My Diary by Xue Tong

Oct.1

xtong0120201_2 — 2020-11-01 22:09:31 UTC

Search for Leah Fusco
How to describe big scene

Oct.2

xtong0120201_2 — 2020-11-01 22:13:31 UTC

Task 1

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:12:20 UTC

I always want to show a complete painting. Through this period of study, I realized that the process of exploration is more important. The integrity of the painting is not so important.

I should increase the number and try more

Trying different things and being comfortable with uncertainty. The best way to encourage and develop more of a risk taking habit is to consciously work without too much thinking at earlier stages and following instincts. Do first, think later.

Taking risks creates accidents and accidents are where unusual and interesting solutions are found.

The more ideas you have, the more material you mind will have to associate and generate good ideas. Being prolific, then, is the key to having great ideas.There’s no trade off between quantity and quality.

concentrated looking

What is illustration

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:25:53 UTC

Task 2

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:28:13 UTC

Production habits.
form, line and texture.

Visual research / Quality of line / Quality of form / Creating texture / Taking Risks / Play / Accident / Making interesting compositions /Conceptual thinking

More unusual and interesting use of media and materials. Create a working method that allows more accident in the developmental process

No drawing out before cutting!

Task 3 (1)

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:34:52 UTC

It should demonstrate an involved (and maybe messy) sense of exploration and process.

To experience constructing a design To highlight the value of anomaly To explore decoration. Explore more unusual and interesting use of media and materials. To create working methods that allows accident in the developmental process

Task 3 (2)

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:36:06 UTC

Task 4

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:36:44 UTC

Understand how and what your idea is communicating to an audience.

Use thumbnails, in addition to general image development. You should do both. Try to avoid overt ‘description’ (being ‘literal’) However, sometimes it can be the best solution! - please see the presentation.

Lateral thinking

y small sketches that allow you to think on paper about the concept, idea or arrangement of any possible image.

Curiosity

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:42:27 UTC

Experimentation

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:43:06 UTC

Communication

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 19:46:17 UTC

Storytelling 1

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 21:10:43 UTC

Storytelling 2

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-19 21:11:15 UTC

Project 2 (process)

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-20 15:39:00 UTC

Project 2

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-20 15:40:27 UTC

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:10:56 UTC

The best way to improve new skills more quickly is to set clear goals and shorten the time of practice courses. It is better to put 100% effort into practice in a short time than to put 70% effort into practice in a longer time.

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:26:41 UTC

Due to my limited English level, I have recently studied more illustrations on domestic websites, and found several very talented illustrators. Seeing their illustrations is a kind of artistic enjoyment

Chen Zhiyong
His illustration is really a master's work. Take a look at his "landing", whether from the selection of stories, the setting of characters, the control of scenes, the progress of plots and the painting skills, it is very worthy of the vast majority of illustrators to learn and experience.

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:28:01 UTC

Xiaoxin should be the oldest child illustrator I have ever seen in China who has been engaged in children's illustration. After reading his paintings, I suddenly found that the children's story books I read when I was a child, and even the books that most Chinese children read now, were drawn by people with aesthetic and imagination. No wonder most Chinese people's aesthetic level stayed at that stage.
High level of children's illustrators, their aesthetic level, imagination, and cultural literacy, can really deeply affect the children who read seriously. I hope more excellent people can be engaged in children's aesthetic education.
After watching some of the painting videos he shared, his ability to control lines and shapes is really not the level that everyone can practice in a short time.

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:29:21 UTC

Tititi
What she appreciates most is her use of materials and the variety of textures. In my opinion, when appreciating illustration, first of all, what is attractive is the color matching and lens sense (modeling ability); secondly, after a few seconds, I will appreciate the details of it, that is, the main and secondary contents, the materials and textures used; finally, I will consider whether the whole story is vivid or not.
And after seeing many illustrators' works, they are not vivid, just blindly piling up colors and materials. Although it is aimed at children's illustration, but really can't fool children with such an attitude. A good illustrator's work should be suitable for all ages.

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:38:57 UTC

During this period of study and exploration, I was able to gradually form some personal style. In the past two years, my focus was mostly on graphic illustration. But gradually, I realized that I could try new materials more boldly. Recently, I tried to use clay and collage, and also tried to make some animation images.

xtong0120201_2 — 2021-01-29 11:40:45 UTC

The most important thing is to learn to take the initiative to research and explore their own themes, to try with a variety of performance techniques, to systematically and logically conduct first-hand and second-hand research, and to pay more attention to the process of the work, not just the results. In addition, the courses and teaching methods of the studio also enable me to adapt to the study and life abroad. Various workshops enable me to learn various techniques that can be used in the collection of works, so that I can think and sort out problems from a more contemporary art perspective. The weekly Gallery tour also enables me to accumulate various artists' works and ways of thinking, and try to express them in English.