Illustration Newsletter
Books
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At this moment in time, our first years are knee‑deep in their very first true illustration project - slowly, maticulously getting to grips with our reliable four‑stage approach of research → ideas → development → outcome.
And what are they illustrating? Books. Second years are right in the middle of a three‑week brief, creating artwork for a Folio-Society‑esque adaptation of Fear on Four, Radio 4’s wonderfully strange portmanteau of supernatural stories. Once again: Book illustrations. Meanwhile, our third years - drifting through the halcyon opening weeks of their self‑directed semester - are working on a wide range of projects and outcomes. But look closely and you’ll spot a pattern. Most of their illustrations are heading towards: You’ve guessed it… books. Books can - and absolutely should - play a huge role in your growing illustration awareness, practice, and personality. We’re lucky to have a genuinely fantastic library just a few steps away: a cornucopia of illustration, design, and art from all corners of the globe and across decades. The artwork, movement, or artist that might completely reshape not only your work, but your entire way of seeing the world, could very well be waiting quietly on those shelves. Books can teach you new techniques - sometimes directly, sometimes through influence. They can raise your ambitions. They can reveal unexpected approaches, spark new directions, or help you break through a project you’re struggling to get moving. So: get into the library. Don’t walk past an Oxfam without a quick check of their art and children’s book section. Get lost in Bookends (Scarlett in Year 3 works there, and can conduct rescue missions for those lost amongst the the labyrinth or rooms and shelves). Build your own collection. Find new illustrators. Discover new styles. Surround yourself - and immerse yourself - in illustration. And they smell real good! |
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The Week Ahead
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
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| Yr1 ILLU4050 | am UCIA4020 | pm |
Yr1 ILLU4050 | am Independent Study |
Yr1 UCIA4020 | 10-12 Independent Study |
Yr1 No Delivery Independent Study |
Yr1 ILLU4050 | am Independent Study |
| Yr2 ILLU5050 | am Independent Study |
Yr2 Independent Study Independent Study |
Yr2 ILLU5060 | am Independent Study |
Yr2 ILLU5050 | am Independent Study |
Yr2 Independent Study ILLU5050 | pm |
| Yr3 Independent Study Independent Study |
Yr3 ILLU6050 | am ILLU6050 | pm |
Yr3 Independent Study Independent Study |
Yr3 Independent Study ILLU6050 | pm |
Yr3 Independent Study Independent Study |
The Library
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Our campus library is genuinely one of our greatest assets—and one of the most powerful tools you have for developing your practice. It’s an incredible space, overflowing with ideas, images, histories, and opportunities just waiting to be discovered.
In recent weeks, Daisy Latham, our library and academic advisor, has been working closely with illustrators to shine a light on what the library holds and why it matters. The aim is simple: to help you feel confident using both the space and its treasure troves of content. Many of you have already returned from those sessions triumphantly carrying stacks of books. Brilliant! That’s exactly what we want to see. But now comes the important part: dig in. Open those books. Marvel at them. Learn from them. Absorb them. A pile of books only becomes valuable once you start exploring what’s inside. From here on, I want you to think of the library as an extension of your studio. Borrow. Return things once they’ve served their purpose. Then borrow more. And more. Share what you find. Talk about the artists, movements, and ideas you’re encountering. Let your work evolve through the influences you discover. Wander into sections you’ve never looked at before. Pick up the book you know you’ll love—and then see what’s sitting next to it on the shelf. The library isn’t just a resource—it’s a launchpad. Use it, enjoy it, and let it help shape the illustrator you're becoming. |
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Instagratification
For your viewing pleasure