Happy New Year 2010

2010 seems like a good number to me better than 2009 anyway. I will be launching a new Blog called Graphic Storytelling. It will feature ideas, visual examples and my research into this vast and developing subject. My Happy Accident Blog will continue but will be dedicated to showing examples of student work, my own work and that of others that interests me. I will try to upload information on my Happy Accident Blog at least twice a month. My new Graphic Storytelling Blog which should be up and running by mid January (link to follow) will be updated at least once a week (challenge time).

Thank you for following Happy Accident over the last 3 years. I hope you will enjoy and comment on the content of the my Graphic Storytelling Blog.

Karl

FdA Graphic Spatial Communication

I've been teaching on a new course since October 2009 working with a diverse group of students. The students are pioneers as this is the first year the course has run. Students are close to completing their first major assignment 'Installation' and things look promising ahead of next weeks assessment.

I have included a few images to give you a taste of what the students have been doing. Hope you return to see more over the next few weeks.

Copyright for work shown is owned by the individual artists:
Jean-François, Carla de Navas, Ricardo Feijo, Jeremy Lau and Marina Rohrbach

The Lexicography of Karl Andy Foster latest

Here is a small sample of my Lexicography or Lexicon for your consideration. This project is growing and growing with input from family and friends who have known me for decades adding their recollections about the phrases and invented words I've used on them.

A

All a crip \alacrip\ Adj. First used in 1982. Means very well dressed, clean and ready for action (Anglo Ras)

B

Bad Girl noun.
First used in 2007. Playful description of my girlfriend (English)

Batty Roll noun.
First used in 1993. Toilet Tissue (Anglo Ras)

Big Wood Plenty Zeboaka Seed
First used in 1980. Found in a school History textbook next to a crude drawing of an ejaculating penis and testicles (Caribbean source)

Blouse and Skirts
First used in 1976. My Uncle was heard to say this during a cricket match when England actually managed to score some runs (Caribbean source)

Bottler \bot, ler\ verb.
First used in 1983. When I was working hard on my project work during my foundation year my best friend rang up one day and he said to me “Come on Karl let’s go and get Bottler. I don’t know where the word came from but I knew exactly what it meant; let’s get very, very drunk (Anglo Ras)

Cheups \choops\ noun
First used in 1975. Sucking of one’s teeth when displeased. I was instructed by my elders not to do this but did it anyway (Caribbean source)

Surface Tension Exhibition review

Congratulations on an excellent exhibition. The exhibitors demonstrated that have all learned a great deal about presenting artworks. The exhibition was of a professional standard. Promotion of the exhibition using a group website was an inspired idea, particularly the artist profiles. I would like to see more from each artist in the future.

The work was shown in a gallery space that was light and open. Obstructions were kept to a minimum and visitors moved easily through the space. There was a consistent layout for the work with the exception of Nicole Ostheimer who used one of the covered doorway space to good effect.

It is of paramount importance when having a group show for individual egos not to get in the way and for all exhibitors to work for the common good. A successful group show has to ensure all works are displayed to good effect. This was the case with Surface Tension and the steering group for the exhibiton should come in for special mention.

Exhibitors should keep working hard, stay focused and make sure you have you business head in gear at all times. Opportunity knocks but once.

Karl

Exhibition images by Andrew Hitchen Copyright 2009

The Lexicography of Karl Andy Foster

2009 is the Tercentenary of the birth of Dr Samuel Johnson 1709-1784. This anniversary made me think about his famous Dictionary of the English Language published in 1755. I think that we are all made up of the sum of our experiences and I thought why not catalogue some of the elements of my own behaviour. Soon I will be uploading the The Lexicography of Karl Andy Foster. It will featue sound, vision and written accounts. I hope it will delight you and get you thinking about your own Lexicography.

Karl

Images 33 @ LCC The Best of British Illustration Exhibiton

It is a real honour when one sees the work of former students exhibited in a high profile (industry judged) exhibition. It reminds me why I teach and how ambitious I am for the people I have taught. Below are examples of work from 5 former Creative Media Programme students who studied Illustration with us between September 1999 and June 2008. Use the website links to see more work from these talented artists.

Respect!


Images 33- New Talent Section
Laura Yates 06-07 ABC Cert in illustration. Now studying on Graphic Design Diploma in Paris
Website http://www.laurayates.co.uk/

Images 33- New Talent Section
Aleskei Bitskov 07-08 ABC Cert in Illustration. Now studying MA in Illustration Part-time at Camberwell College of Arts
To see article about Alexis' work go to http://www.remedymag.co.uk/issue4/remedyissue4.html Pages 10-15 of this online magazine

Images 33 - Books Section
Silver winner Mike Topping (Despotica) 07-08 ABC Cert Experimental Illustration & 07-08 ABC Double Award Printmaking. Now working as freelance illustrator.
Website http://despotica.com/

