Journey into illustration pt. 2: SEP-NOV Update

 

I was originally going to update the print blog every week to see progress with print making and the marketing side of the shop. But after 6 weeks of progress it seems more realistic to update the print blog once a month. So this is the slightly late mid October update.

I now have 3 original prints on my print and merch shops (4 if you count my Isometric World with two different backgrounds). I've also been working out how to create interest and visibility for the prints using social media. And more importantly if I'm creating anything of interest to people to begin with! I think there is always a balancing act between staying true to your own interests/passions and also creating things of value to other people. This is something I am still experimenting with and will try and work out some conclusions in the next coming month.

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Print Analysis

The good:

• So far the isometric piece has received the most interest on my adjacent social media presences.
• I have one new piece being developed with an autumnal theme.
• I've managed to meet my previous blog goal of 1 new print fortnightly.

The Bad:

• I've reached 3 prints but using previously created work. New work is likely to have a much slower output.
• Need to create more things of interest, create more interest in prints and pieces.

Social Media Analysis

The good:

• Some posting of new pieces across the social media platforms.
• Posted new print last Mon, posted #WIP autumn print last Wednesday that received reasonable interest.

The Bad:

• Social media posting on twitter has been inconsistent. Some weeks good, some weeks posting but not using the campaign structure.
• Instagram posting has been only of really finished pieces. Missing the #WIP posts.
• FB is similar to instagram. Both could be improved!

Overall Analysis

I listed a few goal points in my initial blog regarding research, intent, style and practice. I think these goals need to be reduced at very least, and de-prioritised to 'Would like to have' but with the main priority focusing on new prints and social media.

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• Need to prioritise the creation of new prints.
• Get the ideation stage of new prints created very early and tested.
• Post more consistently to all social media, stick very clearly to the social media campaign ideas.
• Add specific social media platform goals to bullet journal.
• Test and work out interest levels with different ideas, concepts and themes.

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Prints:

• 2 new prints (autumnal)

Social Media:

• (1^st Wednesday) #WIPWEDNESDAY posts (twitter, insta, FB)
• (2^nd Wednesday) #WIPWEDNESDAY posts (twitter, insta, FB)
• (Friday following) Final piece posting
• (Monday following) WIP video, Blog discussion on piece

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You can see more of my work at: ( Main Website / Society6 Prints / INPRNT Prints / Twitter / Instagram / Snapc

Journey into illustration – An Artists Intent and Mid Year Resolution

My relationship with illustration probably spans the entirety of my life. As a child and young teen with no television, books especially illustrated books became my inspiration and imagination. With this in mind it makes sense that my deeply held dream would be to 'become an illustrator'.

In my present day life I have had the great fortune to illustrate pieces for board games and more recently the box cover for Devious Weasel's 'Bemused' board game. And it was with this piece that I thought maybe, I could look into (all very tentative language) creating my first print. I also had the far off lofty idea of creating more prints in the future and moving my intent and thinking towards narrative illustration.

And so this is where I find myself today, in August making a mid year resolution of sorts. I launched my first print shop on the 16th August, using third party sellers (Society6 and INPRNT) with the Bemused piece. There is a certain excitement that comes with seeing your work on real world tangible items (I also discovered I really like the look of the muse on pillows and bags, which was something I wasn't expecting).

I'm going to use this blog to document my journey into making more narrative illustration, prints and other bits and pieces. I have never documented the learning process before but I hope to share my successes, pitfalls, mistakes and learning lessons with you as I go along.

With all this being said I've always enjoyed a list and actionable, achievable goals so I would like to include some aims for the mid-year:

Research:

• 15 mins artist research everyday 
• 15 mins practice and method research everyday 

Prints:

• 1 new print fortnightly (26 by the year up) 

Social Media and Marketing:

• (1st Wednesday) #WIPWEDNESDAY posts [twitter, insta, fb] 
• (2nd Wednesday) #WIPWEDNESDAY posts [twitter, insta, fb] 
• (Friday following) Final piece posting  [twitter, insta, fb, blog, website]
• (Monday following) WIP video, Blog discussion on piece [blog, website, youtube]

Intent:

• Create actionable intent and test out intent throughout the year 
• Create actionable artist manifesto and test out throughout the year 

Style:

• Experiment with cuter, lighter style (13 pieces) 
• Experiment with more sophisticated, serious style (13 pieces) 

Practice:

• Experiment with digital illustrative practice (6 pieces for lighter style, 6 for more serious) 
• Experiment with traditional illustrative practice (7 pieces for lighter style, 7 for more serious) 

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You can see more of my work at: ( Main Website / Society6 Prints / INPRNT Prints / Twitter / Instagram / Snapchat: ni.robinson )

Adventures in Middle-Earth Illustrations

Working with Cubicle 7 to create illustrations for Adventures in Middle-Earth RPG. I really enjoyed illustrating these pieces, especially delving into the Elvish world as the explorer discovers the ruined history of his people. 

© 2016 Sophisticated Games and Cubicle 7 Entertainment 

Middle-earth, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises and are used under license by Sophisticated Games Ltd and their respective licensees.

Dead Drop - Card Deck

I worked with Patrick Nickell again creating one of the card deck options for Dead Drop (board game). The theme was suspicious Vikings, and it was great to get another opportunity to create fun looking Viking characters.

Viking Pride!

I had loads of fun with this piece. It was my first official personal piece of 2014, it's just taken me so long to get around to uploading it.

Hope you like him :)