Yes I am officially the sad git. Class finished at 11am ish and most of my classmates left for home or lunch at 12... Meanwhile im half camped out here at college buzzing away on this new brief. The reason for not going home yet is the fact that I start work at 5pm... so whats the point :p Ill just stay here and force myself to work till 4pm
Ive been doing some researching for Contextual studies and a small part for the new brief. I honestly think I cant set my mind on a solid idea till I visit the new campus. Meanwhile my brain is still clueless over what to do for the contextual studies. We have to write a synopsis on our previous years studies on a full A4 sheet... How can I possibly cram it all down to A4, I have no idea. And what to do in this years studies. Yet again, I have no idea. I dont exactly have a subject Im super interested about or that I am desperate to study about or research. Nothing at the moment is grabbing my interest at all and that really kinda upsets me. I have obvious ideas but I think I'd end up turning those into personal rants.
This is just going to be one problem after another... smeg...
Least I get a week to try and figure it all out :p
Friday 14 October 2011
Thursday 13 October 2011
Ill but not ill enough to prevent me snooping at the new brief :p
More or less exactly what it says on the tin. Im ill with what probably is a chest infection (so im spending the day at home even though we were granted the day off from college today anyways) But it hasnt stopped me checking out the new brief written by Isabella uploaded by Dorothy.
First thoughts is that it takes me back to a 3 week project we had in the HNC of Contemporary Fine Art in which we were to create a piece of work on the theme of transition. It was one of my favourite projects. The idea of transition being the journey from the current middlefield building to the new campus in Alloa. I used the idea of a Jigsaw piece and created a concept for 4 large jigsaw blocks by taking pieces from the current college and taking them with us to the new building. But there were an important element to the project and that was the individual jigsaw pieces, handed out to the tutors and students of the building.
The idea of the individual jigsaw pieces that were shared out amongst students was that the course and building for the Creative Industries was the whole picture. And its built by the students and tutors of the building. We are the pieces that make this large building and when one student leaves to further education or employment another student takes his or hers place to begin their education at the college.
Back in the Contemporary Fine Art course, I was rather sculptural in my practice and I'd love to pick this project up again and push it forward even more in my specialism of Drawing. My idea about the jigsaw pieces being the students and tutors of the building is still the same and I still feel it the same and always will do. The symbolism of a Jigsaw piece is a major part in my life and understanding of the world.
And its something id like to talk to the tutors about with the beginning of this new project because im already really excited and cant wait to get started :p
First thoughts is that it takes me back to a 3 week project we had in the HNC of Contemporary Fine Art in which we were to create a piece of work on the theme of transition. It was one of my favourite projects. The idea of transition being the journey from the current middlefield building to the new campus in Alloa. I used the idea of a Jigsaw piece and created a concept for 4 large jigsaw blocks by taking pieces from the current college and taking them with us to the new building. But there were an important element to the project and that was the individual jigsaw pieces, handed out to the tutors and students of the building.
The idea of the individual jigsaw pieces that were shared out amongst students was that the course and building for the Creative Industries was the whole picture. And its built by the students and tutors of the building. We are the pieces that make this large building and when one student leaves to further education or employment another student takes his or hers place to begin their education at the college.
Back in the Contemporary Fine Art course, I was rather sculptural in my practice and I'd love to pick this project up again and push it forward even more in my specialism of Drawing. My idea about the jigsaw pieces being the students and tutors of the building is still the same and I still feel it the same and always will do. The symbolism of a Jigsaw piece is a major part in my life and understanding of the world.
And its something id like to talk to the tutors about with the beginning of this new project because im already really excited and cant wait to get started :p
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Smeg...
You know when your college wireless signal is rubbish when your sitting in the hallway typing away on blogger to get the last of the work done.
Ive finished my Statement for Assessment and all the other bits and bobs that needed to be done (thank the smeg) And now all I need to do is finish updating this blog that Ive missed out on for a few weeks.
Where to begin.
Well when I last left you all I was having technical issues with my electrical circuit to put it quite simply, what I was advised to purchase from the staff at my local Maplin store just wouldnt run off a 9V battery, That and the holder I purchased was wierd and beyond wonderful. It was a nightmare because it never came with instructions and what you would assume to be the connection prongs was actually a holder for securing it to the wall and oh my lord it was just chaos. But never the less a quick look in the Maplin Catalogue, phonecall and a trip up to the store a quick exchange, finally got the problems sorted out. The next day I was able to attach the lights myself into the circuit. I couldnt have managed all the problems if it wasnt for the college's local technition Alex Johnson. Normally Im fully capable with making electronics but atleast I know it wasnt just my fault haha.
