Amanda Gilbert PDP

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

A Bit About Me

Amanda Gilbert – Me, Myself and I

· How do I like to work?

I like to paint on canvas with acrylic paints. I like to research an idea and work towards a finished piece of art. I like to create clear stories with my images. I take a lot of photographs of nature which I use as the basis for some of my work.

· Who or what will inspire me?

I love the work of John Howe,, Julie Bell, Josephine Wall, Bente Schlick and Bernhard Vogel. I am inspired by themes of fantasy and magic, dreams, spirits and the natural world.

· What materials do I like to work with?

I like working with water colours, paper, canvas, ink and oil paints.

· Have any other modules/projects influenced my ideas?

I particularly enjoyed the book making workshops, which I have continued to explore in my practice. I also liked the ‘After Song to the Siren’ task and the way in which I was restricted from using black.

· What scale do I like to work at?

Some of my canvas work can be as big as A1, though most of my ink and watercolour work tends to be A4 or A3 size.

· Do I want to make a zine, a sketchbook, a magazine, a portfolio a comic, a unique object, a journal, an altered book…?

I intend to have a portfolio as well as an altered book.

· How could I make my book?

Using a needle and thread I intend to make the pages, which will then be attached to a hard cover. I am also thinking about adding a lock and key.

· How big will my book be?

I am not sure yet, possibly A4 or A3

· How many pages does it have?

I’m not sure. I am working on a storyboard to determine how many pages I will need.

· Does it still function as a book?

It will function as a normal storybook.

· What are it’s contents, it’s themes?

The book is about Mother Nature and the Snow Queen, it is a children’s story.

· Is there Text & Image? Just image? Or Just text?

The book is a children’s book, there will be text to support large illustrations.

· Does it have a visual style?

It will be a sort of fantasy art style

What I Do...

I specialize in children’s book illustration and fine art. I like to exhibit my fine art practices and observe the reaction of people to my work and the context surrounding my ideas. I like to create interesting, emotive pieces of art that convey feelings and ideas. I chose to study Illustration for my degree because I am very intrigued with the natural world and magical themes. Illustration allows me to explore this relation in a way that is accessible for young children. I enjoy working with a range of materials using different methods of print and image making to produce cards, posters and even bespoke books. I aim to capture and evoke feelings of love and soulful beauty, to bring colour and magic to children and adults, to excite and inspire through the wonder of nature and the limitless capabilities of fantasy. I take my visual inspiration from my garden and natural surroundings. Animals feature heavily in my work, I like to explore narratives that follow animals and give an insight into their lives and habits. I was always aware of the difficulties working in such a competitive industry, but studying at Plymouth College of Art has helped me to understand what is needed in terms of skills, self promotion and the importance of being proactive in finding contacts and getting my work seen by as many people as possible. I have been working on my blog and creating a good professional online presence. I would to exhibit as much as possible and get my work to the right people through networking and attending events. I also will try to enter as many competitions as possible. The main problem at this stage is trying to stand out from the crowd, as there are hundreds of illustrators looking for similar work. My plan is to continue working, developing my own style until I find the right contact and make the first step to becoming well known.

Statement 3 - Amanda Gilbert – Me, My Book & I.

Statement 3 - Amanda Gilbert – Me, My Book & I.

Title: Crystal

This book and the surrounding materials explore the way in which I work and my inspiration towards children’s illustration. It is intended to function as a showcase of my work and the themes and ideas which inspire my creative practice. These themes include the magical mystery of fictional worlds and fantasy. Inspired by the natural world and artists such as John Howe and Josephine Wall. These are two of my favourite artists whose work has become a big influence on my style. As well as a story the book will feature some samples of my fine art practice and creative techniques as well as some of the fictional characters that I have been creating. The book is intended to be a beautiful collection of images, a showcase of my style as an artist and the creative world in which I work.

The book itself will feature amongst a range of materials aimed at giving a sense of what my work is about. It is a hardback cover A4 size housed in a wooden box. The box connotes a traditional concept of a secret diary acting as the walls to a secret world within. There is a small padlock and key to gain access to the book itself. This should make the content more exciting and enigmatic as only the holder of the key can enter the fictional world within. The book cover is made of a soft blue material, there are 42 pages including a story and various images of paintings and other work. There are also photos of large canvas paintings and elements of my life. In addition to the book there are 5 canvases, 2 notebooks, some t-shirts and a bag all decorated with my artwork. The content is a kind of promotional package for myself, a range of objects that people can explore.

The book making workshops were very influential in this project especially the use of stitch work, I also wanted to include my love of painting on canvas.