Feedback and Reflection
The feedback I received from my tutor was very constructive and, whilst she provided me with a few areas in which I can improve, she also provided me with some really encouraging feedback on areas I’m doing well in.
She advised me that my drawing skills and style is developing really well, and that she can see the improvement I have made over the past few months shining through in my work. This was really uplifting as I can be extremely critical of myself, so it was nice to hear that my drawing skills are coming along.
One thing that she did encourage me to do is to play a bit more with my work, and experiment and explore a bit more. She advised me that the important thing to remember is to not worry so much about the outcome, but more about the process and progress. I think this is a very valid point. I am realising now, both on my own and with the support of my tutor, that I need to broaden my exploration and preparatory work, as it’s the most important aspect of the learning and development process.
I’ve branched away from relying so much on outline, and more on tone, which came up in my discussion with my tutor. I was extremely dependant on line within previous exercises and assignments, which seemed to lessen the impact of my work, so learning to build up a drawing through the use of tone and subtle lines/marks to map out the edges of a subject has been really beneficial to my work.
The tips and feedback Michele gave me in regards to my assignment pieces was really constructive and helpful. She told me that she really liked the subtle, gentleness of the lines I used to create it. One thing that she advised me could be improved was some of the mark making I used to develop the tone and shading (e.g. along the right hand cheekbone I should adapt the lines to follow the curvature of the face).
She also advised me that whilst the line drawing of the lounging figure was strong, the space around the piece lessened the impact of it. I didn’t put as much effort into the room around the figure, as I didn’t feel that it was important, but, it turns out, it is. As discussed with my tutor, the piece would be more effective if I had left out the background completely. That being said, Michele advised me that the figure within the drawing was, overall, powerful and accurate. She advised me that the facial features of the figure and the proportion of his body was accurate and the development of my drawing shows well in this piece. There were some small issues, as well as the space surrounding him, such as the length/structure of the furthest leg, however, this is something that can be easily worked on. I’ve made a note to focus more intently on perspective and proportion in future drawings, as I can often let it slip if it’s not something I’m centred on.
Overall, I feel really positive. I’m really pleased with the development I’ve made, and it’s hugely encouraging that others are noticing it to. It’s also encouraging to have constructive feedback from Michele. Her comments and her recommendations (development exercises, research subjects) are really reassuring and, going forward, I feel that my work and style is going to continue to improve.
Jesy Gilkes 