The rest of the time Ive been busy working away making the pattern, assembling the box and getting all the annoying things resolved. Some of which I would love to do a redo on.
And this was only the Wednesday!
By the Thursday, I had the electrics finished and set about making my puzzle box switch. I made it from Balsa wood and because I was rushing with it and then I had to make small adjustments to be perfectly honest it is rather fragile because of the nature of the wood and i'd love to just scrap it and redo it. And this feeling grew and grew with my large box for the final piece. I am hating it, My sizes are off by millimetres so the perspex was a nightmare to secure and I used balsa wood to make a tounge and groove in the edge of the box. Then I realised there still wasnt enough darkness with the blackened inside to completly hide the patterned perspex. Then one problem evolved into two and the final straw was when I had just managed to secure the perspex into position when someone in my class decided to touch the patterned perspex to feel the texture, pushing it out of place before the glue set fully. This was once the top was secured on meaning Im now unable to reset the entire insides less i rip the whole box apart.
Ofcourse by this point Ive lost all faith in my work and can now only validate it as a conceptual piece. Therefore what Im presenting to the tutors and public is just a concept and not a final piece. If i had another couple weeks I would redo the entire box, the puzzle switch and even the perspex pattern.
The only large upside is that as far as this project is concerned I have completed it to a standard and its ready for presentation.
Ive finished my Statement for Assessment and all the other bits and bobs that needed to be done (thank the smeg) And now all I need to do is finish updating this blog that Ive missed out on for a few weeks.
Where to begin.
Well when I last left you all I was having technical issues with my electrical circuit to put it quite simply, what I was advised to purchase from the staff at my local Maplin store just wouldnt run off a 9V battery, That and the holder I purchased was wierd and beyond wonderful. It was a nightmare because it never came with instructions and what you would assume to be the connection prongs was actually a holder for securing it to the wall and oh my lord it was just chaos. But never the less a quick look in the Maplin Catalogue, phonecall and a trip up to the store a quick exchange, finally got the problems sorted out. The next day I was able to attach the lights myself into the circuit. I couldnt have managed all the problems if it wasnt for the college's local technition Alex Johnson. Normally Im fully capable with making electronics but atleast I know it wasnt just my fault haha.
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| To think something so small can be such a big hassle. |
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| The pattern half finished. |
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| Pattern in the box |
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| Lid on the box to see how dark it is without paint... sadly not dark enough so I'll have to paint the inside black. |
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| Alex helping me with the electronics. |
By the Thursday, I had the electrics finished and set about making my puzzle box switch. I made it from Balsa wood and because I was rushing with it and then I had to make small adjustments to be perfectly honest it is rather fragile because of the nature of the wood and i'd love to just scrap it and redo it. And this feeling grew and grew with my large box for the final piece. I am hating it, My sizes are off by millimetres so the perspex was a nightmare to secure and I used balsa wood to make a tounge and groove in the edge of the box. Then I realised there still wasnt enough darkness with the blackened inside to completly hide the patterned perspex. Then one problem evolved into two and the final straw was when I had just managed to secure the perspex into position when someone in my class decided to touch the patterned perspex to feel the texture, pushing it out of place before the glue set fully. This was once the top was secured on meaning Im now unable to reset the entire insides less i rip the whole box apart.
Ofcourse by this point Ive lost all faith in my work and can now only validate it as a conceptual piece. Therefore what Im presenting to the tutors and public is just a concept and not a final piece. If i had another couple weeks I would redo the entire box, the puzzle switch and even the perspex pattern.
The only large upside is that as far as this project is concerned I have completed it to a standard and its ready for presentation.
Monday 10 October 2011
argh!
Trust me to leave some things to the last minute, Ive been working most of last week and Im working literally every day this week...
Todays been mostly a day of getting house chores sorted out, Ive still to retype my Statement for Assessment, adjust my sketchbook and finish it but Ive been getting myself distracted with thinking about Contextual Studies and researching artists and theories which I may explore in the future.
