dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014

[dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014]

Option 2

As my next option or in other words my backup plan, I wanted to do something more experimental, more fun and something that would challenge me more as an artist. Something that I have to do research on and be conceptually strong, make progress throughout the semester and finally create something memorable.

Then I came across this portrait art competition.

PORTRAIT International Juried Art Competition

This art competition immediately captured my eye because of the detailed brief they had in their Website. One thing that I appreciate about this is that it accepts all sorts of visual arts and this means I can experiment in various ways and make this artistic journey truly colourful and meaningful.

This is the last semester of my university life and I am here to challenge myself, learn new skills as an artist and be strong enoughto go front as an artist. The competition acts as a 3D artwork, painting, sculpture, photography and so on.

What is the Theme of the competition?

The theme of the competition is portrait. Which means we don't have any another restrictions. No where in the competition it says that it should be a human portrait face and in the brief it says it could even be animals this time. So I guess I have to figure that par out through research. However, I like open ended briefs like this so I can add my own twist to it.

[dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014]

Selecting a competition

My first challenge as usual was selecting a competition for this brief and I went through some potential competitions that I could try out.

Option 1

1. Resene Mural Competition 2023

This is a competition that I found related to murals. Ever since I was small I always wanted to create murals but never got the chance to really try it out. So my first Idea was to step out of my comfort zone and do a mural.

I also knew murals took a lot of effort and at this point, I was deeply focussed on the Final Major Project and if I select to do a mural I knew I had to go all out. Prepare budgets, find sponsors to buy paint, find people to collaborate with.

At the end of the day it's going to be a mural, An artwork done on a wall. I wanted this brief to be more experimental, more into self discovery. Also, practicability wise I feel like selecting a competition like this means you have to get things done which are not that easy to pull off. You have to do site visits, document everything, find a place to do the mural, get permission and if the wall is too big wind other artists from the area to get the support from, getting the supplies and making sure the paint is in good quality.

[dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014]

One last set of questions before starting off!

1. How will the fact that this is an online competition affect your creative approach?

I don't think this being an online brief will affect my workflow. I would say, it will definitely improve my work in some ways because I will be facing artists from around the world and that will automatically raise my standard on this also.

2. Who is your imagined audience for this project, and how will you design the work to engage them.

I still have no answer to this. Anyway, I am planning to get constant feedback from the audience itself this time and also maybe if I go something for like a mural letting them decide some aspects of the project just to get them involved and increase their ultimate satisfaction with my project.

3. What message or emotion do you want your animation/project to convey, and why is it relevant today?

I want to create a project that ultimately benefits the society even in a small way, if that makes sense. A feeling of empathy, kindness is something that I am trying to convey.

4. How will you make your work stand out in a digital space crowded with visual content?

Nowadays, everyone makes content. Everyone creates art. If you open social media, everyone is trying to create something to get attention or stand out from the rest. I know standing out is important, but I have realized that it is just a race that never ends.

I want to create something quite authentic. Sure I will post about it on Social Media but at the end of the day I believe in the statement "Beautiful things don't ask for attention". So yes. I am very much hyped about this project, but making a digital mark on social media is not my ultimate goal.

5. How does this project connect to your longer-term goals as a creative?

A creative is someone who is everywhere, creating something out of scratch. I don't want to limit myself to a sketchbook or a computer screen one day. I want to take that extra step and put myself out there as a creative and I want to inspire others. So, I think this project will definitely help it.

[dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014]

Looking Forward! What I am going to do this semester

1. What specific skills: technical, conceptual, or collaborative - do you want to develop through this competition project?

Throughout all the projects that I did during these few years, I realized that I have always done projects that developed my personal skills a lot. Conceptual or technical, I always made sure that I benefited something out of it. This time I want to do the same, but also I want to take this opportunity to be more engaging with others. Go outside, talk to people, and at the end of the semester achieve something that I wouldn't have been able to create if I just sat inside my room. Even if it's something simple, = it has to involve me going out of my comfort zone, talking to people. So I guess I am aiming more for collaborative skills.

2.Are there any new tools, techniques, or styles you’re eager to try out in this round? What excites you about them?

Yes. Oil Painting is something that I always wanted to try but never got the chance to try. I have tried many mediums such as colour pencil, pastel, acrylic paint, charcoal, water colour but never oil paint. That is something that goes in my mind.

Other than that I always wanted to try out mural drawings. I know it's a big take. But doing a mural has always, always being on my mind. Maybe I could create a mural or a graffiti that has an impact.

Clay sculpting, another skill that I would like to master, but then It is not going to be the most practical thinking that I have to carry it to uni to get feedback.

3. How do you plan to push your creative boundaries with this competition brief?

When I do a project, more than 'yes's there are 'No's and this is something that stops me from achieving something that I could achieve. I am planning to go beyond this, this time. I will try to achieve something when my mind says no. I will try to achieve something when everyone around me says no. It's a challenge that I am up to take.

[dinethfernando-mga2023mi6014]

Reflections at the start of the semester 

1.What were the key challenges faced by me during the last semester's competition brief?

During my last semester's production brief, I created a silent storybook named "The day I gave her to the wind". Creation of this book came with so many problems and I had to face each of these problems, one at a time.

When the brief was given to us initially, I was overwhelmed by the large number of competitions that were there in the internet. I had so many options to choose from but nothing was quite working for me.

After I selected the silent book contest, getting the drawings done while doing the Final Grad film was another big challenge that I had to face. Even after getting the basic sketches done, there were multiple revisions that I had to do in order to get the book drawings somewhere to a satisfactory level.

Finding myself through the book and not creating a generic storybook with generic characters was another challenge I faced. Opening my self up, being personal and finally creating a story, characters that feel authentic enough and getting them to life through ha unique art style was another huge challenge I faced.

Once again printing out the book was a very touch challenge. As this was the first time, I had to be extra careful with everything when printing it.

2. Which part of your entry for the last semester's competition are you most proud of?

Actually, the whole project is something that I could be really happy about. I am proud first of all just because I was able to finish it on time. 32 pages of drawings is no simple task and the fact that I used mixed media drawings for each and every page is something that I could be proud of. Not being limited by a generic looking Disney character style, is something that I could be proud of.

3. If you could go back and redo your last project, what would you change, and how would you approach it differently?

While doing the illustrations, I got more and ore ideas for narratives. Initially I liked my idea for the book a lot but with time, I felt like the narrative could be stronger and more direct to the audience. If I were to redo the project I would definitely see for narrative alternatives.

4. How did the competition brief last semester influence your creative process and decision-making?

The competition brief (The Silent storybook) is what kept me going last semester. As a creative, during the last part of the semester I was not feeling motivated enough to create anything. Working on Digital art and 3D is fun until you feel detached from everything. Then you start to feel frustrated about you own work.

The silent storybook kept my brain alive and also kept me grounded and reminded me that although I try to do VFX, 2D drawings is where my origins is.

5. What feedback (from tutors, peers) stuck with you, and how has it influenced your thinking since?

Well. When Illustrating something or creating an artwork, you have to always think about the audience. Pick a target audience first and then proceed from there. It comes in handy when you finish making your product and when it is time for marketing it.

The last time when I created the book, I really did not think much about this aspect. I created the book clearly based on the guidelines sure, but when my tutor gave me feedback he mentioned that the target audience is very important when it comes to a production.

Also, another advise that sticked with me was related to colour theory. Irushi mentioned that there should be some sort of decency or a pattern when you use colour in a project. This was a feedback that I efficiently used to shape up my artwork in the book.