Overall Review & Reflection of Silver Arts Award Challenge Unit 1

Actually, I don't like this writing part of the award. I find it extremely frustrating. Sometimes it can be fun but I feel like it cramps my creativity. Creating the comic was the fun part.

Challenge Review and Reflection

The challenge to create my own comic overall was amazing and I enjoyed it even during those times when I was tired or something felt repetitive. I feel like I have achieved something and my hard work will gain me something I really want in life.

There were many hard challenges and problems while making the comic but there were some super easy things that I could just do without thinking. Sometimes I needed help with drawing the body shapes because it is a naturally challenging thing to do and also times where I required help with scenery colour schemes and characters. Easier parts were thinking of names and creating the storyline; I love to use my imagination to create things so found this came easily as well as being lots of fun. However, there were way bigger difficulties like when I pressed the wrong button and it would enter something wrong or delete something out! Luckily Ami was there to help and I got there in the end and can now solve most things out on my own.  

All of it, of course, was great fun and I had many good times going round to Ami’s just sitting on her sofa listening to some music while making the comic. Attending Ami’s sessions was great because it wasn't always serious, in fact it hardly was! It was a fun casual thing where we could talk and have a little chat and have a laugh at funny things we said or did on accident. I realise that I work better in a creative, relaxed and informal setting.

Ami helped teach me about Photoshop by showing me all the different tools which I wrote down in my book with little doodles beside them so I could always look back so it could help me remember what they were and then from there I just kept practising.

Overall, I have learned many skills during my time working towards the silver arts award challenge. I can now apply these skills to many things as well as continue to create more Manga comics and drawings. My Photoshop skills are now improved and I can use it more efficiently and can create better drawings and images and could even make a sequal to my comic. I have already been showing my Mum how to use Photoshop for her business. 

I have learned more drawing techniques which I believe have made me a better drawer and has helped me create and understand more about illustration. I have even learnt about Manga, Anime and more of the Japanese culture because the comic was based on Manga which is something I already love and have been trying to improve on. With all these skills on board I can now go away and make my own artworks and stories and maybe get a job in later life like a manga illustrator. With my comic finished and also many other drawings I have created I can put it into a portfolio which could help me get a job in the future in an area which I enjoy.

To compliment my Arts Challenge, I went on several outings; Hyper Japan, a Japanese Festival; Under The Spotlight; most epically, I went to Comic-Con in London! You can read all the reviews of these events by clicking on the highlighted text. 

In addition to my trips out, I have even learnt some Japanese words but mostly song lyrics as I love to sing. First I listen to the first sentence of the song while reading the Japanese pronunciation lyrics and have a try at saying one word at a time. Then I try and sing it all myself with and then without the music and seeing if it matches and then I keep at it until I match the pronunciation and lyrics. There are probably better methods to learning lyrics of Japanese songs but I prefer to imitate as it also helps me with my acting if I have to be a certain character.

To conclude, I am very proud and happy that I have made my own comic and am so happy that it's finally all made after many sessions of hard work, I hope that with it I will receive a Silver Arts Award after all my effort

Comic Con London

For those of you who don't know, Comic con is a convention where you can dress up as characters in certain outrageous styles that you don’t generally wear and it's a place with skits and cosplay catwalks and all your nerdy needs.

I had been looking forward to going to Comic Con for quite some time and my friend and I had been planning our outfits for ages! I went along with my friend and her sister and her Mum.

I arrived at Comic-Con London and started queuing for a wrist band so I could be let in. Luckily it didn't take very long and I could look at the other cosplayers as I was waiting. After I had been let in I looked around and marvelled at all the different outfits and props people had. I browsed the stalls and came across a Jack Frost cosplayer and nervously asked for my very first photo with a cosplayer at Comic-Con!

I started looking at the stalls more closely and there were so many different varieties of things to buy, such as: plushies, jewellery, badges, comics, drawings, books, wigs, costumes, clothes, hats, masks and so much more! I purchased a ring and a pillowcase from Black Butler, an Anime I watch.

After looking around some more and taking pictures with more Cosplayers I had lunch. There was a big lunch hall with plenty of seats and places for people to sit and also a lot of nice food to buy. I bought some cherry coke and 6 little doughnuts to dunk in hot melted chocolate, DELICIOUS! After I had eaten and was full up I started walking back until I came across a massive conga line! I joined in and got high fives and people joining onto me and there was music and it was such fun!

After all that excitement I walked back to the stalls for more photos with cosplayers and had one last look at the little stands before taking the train home.

Overall, I thought it was a very good experience. The quality of some of the cosplayers were amazing but some not so good. Everyone was really friendly and I felt like it was well organised. It was crowded though so if you don't like crowds maybe not a great place to be.

The items on sale in the little shops were mostly very expensive but there were a few stalls that sold things for quite a good price.

I'd go again and I'd recommend it for those who enjoy anime and cosplay.