Week 5

Second rotation. Edit.

This week I've been focused on developing my work from the previous week and I've begun my second workshop rotation which is a digital workshop titled Edit.

Firstly I developed my object work, in a series of drawings which I worked on from last week into this week. I started by asking Anna and Ryan to draw their figures from touch without looking at their figures, in doing so I'm now asking them to convert their demons from 3D to 2D. I also did the same with my drawing.

Above, is Ryan's drawing from touch initially he made a biro drawing, then he made a pencil sketch as he felt it would be smoother.

Above, is Anna's drawing from touch, its curious how she chose to work back into the drawing adding shading. She told me that she intended for her figure to look like a voodoo doll, which made me look at the cracks in the skin therefore to the right of her drawing I've made a pencil sketch of how these would look stitched up, linking to her concept of voodoo dolls. which I personally want to avoid as this leads away from the theme of distorted figures and goes down a more supernatural path which I find less interesting as existing personal omens.

Above , Is my drawing from touch which I want to use as a starting point to develop my own work from, therefore I want to develop from this by making a detailed drawing in pencil combing the texture of the original 3D piece with the form of the 2D piece. 

 

I'm starting to understand that I'm now developing my own process of work. I produce a physical starting point sub consciously, which I then take forward into a 2D (my preferred medium) format, from which I will now develop further through editing.

 

On Tuesday 13th, I began working on my new workshop which was titled edit, in which  I had to once again work in a group, this time to produce a short film composed of still images and videos which Id take throughout the day of me and my group interacting unusually with every day objects. We chose to use stairs and steps. Personally I really don't like working with film, I prefer to physically create work, however I chose to approach the task with an open mind. Below are stills from the film we made.

Once again I didn't enjoy working in a group, I acknowledge its benefits such as the increased amount of ideas and the fact that work can be delegated making the process quicker, however I just feel that I cant reach my full potential as I am unable to develop my own ideas at my own pace in my own way. however one thing that did interest me in this project was the concept of handling objects in an unusual manor therefore I considered how I could merge this with distorted figures, and I was reminded of an idea I had a t A level, that I could use elastic bands to distort my facial features. therefore I made a photo shoot of me and some friends with elastic bands distorting our faces.

I'm not sure if Ill take this concept any further although I find it interesting I'm not

sure how to develop these any further.

I continued working amount the idea of editing by beginning to introduce my work for the theme of distorted figures to Photoshop therefore I combined a photo of my 3D demon's head with a self portrait photo. I like this as it shows me and my omens visibly together as one. which is strange as it shows I'm the omen and the omen is me as much as we are ourselves.

 

Week 4

This week I've begun a four week rotation through four workshops all designed to help me make my decision which medium I want to focus my studies on. This week I've been working on the first project titled Object. Which is a 3D/sculpture based workshop.

We began on Tuesday by being presented an object we then in groups of four had to study and brain storm about the object, below is a photo of the object and below that is a photo of the brainstorm of ideas. The object was literally a plastic bag made rigid by air pockets, with a small opening at one end with an egg inside.

Once our group had exhausted our efforts and collected all the ideas that we could from this object, we highlighted the words/ideas/concepts which appeared the most from which we began to develop our own sculpture. The words which we primarily focused on were:

• Maternal
• Sanctuary
• Nest
• Protective
• Dependence
• Fragile

In response to these ideas, as a group we produced a sculpture, the production of which I've documented below using everyday materials. The idea is that it represents both a box and a nest, as a way to convey the idea of maternal safety, and sanctuary, yet the materials are frail and delicately balanced or suspended from an equally frail branch, therefore trying to convey the idea of fragile.

Below is the finished sculpture, which I personally don't like, however the concepts behind it I find really interesting, however I don't think this sculpture successfully conveys these ideas. Also this was really the first time I've worked in a group when producing art, which I felt uneasy in as it was an entirely new set of dynamics. you have four creative people together all producing entirely different ideas, which is good as it gives one an appreciation of how people think and work, yet it can also be annoying as it limits your own ability to chase and develop your own ideas. Therefore I didn't really like this.

For the remainder of the week I was then set the task to continue working around the project Object. To do this I decided to begin working on the theme which I had been re inspired about two weeks before, Distorted figures to do this I bought air drying clay and decided to begin exploring the concept of internal omens.

To do this I gave clay to several friends and myself and each of us had to sculpt a figure without looking at what we were making whilst thinking of negative thoughts. This had interesting results as we all roduced human figures very crudely, but the concept I was trying to get at, was that these figures are products of our sub conscious at a time when we are only thinking about our darkest most negative thoughts. Therefore this figures are the mirror images of our internal omens/demons therefore these are our demons.

Ryan making his demon (above)

Anna making her demon (above)

My Demon

Ryan's Demon

Anna's Demon

On Sunday 11th, I watched Donnie Darko for the first time which again strongly inspired me to keep working around the theme of personal demons, but also about paranoia and how our demons remain with us throughout time. Below is a poster for Donnie Darko which I found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnie_Darko

 

 

 

 

Week 3

Drawing machine

This week my primary focus was my drawing machine project which I was given a brief for the week before. originally I was worried about this project as I had literally no idea of what to do, Id made several sketches and plans but nothing of great significance. I think in hind sight my main problem was that I worried too much about not knowing what to do that I was ironically therefore unable to think creatively. However on Tuesday 29th, I had my first tutoring appointment. Which i found exceptionally helpful, as my tutor asked me about all my ideas, I explained about how I preferred the fluid and lively way of working with the charcoal when drawing the weed. Therefore my tutor encouraged me on certain ways of thinking which lead to me devising a potential device that captured the random fluid path of a rolling ball. in response to the task I therefore created a plastic ring, which I dropped three paint coated balls into and rolled on top of a sheet of paper.

Above I have documented the process of using the drawing machine, using photographs taking at the time.

Ultimately I was very pleased with the results of the drawing machine. primarily because of the fact that although I played vital role in the use of the machine, I had very little control of the final outcome, as it was the three balls in the ring which dictated the outcome. However, I feel I didn't fully engage with this project, as I was needed to operate the machine, the machine was not an independent device. Therefore new questions are raised, such as who is the artist in this situation the operator or the machine?

Above, this is my personal favourite drawing, I particularly like this drawing because, I think id managed to get just the right amount of paint on the balls meaning that the lines are far sharper and bolder.

At the end of the week on Friday 2nd, I had to present my drawing machines, or drawings in an exhibition, in the project space of the St Georges. to do this I had to leave all the work I wished to display in the project space to be evaluated by two tutors who would assign us our designated spaces to present work, and which work we would be exhibiting. This was interesting as the work my tutor's chose was my least favourite drawing from my entire project. this was interesting as I began to see how different people viewed the same work differently. The image my tutors chose is below.