'Record' Project: Using Cut Outs / JP King

I talked before about starting to use negative space in my collage work. I first saw JP King's work when we started the course and were being introduced to the Visual Communication group. His use of cut outs is very slight and careful and not over the top. It often is the main focus or helps to compliment an image. I think it's very clever the difference these small differences can make.

My first try, I like the mix of materials, however I think I'm overcrowding the page. The negative space isn't as significant because there is so much going on around it. 

Another progression, thread is actually red but it didn't show up. I think this works quite well but the negative space still isn't clear enough! I think I overused the dress pattern instructions and all the words is a little too much.

Another one but this time I cut the words from a book, I wanted to try another way of showing conversation. The words are from a conversation in my journal. I wish I'd extended the cut out a little more to the right and not had it almost completely filled by the brown paper, other than this I quite like it.

using the negative space and making it work is much harder than you'd imagine! I want to keep incorporating this technique, as well as the collage into my work. I think its a more experimental way of exploring different elements of my theme, that and I'm really enjoying it.

'Record' Project: Artist Research, Hollie Chastain.

I was looking at collage artists and remembered seeing Hollie Chastain's work earlier on in the course. I love her imagery, and think it's quite similar to what I've been doing at the minute. Although her pieces aren't necessarily about communication or conversation, I love her technique and style. The use of colour and material in the work is lovely, and there is a great mix of flat images, drawing and textures.

'Record' Project: Journal, Valeska Soares and Conversations.

I was looking through my journal and I came across this piece of found material I discovered in a road. The way the letter stamps were clumped together reminded me of an artist called Valeska Soares I came across in a book I was reading in the library.

(piece of paper I found in the road).

Valeska Soares looked at a project where she collected hundreds of love letters and deconstructed them.

I started thinking about my own project, and the sounds I have been recording and began to think about words and conversations. From this I started deconstructing my own conversations.

"What shall we do?"

"I don't know".

"Alternatively I had another idea, which was to..."

I love how these came out and I think it would be really interesting to pursue this idea. I will have to record many more conversations. I think lettering is something I've avoided before and could actually really benefit my work. Also, in terms of focusing in on one aspect of the theme I think this could be a good place to start.

'Record' Project: Artist Research: Rob Dunlavey

I found Rob Dunlavey's work reading a book about artists journals. I love how he approaches constructing the drawings, almost like he's working from the inside out, focusing on the shapes within the buildings rather than the outlines. I think I found these inspiring because they were quite free and loose but the colour choices seem quite thought out. A little reminder for me to be less careful and more experimental in my journals.

'Body Parts' Brief: Day One.

We were set a new brief for the next two weeks, the title is 'Body Parts'. The brief is completely open and in our control, which is both exciting and a little unnerving. We started off just covering the brief and then it was up to us! I did a quick mind map in my sketchbook covering possible areas of interest, and then went to do some artist research. I found two artists yesterday who's work inspired possible ideas for experimenting within this brief.

The first was Nicolai Howalt, the images were from a series he did called 3x1, where he documented a stay with a family.

I thought these images were so simplistic but striking. In terms of 'Body Parts' I hadn't thought about being so obvious with ideas, but looking through his work I thought it may be a good place to start. I love how the hands (both right) are so controlling in the images.

The next artist I looked at was Isidro Ferrer.

I loved his work, I printed off much more that this but these were some of my favourites! His work is clever and witty and something I would like to look into doing more! It was very similar to what we were doing today.

As well as artist research, we worked on creating different images/objects out of separate parts. It was the beginning of the 'Body Parts' brief and gave us an idea of the different ways we can interpret the phrase. I had so many different objects to choose from, and I tried to be quite imaginative with the shapes and what I was doing. 

A drip and a hook, I like the drip but i'm not sure it's obvious what it is. The hook was a little too obvious.

A question mark and a scooter, I'm happy with both of these. I think the simplicity of the question mark works well, and the yellow material with the colourful scooter is appealing.

A telephone and a dragonfly. These were the last two I did and I'd finally got my head round what worked and what didn't. These are probably my favourites from the day.

Playing around with the nails and creating different emotions.

A bare coat hanger, and one with a shirt on it. I don't like the shirt, I should have found a thinner material to do the outline, it just looks a bit off and awkward.

A man, and another face.

A face and an eye, The eye was probably the only one where I layered materials up.

A face and a chest of drawers, the drawers were the first thing I did, and I think you can tell. It's too simplistic and not really clear what it is.

Overall I had a really interesting day, and I have come away with a few ideas on where to start with this brief. I'm excited to get started and experiment with different possibilities.

3D Design: Contextual Studies Brief.

For my study and response to an artist, I chose to look at Anthony Cragg.

I've never really seen any work like this before, the sculptures have so much movement and look so organic and natural. It was interesting to read that he started out creating sculptures out of found items, because these works seem so far away from that. The tall ones remind me of stalagmites/tites, and the layers on some make me think of animals and tree rings or shells. I really wanted to create a response to these but wasn't sure how, I had a good go! Although it doesn't look much like any of his pieces, I was influenced by his work and tried to recreate some of the techniques -like the layering and looping. 

It all looks messy. I tried to mix up materials by using the plastic, but that wouldn't fold like I wanted it to! I also had problems stapling all the layers together. Despite this I like the way it looks from some angles (bottom left). The loops layering above each other works well. In my head I can see it's inspired by his work (slightly)! If I was to do it again, I'd try and create one of his taller pieces.

3D Design: Artist Research.

As part of the 3D design block we've been given a list of artists, and told to research and blog about one. I chose to look at Kiki Smith. I was already aware of Kiki Smith's work but not of her sculptures, which seems mad as there's so many! I love how Kiki's work is always a bit confronting, challenging and has a dark/unusual feel.

The first piece I really liked is called 'Pee Body'.

I love this piece because it's really bluntly showing something that is considered taboo, and in my opinion doing it in quite a humorous way. I love the mix of materials and the contrast between the beads and main body, the awkward positioning and flailing stream of beads.

The next piece that caught my attention was 'Sirens'.

I'm not sure what to think about these pieces, they're incredibly interesting and slightly dark and eerie, and they're really reminding me of something which is also winding me up! (The bird/human that transports you places in Zelda) I really like the idea though, I'm not quite sure of the concept behind them but they're unsettling. I like the change in sizes too, although the faces don't really change you instantly get that feeling of age differences, interesting that size corresponds to that.

The last piece I'm going to blog about is called 'Daisy Chain'.

I love this piece. I like that when I was looking through different images of the sculpture, it had been arranged in various different ways, constantly changing/evolving the first impression and feel of the work. The contrast between the the loose chains and sculpted limbs actually has a funny impact on you, and makes me feel quite strange. I like how it makes the solid limbs look like they could be limp also, made out of rubber.