Character Design - Evaluation and SWOT

When I initially started this unit I was very motivated and excited to be given a module based around my favourite thing to do. It was later when distractions started cutting in to my workload that I found myself struggling to keep up.

 Starting from the beginning, I found that despite my research in to several different styles was made, I didn't produce enough development and experimentation for either style. Whilst I was very settled on Hellen Jo's style I feel that it would have done me much better to delve deeper in to more experimentation with body shapes, expressions and looking for a more open approach to how I draw as it was quite limited.

It took me far longer than it should have to be producing the work I did which is a shame because this is really what I wanted to elaborate my skills upon but rather limited and humiliated my self with my lack of motivation and willingness to experiment and develop.

I came across another issue regarding my work when I realised whilst working on the final piece, I did not set my canvas to the correct size (A2) and instead began my work on A3. Because I had been working on bitmap-based software such as Photoshop, it was near impossible to stretch the piece without gaining some kind of pixelation. After confronting my tutor I decided to make the decision to make two turnarounds, both on A3 to make up for the mistake, one in her outdoor clothes and one in her outdoor clothes.

Whilst this plan solved my issue with the canvas sizing it did not help the already difficult state I was in with my workload. I had to work very tirelessly to catch up and the result did not feel as though it paid off. Getting the layout of where to place my characters was proving a difficult task as a lot of the layouts I had in mind were quite unflattering when taking in to consideration the amount of stuff I was trying to cram in (x2 turnarounds, x6 dynamic poses and items from her back)

Ideally if I could I would have loved to have just done the one turnaround with her hat on as this drove home her origins and a little more of her backstory. But this is my own downfall and one I could have avoided had I been more focused, on task and a little more open-minded.

I hope to learn from this module and reflect upon this unit when I go in to future modules.

SWOT

Strengths:

• Informed development and via research
• Handling workload
• Problem solving
• Learning new techniques and methods
• In depth backstory and write ups

Weaknesses:

• Lack of motivation
• Limited experimentation
• Bad time management
• Boring and basic colours
• Limited anatomy knowledge

Opportunities:

• Listen to motivational speakers for inspiration
• Spend an hour a day doing coursework
• Start making achievable timeplans
• Find poppy colour palettes to use in your work
• Attend life-drawing classes

Threats:

• Dismissal of motivation altogether
• Falling in to art slumps
• Giving in to failure
• Not solving an issue and taking the easy way out
• Not working to improve weaknesses