TJ.Creative favourites Feb 2016

If you are anything like me, you find it really interesting to look at what other people love to use creatively and how they organise themselves; what techniques others use and when they’re trying of a new product. Not in a copy cat sense of course! The curiosity (for me) is more of a nosey variety; “What is everyone else doing?” and “What can I learn from them?”

I am not ready to show anyone my working desk/zone as it changes all of the time. Though I will do a “What’s in my bag” Blog in the future, for all of you who are like me and enjoy seeing how others create on the go.

Sometimes I enjoy working in a local Caffe or Library, sometimes at the dining room table or on my desk which is in my bedroom currently. It depends on many factors (like most people my age, I am still living at home with the family – and family life is loud and rambunctious for 90% of the time! Which is fine for relaxing and having fun, but as far as working goes you can wave good bye to concentration!)  If it is too mad at home I prefer to pack light and go out and find a little bubble of peace to just let the creativity out. Does anyone else do this too?

What you can see in this image:

• G.F.Smith Colour Plan guide.
• Small Charcoal Set.
• Chalks.
• Water-Pencils + Brushes (these hold water in their handle).
• Graph’it black and grey brush pens.
• “Graphic” fine-liner set.
• A4 Layout pad.
• 30cm Steel Ruler.
• A range of Copic Ciao colours (I have been testing out recently).
• Staedtler Coloured Fine-Liners.
• Pencils (and other bits) storage tin.

Don’t forget the half used Gell-Pens (for list making of course) and the range of pencils between 6H-6B for sketches, a light pad and a cheep digi camera, which I use more to capture the essence of something to illustrate later. I do have a badge machine that I must limit myself to using because I get carried away and make far too many! (These are not in this picture.)

Technology wise I am experiencing a lot of trouble in the form of my Mac (Eddy) going to silicone heaven. I am back old schooling for the time being, however until this point I had been using a MacBook Pro with a Wacom Tab for vector illustrations.

If you take away the technology blues, you could see this problem as a blessing in disguise. It has been lovely removing myself from the “rainbow wheel of doom” and kicking back with a simple pad and pen and going about things in a more traditional manner.

What do you guys prefer to use creatively?

This is…
TJ Creative
Until next Sunday guys!
xXx

February 7th 2016 UPDATES and RELAUNCH!

Hola!
That’s right guys I am back and trying to rebrand a bit to refresh myself creatively. I have missed you guys loads and doing my blogs – though they were quite infrequent back then. If I am completely honest I have been a bit nervous to get back to the keyboard and tip-tap-type away once more.
So a big happy hello to all of you who are currently reading this!

I will be changing up my blog some more this week – taking out some old posts I feel are not relevant anymore and generally giving “Illustrate-Tor” a make-over. (Just like my overall branding which is still mid brand.)

So without further waffling on my part, I will now jump into the rest of todays blog! (Which is basically explaining what I plan to do here in my little space on the internet.)

What can be expected from my blog posts in the future:

• Illustration bits … and by ‘bits’ I mean an eclectic mix of “How-To’s”, what adventures I am currently doing (like websites, promos ect) and Creative Hauls! These are some of my favourite subjects to look at when I browse the web and have always jokingly said “I will be brave enough to join them one day”… So here I am… Hi!
• All kinds of gaming! Board gaming or PC/Mac or anything really, again hauls are probable here as well as tips and tricks and unboxings.
• Advice (usually learned the hard way): Sometimes I have random insights that I wish I knew a long time before, or learn something I wish was covered in a class or handed down in wise words. It is definitely better to learn mistakes from someone else than keep making them yourselves, so if I can help you guys, then that is amazing!
• Challenges, arty creative fun things, silly things and just some random fun stuff. Who said you have to work all the time? sometimes you need to have fun too! 😉

Thank you for sticking with me guys! I would love to hear what you guys would like to see me attempt – challenge wise. Or maybe you would like a tutorial? Just let me know in the comments, or send me a message on Twitter (Linked below).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TortusTor

This is IllustrateTor (evolving into TJ-Creative) signing out just for now!
xXx

Ps – Don’t forget Pancake Day is Tuesday the 9th! Enjoy!

 

After Uni Update

A BIG belated hello!

YES! I did it! I completed my uni course!
Well to be honest it has been about a month and a half (ish) since the BIG hand in. And I mean big! Big as in load everything I had – sketchbooks, folders, portfolio, mock-ups AND final pieces into a suitcase (and other bags) and haul everything into the boot of the car and lug it all into the shopping centre (looking like a complete weirdo). The reason for this is our building was being used for other year groups shows and their marking, the BA and HND’s were lucky enough to be a part of the community and get involved on a more grounded level.

