Newsletter for the New Year

 

Newsletter from Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg  - new beginnings

 

January 1^st, 2021

 

During the last year Zoom has revolutionised relationships and social get togethers including zoom parties, quizzes, singing, art etc.  Part of studying with Falmouth University last term was to really look at skills sets and decide the best way forward. For example : I have in the past self-published my books.  It was suggested in a tutorial that people might look at how much energy expended and  how many results  there are from self-publishing and instead try to approach publishers with their work instead using the same amount of energy.

Domestika taught me that publishers now require a print ready photo of illustrations.  They taught me how to set up a light box and produce what is required.  Many illustrators go digital so that doesn’t require this photography process but publishers are tired of flat digital images and are turning to analogue images.

During the last year I have been practicing my Person-Centred Art Therapy skills with college students in America.  I was contacted by a friend to experiment with this and I was gifted not paid. However, it became very successful via zoom.  I now offer Person-centred art therapy session via Zoom via my website www.artythingsplus.co.uk

People know that I have for several yearsI have  offered creative writing skills in groups. This too has moved to zoom and sessions are also available on my website. www.artythingsplus.co.uk  I also offer a critique for writing under 2,000 words.

A friend of mine  Claire Jeanes who taught mixed media at The Brewhouse now offers online zoom art courses.  You can contact her at Clairejeanes@hotmail.com  for more information.

 

Please forward this to anyone who might in your opinion be interested.

 

Many thanks for your attention

 

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

Newsletter from Falmouth Illustration MA

 Falmouth University - Illustration MA

Term Two

Well I have completed my second term and put in the portfolio and report and await my results. I think I have done enough but one can never be sure. Nine people failed last term.

This term as stated we had to make an artefact which reflected our theme.  After some reflection a children's book was not going to be applicable.  Instead I decided to invent a board game.  It reflected my work in that it had a psychological framework and was a journey and a story around a villae.

The game was called 'The Happiness Village Game'.  Based on Norton Fitzwarren I took photographs of the village and they became the perimeter of the game.  I illustrated the centre piece by doing an Ariel map of the village locations. Using a dragon ( Somerset    Wyvern) players went around the board throwing a dice and encountered instructions that pertained to happiness.  The object was to collect happiness tokens and pocket money each time they passed HOME.

In addition I included a zine* which told some interesting historical facts about Norton Fitzwarren.  It is aimed at children aged 6-11 and their families.  

I hope to crowd fund for the professional publication of the board game when it has been tested.

It is hoped that it will be available on my new website www.artythingsplus.co.uk priced £19.99.

We have seen during lockdown wonderful kindnesses from people facing adversity.  Psychological research indicates that happiness is achieved by giving acts of kindness on a regular basis and being an active part of a community. I hope that my board game will illustrate that to the children that play it.

In addition this term I constructed my new website and started to produce craft items such as pin brooches out of shrink plastic and also develop craft kits for sale.

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

* A zine is a small handmade book usually A6 or A5.  They are collectable and offer art produced affordable craftwork from writer/illustrators. 

Newsletter- join me on my journey on my Illustration course with Falmouth University

On June 1st I begin my course




Well beginning this MA is nerve wracking.  So before I started I did some reading

 Quote:
The picture has the power to: Communicate instantaneously. Communicate to a global audience, regardless of age, location, or era. Locate the viewer within the image. Represent literally the human experience of seeing. Visually delight, again and again. Be arranged sequentially to communicate narrative. Connect instantaneously with emotion, memory, and experience. Delight through shape, color, and form.
Hall, Andrew. Illustration, Laurence King Publishing, 2011

.
And I also did some preparation:  I found that Domestika is a good prep if you choose the right course and they are inexpensive.  One tutor advised to get out all of your art materials and examine them.  I had loads:
Inks calligraphy ink; acrylic of course; water colour and w/c crayons; crayons;felt tips/chalk; etc.

I then sorted all my pens; brushes; and materials.

He then advised to combine two or three together; eg.  To use a crayon and go over with watercolour.  To make a splodge of water and drop in ink. Use two pens together. Then try to draw an animal with eyes closed.

I am indebted to Chris Dart at my CICCIC, www.ciccic.com  art courses for already practicing these methods but this time with more control and making detailed notes on what materials were used in an experimental sketch book. I have experimented a GREAT DEAL and new characters for books have emerged. I have not used pen and ink before and a weird looking creature came on the page that I have called Fiz and the story just flowed.

My favourite Domestika tutor advised :- Start a new sketchbook for each book and then use this as a portfolio to show to publishers at illustrator fairs. The other thing to do is to illustrate an established fairy tale.  I tried out ‘The Princess and the Pea,’  but I have also tried to do this before: I tried to illustrate ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ in acrylic with Chris Dart as tutor.  It is one painting that I have sold which I wish I had hung onto.

I also found a publication called the ‘Association of Illustrators’ which I have not bought yet but intend to follow up.

Of course illustration is not just about illustrating books it is also about graphic art in posters and greeting cards and stationery. This worries me a bit.  I think I could give greeting cards a go and the course also covers videos which I have also dabbled with. But there is lots of reading and essays to do too.  Basically it is about finding my voice and networking with colleagues, that is greatly encouraged, so I will try not to say too much to start with.

 www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com


WISH ME LUCK -ZOE