Portfolio (and life) review with Matt Bray and Jordan O'Brien

So I have just landed back home after an insightful portfolio review with Matt Bray and Jord O'Brien, both of whom are part of the illustration group; 'Foursight'. Jordan and Matt graduated from Stockport at the end of the last academic year so I felt as though they would be useful to go and speak to because they have recently experienced what I am going through and can give me some really fresh feedback.

Jordan was mainly focused on trying to find out what it is I want to do when I graduate, and sometimes I feel as though you often don't know the answers to questions until someone puts you on the spot and you find yourself answering automatically, with information you weren't really aware of. Well at least this is what I did in this situation.

I thought about what I see myself doing in the future, jobs I would love to do and things I am interested in alongside Illustration at University and I told them that I want to organise and decorate spaces. This means windows displays, areas of a shop that consist of seasonal themes, perhaps even merchandise that then reflect a particular topic within these spaces. My portfolio does not really reflect what I want to do in the future (although I have enjoyed what I have done so far). I still want to show people that I am capable of producing illustrations to be used for books, editorials etc, but I also need to bring some of my work off the page and apply them to real life contexts.

For my final major Project, I am going to split my time in to two sections, they will still run with the same topic, but I will produce 'final designs' that can be sent digitally to clients and are displayed as flat images on the walls for people to look at. I will then spend the rest of my time using and adapting the illustrations I have done to create the set/exhibition space itself, I want the context of the studio to be a part of the work. Perhaps a collaboration is in order?

My work relies upon textures and layers, which can be applied to all these different areas. I need a portfolio that reflects the methods I use, so the guys mentioned buying one that was a little bit different. Perhaps a rustic brown leather one with detailed stitching, and individual sheets that can then be taken out easily. They also said to include some original work because printing can often take away the tactile quality of the work.

So the main things I have taken from this portfolio review is to explore a little more in order to show people what it is I can and want to do, as well as include some of the original, crafty characters I have made for clients to be able to physically pull out from the portfolio and look at.