Sarah's Blog

The end of Phase one

Times up

Its been 3 months since i set out on this journey and after the trials and tribulations I believe that things are starting to make sense.After countless drafts of proposals and learning agreements It’s finally finished.I think this aspect of the PGC stage  was most challenging but since competition i feel a real sence of an achievement .When i began, I had no specific target audience, i was unsure of my final aim.After weeks of struggling though dry patches  I feel like im finally getting somewhere.Before i started the  MA I was less than confident about my research skills but i now firmly believe that i will achieve the goals i have set for myself.Looking back at my bibliography i cant believe just how much information ive taken in within the space of two months.Im thoughorly looking forward to getting stuck into the practical work.

My current research has now fixed me on the path of visual communication in editorial illustration.My most recent  eureka moment was during and after the content/context illustration seminar in sheffield.It really helped me clarify and define parts of my rationale.I will be visiting london in the few weeks to visit some relevent exhibitions I hope to see Peter Davies: The Epoch of Perpetual Happiness and The Object of the Attack.I really wanted to see ann exhibition in the James Hockey & Foyer Galleries in Farnham which is open till 12th december but unfortunately it will not be possible due to limited time and funds.

Over Christmas I plan to shake of this cold and catch up on some research.Over the last few weeks I’ve began to update my blog and shift my research notes onto the journal.I started the journal quite late in the term.I found the concept quite alien as ive never had to or felt the desire to blog before.I found it a little difficult to get into but I’m now getting into the flow of things and i’d like to have transferred as mush data as i can over the christmas break.That way when i begin the PGD Phase everything should be a little easier to access and hopefully a lot more organised.I cant wait to get stuck in to the visual work in next term .I have spent so much time trying to get my head around the different elements of visual language I’ve hardly had any time to do what feels most natural to me, drawing.Its seemed as if everything was against it in the last few weeks.When I thought i was getting somewhere with my research i’d hit another dead-end, or i would find myself spending hours staring at the learning agreement template trying to absorb research notes or get my head around Powerpoint and presentation ettique.Writting does not come naturally to me .Or at least the learning agreement didnt . I have come to realise that I might have been making things too complicated for myself .I am now learning to take a step back from the research when it begins to swallow me whole and have found new ways to deal with the creative walls i seem to keep hitting when i indulge in too many books at once.Irit Rognoff said in Academy as Potentiality (http://summit.kein.org/node/191)

“Meaning is never produced in isolation…but rather through intricate webs of connectedness”

and I second that motion. The mind fog clears during lectures ,seminars,exhibitions and chance meetings with other visual practitioners.At least now I know when to do when creative block strikes. Which is exactly what Neil Cresswell said in his lecture,

“you can only analyse the mistakes you’ve made to make progress”

19/11/09.Neil Cresswell.Illustrator

I have a lot to organise over the next few weeks, regarding interviews for my research in the PGD Phase and a few personal matters to deal with too.Unfortunatly Ma commitments and the work load have had a few repercussions as ive put everything but research on hold.Hopefully i’ll be able to change appointments and begin to sort out the mess in the next few weeks.Im really looking forward to starting afresh in the PGD phase too.I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up in this phase, as in the first two months of term I had a three-day week retail job,which caused conflicts with the course dates and then conflicts with the job.Needless to say it was a very difficult couple of months and I had to leave.I have a lot of respect for anyone else who’s juggling a job and a MA. It’s very difficult having to deal with the pressure from both sides . Commitments also affected artistic opportunities as I had to turn down a cooperative residency in france and cancel a scheduled treatment on the NHS due to a late change of the timetable.Im glad that we will have more flexible timetable next year to dedicate to furthering our research how we see fit. I hope there are no other conflicting dates.

As difficult as some parts of the year have been,Ive really enjoyed it so far.I have especially enjoyed working within my tutorial groups.Everyone always has something to say constructive about each others work and we often meet up outside lectures to discuss our progress and make helpful suggestions.

I have noticed an improvement in my presentation skills,im taking more precise and relevent notes during lectures and have started to develope a deeper understanding of my approach to study ,how to correct inconsistencies and deal with mental and creative bloaks.I have also gained confidence within my writing skills within these last few months.I really enjoyed the writing workshop at the start of term and i credit some growth in my writing abilities to the blog.Looking back at the technical skills we had to rate in the skills and development plan I now doubt that i will improve  in illustrator as I will have little use for it during the year,I may prove myself wrong next year but for now at least should i decided to improve my digital illustration skills it will be with Photoshop.

“the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or viewed” – Derby university (http://www.derby.ac.uk/visual-communication)

Tuesday 1st December

Meeting with Douglas

After my meeting with Douglas I feel I have even more to do before monday .My work load seems to be increasing compared to other class mates who seem to be floating toward our PGC assessments.For now the increasing reading list will have to wait whilst i reorganise my presentation, rewrite the learning agreement and attend the content/context seminar in Sheffield tomorrow.The timing of the seminar is unfortunate but I cannot ignore its relevance to my subject matter.