Images 33 - Books Section
Bronze winner Swava Harasymowicz 06-07 ABC Cert Experimental Printmaking. Now working as freelance illustrator (Graduate of Royal College of Art)
2009: Winner of V&A Illustration Awards: Book Cover & Editorial Award.
2008: Recipient The Arts Foundation Fellowship (£10,000)
Website http://www.swavaharasymowicz.com/


Images 33 - Advertising Section
Florian Zumfelde 99-00 Btec 4 Credit Experimental Illustration. Now commissions illustration and runs a design company in Devon
Website http://www.florianzumfelde.com/
Commissioned Rory Willis to produce poster design (Illustration below)

Images 33 @ LCC: Laura Yates

Images 33 @ LCC: Aleskei Bitskov

Images 33 @ LCC: Mike Topping (Despotica)

Images 33 @ LCC: Swava Harasymowicz

Images 33 @ LCC: Florian Zumfelde

Exhibition - Surface Tension

I'm looking forward to an Illustration Exhibition called Surface Tension. It features the work of 12 students who recently completed the ABC Certificate courses in Illustration at LCC. They were taught by my good self and my main man Ian Barraclough.

Congratualtions to the students for setting up this venture. I hope it is the start of many more to come. Surface Tension runs from 10 - 14 September 2009 at The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ (just off Brick Lane). For a preview of the work and to see profiles of the exhibitors go to www.surfacetension.eu

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

Here they are the final posts for the LCC Certificate in Illustration Final Major Project. I hope that the content will help you to understand more about the processes each artist goes through in order to achieve the required results. There is a lot of work to look at and my comments about each project reflect the methods of working adopted by each artist and not my personal opinions or the assessment grade achieved.

Direct reference to my assessment feedback is not possible as this information is confidential. I can annouce that I was able to award 5 DISTINCTIONS, 4 MERITS and 6 PASSES. No students failed the course or withdrew during the period of the Final Major Project.

The course has now been closed (Government funding for this type of course has been greatly reduced in 2009) and I would like to thank all staff and students who have worked on the course over the last five years and I wish them every luck for the future.

I will be back later in the summer with more news of my comic book scripts and a sneak preview of '100 DATES'

Peace be upon you.

Karl

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

WEIR DER CHERNG: This work was completed with minimum engagement from the student. It is very disappointing when a student does not feel it is necessary to attend lectures or ask for support from the tutor or other students. Weir Der needs to think carefully about his life and his attitude to his studies. Very sad moment for me as an educator.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

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VALERIA SUSLOVA: This student was able to develop a method of working that suited the context for the project well. I can only guess at the standards she would have achieved if she had taken more advice from her tutor and fellow students. It is the start of a whole new approach to image making for Valeria and she needs to monoplise on these developments.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

STEFANO TERRANOVA: This work is the most sophisitcated produced by this group of students with a long and interesting future for this project after the end of the course. Stefano needs to improve his reflective learning and to write down his thoughts for consideration. This a major part of design education and continued ideas generation.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

RANDY WATSON: This work is successful using humour to boost it's message and keep us guessing the meaning behind each of his characters.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

MARCIN NOWAK: 5 illustrations to express his ideas on the modern concerns of western cultures. Particularly striking is the illustration for health and faith article. Bravo build your folder on these foundations.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

CHANDRA SOUTHALL: These are the final artworks for this project. Much experimentation with techniques and compositions occured to make this a successful project. Chandra's work evolved during the project and shows she is able to intepret the writing of a fellow artist effectively. Good drawing skills employed and colour scheme.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

KAREN RAINGOLD 3: This work is stunning and shows that Karen is maturing as an artist. Her work on this project has been of the highest standard and her dedication to using visual communication to express emotive issues goes from strength to strength. I like her experimentation with software and the fact that she worked to a tight schedule that helped complete the project early.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

SABRINA SERRAT 3: Sabrina's diary works well and looks like the creation of an adolecent girl as intended. It is a pity that the diary has no cover and that the production quality of the book is rathered limited. It is a facinating account of a young woman's progress in London but could have been enhanced greatly by research into other diary writers and comparrisons made. Contexualisation can added weight to a project and it would have been beneficial to see why Sabrina choose the events she did for the diary.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

KRISZTINA UVEGES 3: This work has been carefuly considered and the revisions on the project have helped Krisztina to get closer to her goal to become a children's book illustrator.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

UGO PISA: Ugo's work is lyrical and uses humour to good effect. He has begun to strip away the layers that cloud the classic texts used for this project. He has remembered drawing and and mark making are fundamental to good design and has work that he did not expect from himself.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

NICK CONDYLIS: Nick worked well during this project and has produced his most interesting work to date. He employs many new skills which he acquired on the course and is beginning to develop a visual language unique to his talents.

LCC Cert in Illustration Final Major Project Term 3

FRAN LLOYD: Due to unforseen circumstances Fran was unable to complete her work to the deadline of 4 June 2009. It has been agreed that she will submit her Final Major Project for assessment on 1 September 2009.