-based design agency.
I had met Craig previously, as myself, Dom and Paul are in the midst of working on a collaboration with Music itself and, of course, Craig had previously visited the college as a guest lecturer, for which I designed the poster.
When I arrived, I was greeted by Craig and we moved into the “fish tank” to begin our meeting. He was very busy and told me he’d have limited time to see me, but I think we spoke for about 30 minutes, which is not too bad. I had spent about an hour with Helen at Taylor O’Brien, which I thought a generous amount of time. As time was short, we got right into it and I passed my portfolio over to him.
I started by explaining each piece as he came across it, stating which I enjoyed the most and not. Surprisingly, my piece for Macmillan that I did last year was his favourite, yet it’s one of my least favourites. He also felt my editorial and 8×8 were my weakest pieces, which again, is funny, as they seem to be others favourites (though not of mine). He said my portfolio was the most eclectic he’d ever seen, but he felt that worked in my favour as it shows, much like Helen said, that I would be easy to work with as I can stretch myself to the clients needs. He also told me not to let anyone to convince me to change my varying ways of working as he feels it will lead me to success. He liked how strong my technical skills were, particularly in the hand-rendered work (cicada and fashion illustration) and that it was nice to see such strong skills across both traditional and digital work.
Overall, it was quite a successful visit and I left feeling reassured about the diversity in my portfolio. It also confirms that I have the skill and would like to spend more time working in traditional methods after spending so long focusing on digital.