After the BA and HND show the most of us held a shop which was open to the general public selling some of the artwork, books, stationary and original artworks. This was held open for two weeks and also held FREE workshops to the general public with anything from pottery to paper-art.

So from my last blog it was clear I was panicking about my uncertain future – I have piled hours into education and returned for more – not because I needed to learn more techniques (that come with use of skills and a good connection with others in your field and an undying love of learning more).
I returned to education to learn how to collaborate with other creatives (this is a LOT easier said than done) as there is so much to consider that you don’t initially think of. Maybe I will blog tips and tricks about this when I do another collaborative project in the future. And also to prove to myself that indeed I can do it.

The main thing that was concerning me was a decent flow of money (material life is expensive – car and technology), having been a student (proudly with no overdraft – though I sometimes wish I had one) and somehow managed to run a car and buy illustration/uni supplies. This didn’t include much of a social life, and I plan to make it up to my friends and family who stuck by me and offered support when I needed it.
I did do a mass application to a ton of design specific jobs (but it was end of uni and competition was thick and fast) it’s also the time of year other designers switch jobs with experience and beat uni leavers to jobs if they were not happy where they were – this is not necessarily a bad thing, competition keeps us on our toes and always learning. Anyway I was unsuccessful in my endeavour and also applied to part time jobs I would enjoy doing – there is nothing worse then doing a job you dislike.

But YES! I got a part-time job AND am enjoying so far! I have two weeks left of the trial – so here’s to the future!

No – before you ask, I am not giving up with my love of design and illustration, I am currently working on my first range I plan to launch at the end of the summer. I seem to suit freelance well so far. Updates to follow soon!

Unfortunately I have stumbled upon technical issues… meaning I may have accidentally tried to install the new Mac update to my OLD iMac (before checking the requirements) and may have done one too many and killed it… I am trying to fix it (all sorts of re-starts going on), but the machine isn’t worth fixing if it has to go to a repair shop at £60-£70ph. So it looks like I will have to make do with a lagged out 13″ MacbookPro until I have saved enough to either fix or upgrade. So i’m currently working old-school = pencils and paper! Hehehe!

This is Illustrate-Tor Signing Off
Loves! xx

From The BA Looking Out – And Future Stares Right Back

Good afternoon!

Warning – About to talk career and future – my plan because I feel better when I plan things out and if I help or inspire others along they way then awesome!

Today (and the last week leading up to today) I have had the slow realisation that this is it; “swim or sink”, “now or never” as far as the career is in question.

I think No, I know that being in a creative career means you need a cash injection (which I don’t have) – or very generous parents or family (and the willingness to sponge)… Which I am not happy with even entertaining the thought of. This thought actually makes me feel uncomfortable.

Option one: if I stumble upon a graphics job or illustrations job I will no doubt go for it – but if I am lucky enough to actually get that job, I will carry on keeping my art and craft as a hobby, just for fun because I find it food for the soul. We all know the hours are not fun for us Graphic Designers, some companies expect you in at 8.00am and stay until the job is done which could be 5.00pm or it could be 11.00pm. I think you must have to really love your job and the company you work for to give up that much of your life, after all there is a whole world to see!

Option two: Get a job that still makes me happy, preferably around people so I don’t turn into more of a hermit that I currently am! Anything that pays the bills, but also keeps me happy. I think my perfect “calm” job is in a coffee shop. Maybe not a big chain, a small family business – or any friendly environment – four to five days a week, standard 8.30-5.00pm, home to cook a dinner, then relax creating typographic works of art, books, branding for friends and family or whoever wants it. A small and friendly home run business is my ultimate aim.

Equipment and Storage

So I have enough trouble organising my clothes, books, shoes and handbags let alone the art and crafts! I could easily fill another room! In fact that would be fantastic! A room to work in…

Ok so dream scenario and perfect outcome: Get a job, make do with the space for (up to) a year then somehow find a mortgage and move out. Preferably a minimum of 3 beds (you know, not to aim too high….)
1 bedroom for sleeping, clothes, relaxed environment, 1 bedroom as an art/craft (shared creative room for the other half) with a wall for a white-borad/cork-board to plan new arty ventures, space for an A3 printer, scanner, light box, paper storage and other deign essentials, and a minimum of one more for a spare room for friends or family to visit.
This is all before a medium sized kitchen – diner, sitting room and 2 bathrooms AND garden, garage AND driveway… I probably won’t get all of these but no one can stop me dreaming and aiming high!

So here is to loads of “Ifs’ Buts’ and Maybes'”! If you guys have any plans it would be good to hear what others are thinking after leaving their uni’s / colleges or just wanting a change in career.

Loads of hopeful wishes and big plans for the future!

Illustrate-Tor Signing Out xxx