Im missing 3 blog updates which Im determined to upload by this evening and yes they will be in order. But as per usual I do leave things to the last minute and normally they're the things that arnt majorly important. For example last Friday I spent ages scanning and printing out important information for my job at McDonalds... I managed to leave my NI card in the scanner at college, and everything i printed out on my desk... all because I left a set of print outs at my house the night before. Gah... Time to write a major to do list and start getting some structure done.
This evening there will be updates from the project ive forgotten about previously... i will update i will update i will update... there done. Now im back off to work :p
Todays been mostly a day of getting house chores sorted out, Ive still to retype my Statement for Assessment, adjust my sketchbook and finish it but Ive been getting myself distracted with thinking about Contextual Studies and researching artists and theories which I may explore in the future.
Im missing 3 blog updates which Im determined to upload by this evening and yes they will be in order. But as per usual I do leave things to the last minute and normally they're the things that arnt majorly important. For example last Friday I spent ages scanning and printing out important information for my job at McDonalds... I managed to leave my NI card in the scanner at college, and everything i printed out on my desk... all because I left a set of print outs at my house the night before. Gah... Time to write a major to do list and start getting some structure done.
This evening there will be updates from the project ive forgotten about previously... i will update i will update i will update... there done. Now im back off to work :p
Thursday 6 October 2011
the random side note
Ive always enjoyed Walt Disney films, yet I dislike the company at the same time.
I do watch a silly amount of childish films and I remember watching Snow White when it was re realsed (and I was probably 10 or younger) and being confused as to how it could be on video (VHS) when the origional footage was all black and white of Walt Disney recieving his Oscars which was shown at the end of the video as some sort of early day hidden bonus feature... But as Ive grown up I discovered the origional versions of the little mermaid, peter pan, and all the other films the company changed to make a happy ever after ending. Realising how they changed the origional stories so much has annoyed me to the point of my continual studies into finding out what else Disney ruined. From basically stealing The Lion King from "Kimba the White Lion" and kicking any other copyright claim with their massive legal team, To owning other companies like DC and spreading their money and white castle logo throughout popular tv shows such as Desperate Housewives to even tormenting the globe with Jonas brothers and Hanna Montana. Just how much of the entertainment world does Disney own???
But one thing that annoys me more is how the quality of their "drawn" cartoons has dropped.
We went from this
High detailed and quality cartoons
To this
Low detailed, stark, boring and pointless. This makes no sense to me but when I was younger watching Pooh Corner I could imagine being there with the characters... the more modern cartoons like above. Deserve to be burnt.
Irrigardless... One of the things when Disney made their detailed cartoons was their detailed hand drawn movies. Hours upon hours of practice, research, study, scripting went into making movies. Now the company has teams of people working hours upon hours infront of computers where their art departmet makes clay models of the characters and passes them over to be made digital. But thats the advances in technology for you I guess.
One thing I shall forever smile about, despite Disneys actions and world domination is the way they did things origionally.
Above is the test footage of Alice and Wonderland in sync with the cartoon footage. Where actors who would do the voices acted out the lines and potentially the cartoon performance. They would dress up, wave their hands about play with props all relative to the story. And in this instance above the audio from the test footage was used exactly for the film of Alice in Wonderland. As a form of research, although in some reports extreamly outdated I think its fantastic to continue this idea. Although I'd never at current consider making an animation or video, despite it being an ambition one day to do so. I can see me taking photographs of people in postions to draw from, I can see me pulling silly positions to understand how a drawing I may be working on may form.
Its something that maybe the artist who created this image should have tried out...
Its a drawing of Spidermans Mary Jane Watson, pulling a "sexy" when also meant to be "relaxed" pose... has caused an internet storm of people trying to recreate the characters ridiculous "Sexy Pose"
Sometimes I wonder if technology is killing the practice of drawing and should old methods still be in our basic practice before we move onto the macs and pc's software to draw. Should we stick to pencil and paper before jumping on the computer 100% of the time and should we be pulling silly poses ourselves to figure out how the human form works?
