Competition

Overall, I’m really pleased with how my Batsford 2025 project has turned out. At the start, I aimed to create a piece that captured the essence of ‘Fun & Play,’ using my own photographs and experimenting with digital and traditional techniques. Throughout the process, I’ve learned a lot about combining both mediums to create a cohesive and engaging final outcome. I’m particularly happy with how the crayon texture came through. It added a playful, organic feel to the piece, which really brought out the childlike, whimsical quality I wanted to evoke. The use of vibrant colours and digital manipulation helped bring the image to life, and I feel it aligns well with the overall aesthetic. The inclusion of personal elements, like the GameCube and aquatic life, gave the piece more depth and a sense of personal connection.

One area I would improve is the composition. While the individual elements are strong, I found that some of them felt a bit disjointed. I’ve taken feedback on board and plan to focus on repositioning the elements in future work to create a more harmonious balance. Additionally, I’d experiment with blending modes to integrate the elements more smoothly.

However to oppose that point of all the elements blending together it almost invites the viewer to spend a longer time to really look and break down the illustration to spot harder to see elements such as the blue fishes blending into the sky background. In terms of the process, I’ve learned a lot about balancing digital and traditional techniques. The use of Photoshop allowed me to work professionally and precisely, while the traditional crayon effect brought character and warmth to the piece. This combination gave me the flexibility to experiment with different textures and colours, which I think was key to achieving the playful vibe I was aiming for. Moving forward, I’ll continue to experiment with composition and layering to make sure my elements are more cohesive. Overall, this project has been a great learning experience, and I feel that it has helped me refine my skills in both digital illustration and traditional techniques, which I will carry forward into future projects.