Coming to the end of this unit, I am pleased with how my confidence has grown with sequential storytelling. I have slowly but surely started to hone more mainstream skills, but also have been able to experiment with writing more of my own work and trying out different ways of rendering.
My ability to draw people improves, and I think the habit of using my sketchbooks to draw from life, as well as taking life drawing sessions has helped this a lot. I don't really think that I fit into the hyper-real section of comics, and I have become more comfortable with using more cartoony approaches. But I have also found that you can make these easier and more effective when your knowledge of anatomy and other fundamentals improves.
I have an appreciation for the power of comics to help express oneself, and this is something I want to tap into more going into Stage 2. I also don't think I have to limit myself to only one stylistic approach - sometimes the style should be influenced by the subject matter. I want to combine these two aspects to dig deeper into aspects of my lived experience and take different approaches based on the different facets.
There is a lot of 'mainstream' views in the comics world, which creates assumptions in the industry (and those observing it) that there are 'right' or 'wrong' ways to do things. It's a shame, as the industry is so much bigger than the superhero genres and main publishers. It's so broad. There is room for everyone and their stories. There is room for me.
Likewise, the common rendering approaches/processes are driven by a history that was dominated by the limitations of the printing process. I want to explore just what the limits might be to traditional and digital rendering of comics and see what I can combine to find a blend that represents me authentically.
I would love to have my work published, and I feel more confident to try and submit work to things like competitions. I am slowly feeling my creativity for stories unlocking again from when I was a child and I would love to see something published with a publisher in the future.
However, I don't believe that should stop me. I will only get better by actually making things that go into the wild. So I need to explore ways of self-publishing work little and often and use each experience as a chance to learn and grow. This is a very scary prospect for me, so I wonder if it's something I can confront in my first Stage 2 unit: Visual Exploration? Someone once said to me that fear and excitement are the same emotion. The only difference is if you feel capable of facing what is in front of you.
I definitely feel excited.
(Below are my final reflections for this unit, which I submitted as part of my assessment)
Research & Societal Contexts
I started the unit with an existing familiarity with comics, but the aspect that surprised me most was my research into the history and impact of sequential imagery. I have relished the opportunity to expand my understanding and context of the medium. I am left with a lasting impression of the way that comics and sequential art have always evolved, and have changed as much as the problems of their times.
In 2021 societal issues have tipped past the point in which the momentum for change will (hopefully!) be unstoppable. I've noted from my research the way that many comics - even ones I loved as a boy - are not a fair or just representation of society.
The needs of our time will need comics to evolve, yet success will be impeded by the vocal minority of comics' own community. Groups like Comicsgate breed toxicity and prejudice, and mirror the extreme views of the alt-right.
Yet I'm inspired by the ability of comics to convey complex ideas efficiently and effectively through stories. It makes me hopeful to see how comics can evolve to be a better, more accurate reflection of the diversity seen in our society.
Comics & Sequential Illustrations
So the question I ask myself now is: "How can comics be used in a broader application?" It's not that I don't like fiction - far from it - but comics are a vector for change, growth and learning. It democratises information and ideas. When were are better informed, we can all make better choices.
I want to see how I can contribute to this. How I can blend my experiences in medicine, consultancy and illustration in a way that helps people understand each other? There are opportunities with non-fiction applications of course. I also want to see how I can create stories with characters in them that make people feel seen. Not token physical diversity. But the diversity of neurotypes, mental health, outlooks and cultures.
I want the stories I create to be brilliant stories first, and the best stories are those to which we feel connected. This means that I need to understand more about others so that I can tell those stories.
This is an exciting time (even if at times a scary one!) and I am interested to see how the medium of comics adapts to the changing way that we interact with the world. As we spend more time on phones, how can comics make information, insight and ideas available and more accessible than ever?
Skills & Development
I came into the unit with some knowledge of how mainstream publishers make comics. I have improved and honed those skills, whilst also exploring how to make comics in other ways. I want to push this exploration further. I felt that every time I felt under pressure, I fell back to a comfort zone that didn't always push my boundaries.
I particularly felt this in my last assignment. I am pleased with the final result, but I am not excited by it. I feel like my skills and use of colour could improve a lot. Yet, if I play with colour it could also lead to improvements with my drawing as well. I have improved my skills with facial expressions and more dynamic poses, which I intend to cultivate further.
My work over this unit is developing a stronger voice that I see even across a range of style choices. I am pleased that I am building this sense of identity in my work. Reaching out to a professional comic artist for advice helped build my confidence, and encouraged me to embrace more cartoony choices in my work. I loved reconnecting with the influences of my childhood. I appreciate how each of them they have added to my work in small ways.
In the same way, I want to embrace my lived experience more in my work. Through the unit, I have been able to tap into my memories of living abroad and my childhood. I want to develop a side of my work that allows me to explore my present as well. My mental health, neurodiversity and relationships are all areas that I want to explore more in my work. Yet, I am still afraid of being seen truthfully.
Comics have been a big part of my life for a long time, and an area in which I am developing an aptitude. I am excited to see how I can explore this more as I enter Stage Two of my degree.
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