These are just some of the random questions that buzz about my brain on thursday nights resulting in me doing a mad spree of research and understanding. I should really be putting this all towards my Contextual Studies. Till then it can rest safe and sound on this blogger update
I do watch a silly amount of childish films and I remember watching Snow White when it was re realsed (and I was probably 10 or younger) and being confused as to how it could be on video (VHS) when the origional footage was all black and white of Walt Disney recieving his Oscars which was shown at the end of the video as some sort of early day hidden bonus feature... But as Ive grown up I discovered the origional versions of the little mermaid, peter pan, and all the other films the company changed to make a happy ever after ending. Realising how they changed the origional stories so much has annoyed me to the point of my continual studies into finding out what else Disney ruined. From basically stealing The Lion King from "Kimba the White Lion" and kicking any other copyright claim with their massive legal team, To owning other companies like DC and spreading their money and white castle logo throughout popular tv shows such as Desperate Housewives to even tormenting the globe with Jonas brothers and Hanna Montana. Just how much of the entertainment world does Disney own???
But one thing that annoys me more is how the quality of their "drawn" cartoons has dropped.
We went from this
High detailed and quality cartoons
To this
Low detailed, stark, boring and pointless. This makes no sense to me but when I was younger watching Pooh Corner I could imagine being there with the characters... the more modern cartoons like above. Deserve to be burnt.
Irrigardless... One of the things when Disney made their detailed cartoons was their detailed hand drawn movies. Hours upon hours of practice, research, study, scripting went into making movies. Now the company has teams of people working hours upon hours infront of computers where their art departmet makes clay models of the characters and passes them over to be made digital. But thats the advances in technology for you I guess.
One thing I shall forever smile about, despite Disneys actions and world domination is the way they did things origionally.
Above is the test footage of Alice and Wonderland in sync with the cartoon footage. Where actors who would do the voices acted out the lines and potentially the cartoon performance. They would dress up, wave their hands about play with props all relative to the story. And in this instance above the audio from the test footage was used exactly for the film of Alice in Wonderland. As a form of research, although in some reports extreamly outdated I think its fantastic to continue this idea. Although I'd never at current consider making an animation or video, despite it being an ambition one day to do so. I can see me taking photographs of people in postions to draw from, I can see me pulling silly positions to understand how a drawing I may be working on may form.
Its something that maybe the artist who created this image should have tried out...
Sometimes I wonder if technology is killing the practice of drawing and should old methods still be in our basic practice before we move onto the macs and pc's software to draw. Should we stick to pencil and paper before jumping on the computer 100% of the time and should we be pulling silly poses ourselves to figure out how the human form works?
These are just some of the random questions that buzz about my brain on thursday nights resulting in me doing a mad spree of research and understanding. I should really be putting this all towards my Contextual Studies. Till then it can rest safe and sound on this blogger update
London-dinium
As I mentioned in the previous post I was at London last Sunday and Monday with my good friend and partner in crime Lisa Marie Wright. After a long Sunday sightseeing and gigging at Versailles on Monday morning we set about to visit some art galleries. We ventured to the Saatchi Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum and even cheesed it half way across London to visit the Barbican.
We took over a hundred photos each but I feel its important to share and highlight the best findings I came across on my part of the visit. p.s. Check out Lisa Wright's blog for some awesome insight into her work the latest being a great insight into using wax and other materials in casting processes.
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| Samsul Arifin, "Time After Time", 2010, Oil on Canvas, 200x150cm |
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| Eddie Hara, "Lost in a Wasteland", 2010, Acrylic on Canvas, 150x240 cm |
All of these above images were in the Saatchi Gallery at current the main focus is on Sculptural works but its still a fantastic place to visit.
One of the best things about visiting the V&A was the exhibition on "The Power of Making" sadly we were not allowed to take photographs although there were plenty of people taking sly "text messages" if you know what I mean... If you're ever in London I highly suggest paying a visit, some things you may recognise is David Mach's Wire Coathanger Gorrilla which I have to admit, I thought it would be bigger...
The last Gallery we visited was the Barbican Its a strange place to be as it does theater, plays, art, music, film and dance... The colours inside are of neon orange, black and greys. Its so strange as the design of the building flows wierdly but I can only assume thats the purpose. Anyways, our main reason to visit was the current installation at the Barbicans "Curve"...
