Leeds College of Art BA (Hons) ILLUSTRATION	Level	04
OUIL404 Visual Language	Credits	20
End of Module Self Evaluation

NAME	Christopher Martin Cooper

1.  Which practical skills and methodologies have you developed within this module and how effectively do you think you are employing them within your own practice?
On a practical level this module has completely changed the way in which I work. Through the various different techniques, media and processes we have been exposed to my work now tends to focus on a variety medias and visual processes most notably ink based and shape orientated work. This has resulted in me exploring more minimal and often graphic approaches to drawing with a focus on using texture to add warmth and interest to my images. Although I still have many hang ups with my own practice I much prefer and am even, to an extent, excited by this new way of working which contrasts greatly to the rough, lifeless and stale pencil based drawings I was creating at the start of the year.
2. Which principles/ theories of image making have you found most valuable during this module and how effectively do you think you are employing these within your own practice?
The most important principles learnt within this module have been repetition and risk taking in regards to creating drawings and using new processes. This is because the more adventurous you are with process and media, and the more you question how you create your images the more likely you are to come across a new and exciting way of approaching your own practice. However there is still a need for refinement and therefore drawing things over and over as well as repeating processes is essential in both focusing in on and further developing what is or isn't working within your practice.
3. What strengths can you identify within your Visual Language submission you capitalise on these?
My main strength has been my willingness to experiment as much as possible with new media and drawing processes. Within the module itself I capitalised on it by exhaustively exploring process, particularly with regards to line and shape which subsequently resulted in a very varied body of work. However the main way in which I capitalised on this was by transferring these skills into other modules which, particularly with regards to visual narratives led to a variety of highly successful and interesting outcomes.
4. What areas for development can you identify within your Visual Language submission and how will you address these in the future?
The use of lens and three dimensional elements is something I need to address. In future I need to spend more time considering the importance of art direction with regards to lens based work as it can result in work that has a strong and immediate impact on a viewer. This is something I felt I missed completely with my submission for the lens based task. As well as this I think the I need to improve in general on the refinement of my more exhaustive and experimental drawings that take place within my sketch book into more effective finished imagery. This is because in the process of refining artwork I often feel I lose some of the initial energy present in rougher work despite the final work not being slick enough to compensate for this loss often still feeling rough around the edges.
5. In what way has this module informed how you deconstruct and analyse artwork (whether your own or that of contemporary practitioners)? This module has led me to constantly question and deconstruct all aspects of my own work as well as that of contemporary practitioners. Although this hasn't been a concept driven module, this has mainly been through analysing and deconstructing what certain elements of an image do to the inferred meaning or tone within. The tasks focusing on the various elements of composition have been particularly enlightening in this regards as many elements, such as line of sight and value, were things I hadn't consciously considered in much depth before but which I now realise are essential to both the aesthetic and conceptual make up of your work as they are key to effectively delivering the ideas present in your work in a way that is harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
6.How would you grade yourself on the following areas: (please indicate using an ‘x’)  5= excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = average, 1 = poor
	1	2	3	4	5
Attendance				X
Punctuality				X
Motivation				X
Commitment				X
Quantity of work produced			X
Quality of work produced			X
Contribution to the group		X
The evaluation of your work is an important part of the assessment criteria and represents a percentage of the overall grade. It is essential that you give yourself enough time to complete your written evaluation fully and with appropriate depth and level of self-reflection. If you have any questions relating to the self-evaluation process speak to a member of staff as soon as possible.