World Wide What?

Original screenshot from the homepage of wesleepintrees.com

So here it is, after much trial and tribulation WeSleepInTrees is here! I've tried to make sure the site is as easy to navigate as possible and as far as I know everything is in working order! I also run a Tumblr account by the same name, that you can check out here, that contains more regular updates of personal and commercial work.

I've had an excellent amount of feedback on the website so far, little tips of corrections and compliments, so I have to say I'm very pleased with my efforts. A couple of months ago anything technologically adept would have been beyond me but after learning how to apply to small amount of coding knowledge I had, in order to modify templates and customise pages I'm happy with my website.

Updated banner with text and edited image for wesleepintrees.com

The Helpful Hand of Dominique Byron: Portfolio Visit

Not so long ago I posted about Dom Byrons' exhibition up at Kosmonaut bar in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, 'Conspiracy Theories'. Well I contacted her afterwards to say well done for hosting such a well presented show and asked her if she had the time to take a look at my PDF portfolio and website. Of course being such a generous person she obliged and didn't hesitate in sending me reems of advice on both.

All images taken from dominiquebyron.com

In regards to layout she didn't have any recommendations on adapting them, only kind words about how clean, well annotated and consistent the PDF is and that the website was easily navigated. The navigation and usability of my website are two things I've been eager to receive feedback on, posting links on Facebook and Tumblr have helped me to gain knowledge on this matter and gain public opinion. A big reassurance. Next up was the range and consistency of my work, she picked out straight away that one of my favourite subjects to illustrate revolves around animal form and fictional characters, something that has always caught my attention in narrative or real life. She commented on how well informed my line drawings were and that potential clients would have confidence commissioning me from these examples. I'm not really one for ego inflation but it's rather nice to hear that your work is seen as high standard by successful Illustrators in comparison to you mam telling you it's lovely even if she doesn't know what the hell it is.

"Your work seems to stay consistent and look good with the use of different materials or processes. The paintings are cool and add a nice splash of colour throughout your portfolio. Your screenprint looks ace too, having the detailed fox with the block colour of the leaves is a really nice balance. I think that showing you can do both b/w and work with colour is a real plus and just adds another string to your bow. The attention to detail and time you've spent will really set you apart I reckon." (Byron, taken from an email conversation shared between us)

Again, she put another worry to bed for me when mentioning how she could see ways in which my work could be applied to different media easily; books, album covers, products and textiles. Distinctly my 'Piece for Protest' Fox and Pig as a pair work instantaneously as text supplements, perfect for editorial content as they hold extra concept to accompany an article. For me, this is something I'm going to make the effort to try my hand at more regularly after university. I believe that applying concept to my work will bring out the best in it. She added that if editorial or merchandise were areas I could be interested in, I would benefit from creating templates and mock-ups to place my illustrations in as clients will immediately be able to visualise a much wider window of application.

Really helpful and encouraging words, again thank you Dom for your kindness!

Portfolio Visit with Chris Madden: Good Egg

Taken from robotmafia.com

I remember my first day at Stockport College, feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed, full of hope and clutching sharp new pencils. The first thing I saw walking down the corridor to my new studio was the image above...'Fireworks' by Chris Madden. Three years later and I've met some wonderful people, successful in every weight of the word, including Chris Madden who I had the pleasure to meet at Draw North West; a Manchester-based creative meet-up, that he coincidentally runs.

Now although Chris may not be a potential client, I trust that he knows Illustration inside out and surrounds himself with more creative people on a daily basis than you could shake a stick at. I've had a hard time trying to contact agents of agents of illustrators and even worse experiences being told I have no direction by self-inflated baffoons who feel they've made it if they've got a couple of ten pound notes to rub together. However, it's no secret that Stockport fledglings tend to have a quality that sets them apart, kindness. Taking time out of a busy schedule to do something for nothing and the courage to be honest without breaking someones heart is rare in such a competitive industry. I'm sure I've been looking in all the wrong places elsewhere, but Manchester, Leeds and York exude such a beautiful attitude via their young creatives that I didn't really need to.

Anyway, getting back to the subject. I emailed Madden in the hopes I would catch him when he would have the time to talk to little ol' me, I wasn't dissapointed. In response to all the material I sent him I received a wonderful response again reinforcing successfully balancing my black and white drawings alongside colour, maintaining loose drawings in contrast to detailed images and using the simple, clean layout of my website/portfolio to harness the style of the drawings.

I asked him specifically about branding as it's one element I've always been unsure about. Mentioning the banner on my website in particular Madden suggested that I used the icon of the bat to tie my work together instead of one small logo i.e using the bat on the banner, on products, at the forefront of my portfolio etc. Considering this I would probably use the colour version of my banner illustration as it highlights the merging of watercolour and fineline drawing, my preferred media. At the same time, I would have to be cautious not to exhaust imagery, try and keep my portfolio and website varied so that clients have fresh illustration to look at across the board and I'm not constantly repeating myself. Another reason why I connect my Tumblr account to my website, Tumblr is an easier way to update regularly without the pressure of all the pieces being finalised. The connection between viewer and artist becomes more personal as they can see you process, read as much or as little about you and intertwine your personality with you work.

As a final thought; "Overall, you are on the right track and are doing more things right than you are giving yourself credit for! If you need anything else over the next few weeks (or ever really) i’m more than happy to give advice/critique etc.

just give me a bell - Looking forward to seeing your work at the degree show!" (Madden, conversation via email)

Eternal thanks to Chris Madden for being an excellent role model and all round nice guy!