'Record' Project: Conversation Collage.

I'd been wanting to experiment with collage for a while, and so I thought I'd try to convey the idea of conversation and communication through found imagery. I was using figures I cut out from some old dress patterns, I thought they were perfect as they were quite cartoon like but still aged. I'd drawn up some ideas beforehand and then started working with thread.

My first image using a thinner thread, this works really well. I think the black/white and colour combination is very complimentry. I want to try something busier though and see if I can build it up.

Built up with more characters and thread, I was thinking about old and new conversations. I now wanted to try using coloured figures instead of coloured thread.

I don't think this works as well, you lose the significance of the thread. The textures work quite nicely but I think I'm losing what the image is supposed to represent.

This image was a complete accident, I was trying to begin working with black space, and scanning on top of a piece I did in my sketchbook where I followed conversations as they were happening around me. Instead i got this. I think it's quite interesting and I love that you can see the lettering coming through in all shapes and sizes. It's made me think more about using black space and cut outs instead of the figures themselves, moving forward I think that is what I need to experiment with next.

Independent Study, 'Reconstructed faces'.

As part of our Independent study days, we had to explore the idea of a 'reconstructed face' over a number of double spreads in our sketchbooks. I did a few thumbnails to explore different ideas and decided I wanted to start with something very straight forward. I did some basic collages using only a few photos, and then for the second, I reprinted the first image in a lower saturation, so the new additions to the image would stand out. I liked how you could still piece together the faces despite them being broken up, and the colours are quite calm and muted, but with some pinks/blues to bring it out.

For the second spread, I wanted to vary the media I was using. As well as collage and magazine cut outs, I decided to use thread as an alternative to drawing. I tried to create this idea of connection, and to join the different features of the face. Again, the first image was quite simple, but for the second I decided to create features with the thread and well as just using it to connect. I liked how these turned out, and despite the different elements I think they work together to create one face or image.

For my last spread I wanted to do something different. I did some blind drawing of different facial features and then scanned them into photoshop. Like I did previously with the hands, I rearranged the different elements to make a face. I did a little bit of colouring too. For this tasks I had to think of a variety of different ways to approach the phrase, which can be quite challenging. I enjoyed getting to work with media I've not used in a while too, like the thread! 

3D Design: 'Enclosure' Brief part 2.

After developing my first two responses, I worked on constructing a further 3. I struggled with the wire when trying to keep it straight, and so started to experiment with different materials as well as different shapes when looking at ways of responding. I found some double sided card (white on one side and grey on the other) and thought the contrast was really interesting. I planned out different techniques in my sketchbook, like hole punching and gold eyelet detailing, and started to construct my first spherical cage.

I used staples to fix the card in place. The finished response was surprisingly strong! I was very happy with the strength and look of this response. I moved on and started experimenting with more materials, paper, canvas, plastic coated wires etc... I wanted to create a very colourful piece to contrast with the previous one. I took pictures as I put it together to show the layering of different materials, like the hidden canvas I tried out on the inside! 

For my third and final structure, I decided to risk using the wire again! I thought it would be easier to bend into a circular shape than keep it straight. Alone it looked boring, so I wove green thread round it. I loved the contrast of colours and also the straight angles created within this circular shape. It looked really interesting! 

...and here is all 3 displayed together! Overall this task has been fairly beneficial, I enjoyed working into and developing my responses, and looking at all the possibilities that come from one word! I'm happy with my structures, however if I had more time I would have tried to suspend them (cubes and spheres) or display them in some other way. 

3D Design: Connection/Tubes photography.

We were sent to the photography department with our tubes to focus on capturing the idea of connection. Initially, we were put into pairs and had to direct each other and the shoot. We were looking at forming different unusual connections using the tubes, connecting different body parts/people. I was made to connect my ear and foot, and I challenged my pair to connect his arm and foot using his tube.

I think the texture and the shape of the tubes work well with how the shoots were directed. Having the person sat down makes your figure look more entangled and connected without even introducing the tubes. I like how in the second photo I shot (bottom right) the lighting means his hand and foot actually look naturally joined, it's very fluid.

In the next shot we worked together and used both of our pieces. The way we are stood (head on) looks quite strong and confronting, and the tubes kind of ease that and create a flowing connection.

After this the group combined and we created 2 group pieces. Experimenting with 3D so far has been fairly eye opening, I've rarely worked with this media before. I enjoyed looking at the different effect these objects could have and the connections they could make, I wish I had to chance to work more with different ideas and medias as I think I could have created more/bigger pieces (relating to the tube project).

Fine Art: 'Transform' -Structure and experimental drawing.

We were given long strips of paper and instructed to manipulate this paper, by folding or crumpling, any which way in order to transform the shape in some way. I chose to create a neat triangular structure at one end, and crumple the paper at the other -as if the structure was unravelling in some way.

From these we then took clean strips, and experimented with sponging, painting, stencilling and scoring, following the lines of our paper and recreating them with shoe polish. 

We also added masking tape for collage/cover up. I found this quite difficult, the shoe polish wasn't very dark and without scoring the paper it would always come up the same shade! It was a difficult medium to work with, but once we had done three and we put them together, I think they worked quite nicely as one piece.

After this we produced some pieces using tape, collage and thread. I preferred this task a lot more, we haven't had to use thread yet and I hadn't ever really drawn with it. My favourite combination was the green thread over masking tape (the strip on the right), the colours and material really complemented each other.