Having a Creative Partner to Rocket Power our Practices. A History so-far of 54321 Magazine.5/2/2024 James Milroy BA Illustration and Visual Media I entered University understanding that it would uniquely serve as a melting pot for creatives in the few years I would spend here before embarking on a future as an illustrator. Thus a key goal of mine has been to seek out collaboration, as a tool to better realise my own identity, and to become a part of something bigger than me doodling in my bedroom. I’ve idolised the collaborative process and creative partnerships for as long as I’ve been around media, and my co-SIP this year has given me the agency to pursue that and fully realise the benefits first hand, positioning me for the future I want to create for myself and others. I’ve always looked to the medium of comics as a great example of what can be achieved in collaboration, inspiring me to reach out for what I wanted with the SIP. Single issues often have writers, pencilers, inkers, colourists, letters and editors who all need to maintain an equilibrium in one product. This is illustrated well in Daredevil, written by Mark Waid and primarily illustrated by Chris Samnee, who have always been vocal on how they achieve more together. In the back pages of some of their books you can see the way collaboration plays out. In volume 5’s behind the scenes we can see how Waid’s scripts are skilfully translated onto the page, with editor Stephen Wacker noting how “Chris usually knows how to nail EXACTLY what Mark is looking for.” (2014). In interviews for ‘The Seeds’ another formative comic for my work Nocenti (2021) talks about how her artist Aja can add so much to her script “simple ideas … drawn by David, become transcendent.” These values are key in a medium where the text and image should have equal importance, and have taught me about the benefits of finding someone who you really understand, and who understands you. My co-created SIP is Five Four Three Two One, an interview magazine I developed with Fred Marber, another DPS student. The collaborative aspect of this project has undoubtedly given more purpose to my practice, giving me a greater insight on others, and helping me to refine my craft for a greater outcome. As I’ve mentioned, a goal of mine as a practitioner has always been to reach a level with a collaborator where we understand each other to such a degree that our work is almost seamless. Fred has been my friend ever since we met in our first year and we’ve bonded over our practise, influences and interests. We have a great relationship which informs the way we work together. In collaboration we have been able to constantly seek peer feedback, hold each other accountable with things as simple as text that wouldn’t translate well to print has greatly benefited the way we both work, bridging the gap from students to professionals. 54321 magazine has been a greatly fulfilling project for both of us and gives us a space to play around with each other's ideas, shown by the ‘nightmare scenario’ premise we build for each guest which has become a great source of creativity for Fred and I, shown by the ‘spider society’ we crafted for Harry ‘Hartex.’ Our SIP has given me the space and agency to shape a project with a real sense of passion and new creativity that’s really valuable to me as a practitioner approaching graduation. Figure 1: Milroy, J. (2024) Spider World Sketches
As I’ve mentioned, 54321 is an interview magazine, and thus is uniquely able to connect us with others, teaching me more about collaboration and what really goes into a project that needs to consider everything that comes with working for and with others. Issue 1 interviews the owner of a Hartex shop on Southbank, Harry Sims. Introducing another person we depend on for the SIP has pushed us to adapt our project dates, how we conduct our interview, where we can sell our magazine and introduced several other variables that we have to consider. This is really important in preparing us for post-graduation work where artists are constantly working with others, and are often caught up in a complicated web of obligations and deals with others. Here the SIP has greatly helped me gain perspective on what is required to work with others and what I need to begin to consider to fit into the future. Essentially, I feel 54321 and the space guaranteed for us by a SIP has let me grow into the position that I’ve always wanted to have as a practitioner. Working in a partnership and with an outwardly facing project has refreshed my passion for my work and brought me closer to the identity I want as a practitioner post-graduation. Bibliography
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