Junya Ishigami: Architecture as Air all I can say is holy freaking smeg... When you go to visit the work, you must take your shoes off and go in small groups of 5 because of the fragile nature of the work. And as we walked through the exhibition I'll admit it, I was bored, I couldnt see a single thing I was wondering why the heck I was brought there to look at something invisible because that is the whole element of the work. But as you walk around the corner and your guide explains the processes and what is actually there in this massive white sterile curved room its suddenly revieled. No wonder you weren't allowed to take your camera in for photographs, you couldnt see the dam thing until a second assistant wearing all black stood behind to show the hidden work.
Have you ever walked about and suddenly felt something cross your face or mouth and think "omg its a spiderweb!" and you pick and rub your face to get the sensation off because you cant possibly see it. Well these highly thin strands of carbon fibre which hold and support the thicker strands were thinner than that. Were talking 0.02 mm thick strands, a strand of my own hair is 0.5mm (yes I actually measured, and thats even with my hair being thick natured) I came out of that exhibition room with my brains sprayed about in my head the term "mindfuck" is real and thats what Junya Ishigami did to me. Im still ranting about it to this very second. I couldnt wait to tell my tutor Dot I seriously wanted her to drop her classroom plans, jump in her car, drive down to the Barbican in London and experience the crazy.
Junya Ishigami you have my respect forever.
London, thanks for having me in your city next time ill bring more money and extra comfy shoes... maybe even flipflops because I will never get used to your 32 degree temperature...
Tuesday 4 October 2011
***Yawn***
Sorry folks Im just starting to recover from mine and Lisa's big trip to London and Im still exhausted so this is going to be a quick post of the week...
I finished last weeks worth of work by going head first in the work thats needed. Alex the awesome has agreed to help me in making my electronics and to Pat test the circuit. All I need to do is sketch up the circuit (which I have done) and fill out a risk assessment form.
I also began making the pattern on the perspex which is already proving to be a long task at hand... literally my hand keeps cramping up with the drypoint tool im using and its slowly killing me.
And after having a very quick tutorial on friday with David Sweeny I set about making the large box construction before I had to leave for work. Im extreamly proud of myself for getting it done all by myself (whilst using trevs mdf) All i need to now do to it is seal it, paint it, finish the pattern and electronics install it all together and resolve any adjustments that may be and hey presto done and dusted I hope.
All priorities is in making the final piece, paperwork stuff I can easily do at home but I do need facilities at the college so as to make things and get piece and quiet to etch away. Im really hoping to just be left alone music on the loud as hell setting and just to get on with stuff.
Stay tuned for my discoveries in London... probably once I wake up.
I finished last weeks worth of work by going head first in the work thats needed. Alex the awesome has agreed to help me in making my electronics and to Pat test the circuit. All I need to do is sketch up the circuit (which I have done) and fill out a risk assessment form.
I also began making the pattern on the perspex which is already proving to be a long task at hand... literally my hand keeps cramping up with the drypoint tool im using and its slowly killing me.
And after having a very quick tutorial on friday with David Sweeny I set about making the large box construction before I had to leave for work. Im extreamly proud of myself for getting it done all by myself (whilst using trevs mdf) All i need to now do to it is seal it, paint it, finish the pattern and electronics install it all together and resolve any adjustments that may be and hey presto done and dusted I hope.
All priorities is in making the final piece, paperwork stuff I can easily do at home but I do need facilities at the college so as to make things and get piece and quiet to etch away. Im really hoping to just be left alone music on the loud as hell setting and just to get on with stuff.
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| The box is made ready for painting, electronics and pattern |
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| Edges rounded off as the viewer will be at this end. I did a happy accident in when the sander gauged out a heavy chunk of wood, but with more sanding and curving its given it a slight aged feel... This is something I can run with as the MDF is a nightmare wood for appearance. |
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| Music... Patterns... Etching... Awesome |
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| 3 patterns to choose from. Ive decided on number 3. 1 is too simple and obvious of being feathers, 2 is too chaotic and thick. number 3 has a nice flow and feels something royal it still looks like feathers without being too obvious. |
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| Brain buzzing in the sketchbook. |
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| a couple of perspex etching testers. |
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| my third etching test with close attention to detail and using some sandpaper for extra depth. However I have mixed feelings towards the use of sandpaper. I like how the sections are symmetricle but the detail isnt, you can clearly see its been hand drawn and not done by a machine because there are some mistakes, there are some visual incorrections but it still works. And thats the element which keeps this piece primarily a drawn artwork. |
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