Morning After : Illustrative Art

Here’s the poster / flyer.

and here’s what was in the accompanying Word doc.

Illustrative Art – Morning After
Director: Lara Ratnaraja
Lead Mentor: Nicola Shipley
Speakers: Association of Illustrators, Matt Clugston, Nathan Fletcher, TAK design

The Morning After Illustrators programme will explore the genres of illustrative work, agents, promotion and pricing and develop a group catalogue to profile the artists work to agencies, galleries and commissioners.

Who Is It For?
Emergent and established fine art and commercial illustrators- who are looking to develop illustrative and graphic art practice and build a portfolio of both creative and commercial clients. We aim to grow their skills to develop the freelance business of being a professional art illustrator.

What Is It?

• A 12 week, 60 hours practice led mentoring programme for illustrative artists.
• Practice led mentoring and seminars using experienced illustrators and designers, providing real experiential advice and guidance
• Development of freelance skills using models of good practice
• A catalogue the artists can use as part of their professional portfolio.
• Group Sessions and seminars
• Introduction to illustration, clients and audiences – The Association of Illustrators
• Portfolio Review – The Association of Illustrators
• Approaching design agencies – Nathan Fletcher /Matt Clusgton
• Catalogue Design – TAK! Design
• Confidence building and how to approach agencies Nicola Shipley/Matt Clugston

Previous artists have developed tools to identity audiences and markets and increased their confidence in their practice. In addition, they have developed a catalogue to use as part of their professional portfolio and learnt how to present their work to galleries and commissioners.

Previous participants have gone on to show work at: Ideas Factory V & A Event, New Art Birmingham, The Event, Virtual, Ten4 Magazine, The Out Crowd, Fused Magazine, Rhubarb-Rhubarb International Festival of the Image

Biographies:

Lara Ratnaraja

Lara Ratnaraja is Sector Manager for Creative and Knowledge Industries for Business Link West Midlands. She has worked with a number of creative practitioners and arts organisations to enable them to grow their practice and business and access specific markets and audiences both nationally and internationally. A founding Director of Creative Alliance, she is currently also a Director of Audiences Central and Plus Design Expo. A long term supporter of the arts she has also been involved in the project management of a number of key visual arts events and personally supported a number of shows, residencies and artists talks.

Nicola Shipley

Nicola Shipley is a freelance Arts Project Manager, Producer and Creative Industries Consultant. She has worked within the midlands arts sector for the past 15 years and has experience of working with a wide range of clients, individuals and organisations, both public and private sector within a visual arts context. Since completing her MA in History of Art and Design Nicola has supported artists, through mentoring, training, project and event management, exhibitions and commissioning. Nicola is project manager and co-producer of NEW ART BIRMINGHAM, the Midland’s premier contemporary visual arts event. She project manages VIRTUAL, supporting artists to access new markets via an intranet gallery, exhibition programme, commissioning scheme and development/training programme. She also managed Train The Artist Facilitator and Business Alchemy for Arts & Business and is a mentor for Arts & Media Training. Nicola also works as a consultant and has previously worked on projects including TEST BED, THE CREATIVE PRISON and LIFT for Architecture Week. She has commissioned and curated work for a broad range of clients and locations, including; galleries, hospitals, prisons, youth centres, schools and businesses. She is currently lead mentor for Creative Alliance

The Association of Illustrators

The Association of Illustrators is a non-profit making trade association and members consist primarily of freelance illustrators as well as agents, clients, students and lecturers. As the only body to represent illustrators and campaign for their rights in the UK, the AOI has successfully increased the standing of illustration as a profession and improved the commercial and ethical conditions of employment.
Every year, the AOI holds exhibitions to display the works of new and established illustrators as well as publishes Images, an annual that includes the greatest talents and award winning illustrations of that year.
It devises an annual events programme that explores a wide range of issues relevant to illustrators and provides an advisory service for its members

Fig Taylor

Fig has been the AOI’s resident portfolio consultant since 1986. Prior to this and for much of that time she worked as an illustrators’ agent. In addition to her work for AOI she operates a private consultancy for non-AOI member artists and lectures extensively on BA and HND illustration courses throughout the UK. She is a regular speaker at AOI events as well as the yearly Business Of Illustration seminars organised by The Artist’s and Illustrator’s Magazine. She is a regular contributor to The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and has also given portfolio advice on behalf of the charity, NABS.

Although her specialist interest is publishing, Fig’s agency background, dealing with clients in all commissioning areas, means she is able to provide new and aspiring artists with a broad and balanced overview of the illustration industry – a vital step towards helping them to find their niche. Although she is regularly approached by illustration graduates, Fig is also happy to advise fine artists, craftspeople, and designers wishing to explore a new or parallel career in illustration. Established illustrators who are seeking to explore new avenues are also welcomed. Depending on the specific needs of the individual, Fig can advise on portfolio presentation, targeting, marketing and self-promotion plus general pointers on fee negotiation and the pros and cons of having an agent.

Nathan Fletcher

Nathan Fletcher is a freelance illustrator based in the South West, but originally from the Midlands. In 2004 he graduated from Falmouth College of Arts with a first class BA(hons) in Illustration. He has worked in both the traditional editorial sector and in new media along side web development teams. His experience ranges from small trade journals to national newspapers and websites for SMEs. Nathan has also exhibited in various shows both traditional and online. Clients include The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times, Chelsea Building Society and Npower.

Matt Clugston – Clusta

Matt is Creative Director of Clusta and specialises in intelligent design and digital innovation. He has been producing dynamic, graphic and digital communications for over 10 years and has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands and quirkiest independents.

In Clusta’s view, what matters most is to use whatever medium is necessary to achieve the impact that a message needs. In a commercially competitive environment, where information overload is commonplace, there is no room for ordinary standards of design and communication.

Clusta’s job is to make their clients stand out from the crowd. To get them noticed. To have an effect. To create the right sort of impact. To make a difference.

This approach is already delivering exceptional results for some of the UK’s biggest companies and most innovative people organisations. Names such as Sony/BMG, Orange, Pioneer Pro DJ, Smirnoff, Home Cooking, Zoo Qoo, Pacha London and the BBC have already discovered Clusta’s capabilities across media as diverse as websites, intranets, extranets, e-flyers, CDs, videos, print and more.

Based in Birmingham, UK, Clusta is recognised internationally as one of the leading names in consistently innovative design that is setting groundbreaking new standards. The ‘Index Book’ publication on Best British Editorial Design will feature work by Clusta later this year.

Dom Murphy TAK!

Murphy embarked on a creative journey at the tender age of 6 years old by hand making magazines and then selling them to friends. Nowadays it’s business as usual – Dom is still selling his creativity – except now to a new set of friends, including; Clarks Originals, The Ikon Gallery, Red Bull and Topshop.

After graduating in 1995 with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Humberside, he earned his corporate spurs working for several notable branding agencies in London and Amsterdam, including; Oven Digital, Syzygy, Meta Design and Future Brand. From 2000 – 2005, Dom created the definitive street art portal StickerNation – a community driven website championing the street art sticker scene. The site documented over 35,000 artworks by nearly 3000 artists in 150 countries. At it’s height, StickerNation was read by nearly 10,000 visitors each week. In 2004 the site scooped an SXSW Award for Best Art Website.

Murphy co-founded TAK! in 2004 with a philosophy to champion creativity with unique and award winning work. This approach has seen TAK! recognised locally, nationally and internationally. An eclectic portfolio demonstrates their desire to create something new with each and every client.