Deadlines

Well here we are, deadline time.  I have been working very hard this week to finish everything off. My kitchen table is becoming visible again after weeks of clutter have now been removed.  Getting everything to-gether and labelling them to-day, I don't want to forget anything to-morrow.  I could do with extra arms to carry everything.  Happy Christmas to all.

Limos

Visited site for my themed sketch/story book this week.  My theme is a day in the life of a limo.  Saw lots of great cars and took loads of photos from all angles.  My visit really inspired me, I absorbed the atmosphere.  The cars were so beautiful lying in shiny rows in the semi darkness of the garage, poised to make someones day!  I have lots of ideas and have now done a few pages.
Did a couple of postcards for the charity auction. I drew ducks feet and eggs on wood this week, next week I'll be drawing on the eggs which I have previously blown.  I have done more bookbinding this week making a 'flag' book and box for it.  I'ts for my Grandson and has the alphabet on one row of flags, and a nursery rhym on the other.

There are some lovely book sculptures on display in college, a nice way to re-cycle unwanted books.  Percy Wyndham Lewis is still troubling me, but I'm going to devote all of Wednesday to him and hopefully I'll like him better by the end of the day. 

Sherpa John

I must have lots of work to do as I have started to wake up and plan things during the night.  This is a sure sign that my brain is turning to mince!  I'm getting it back to-gether by making job lists, putting them on the fridge and scoring them off as I do them.  If I do this with military precision it works for me!

Anyhow I blame Percy Wyndham Lewis for all of this.  I have been researching his never ending works for my 500 word critical review.  He's too smart for his own good----poet, writer, artist, fascist,controversial, outspoken, unpopular, complicated need I go on?  The kind people in the library saw my plight and are at this moment awaiting delivery of one or even better two of his books for my research, oh joy.

We did more bookmaking this week.  I started to make a flag book, but had to finish it at home.  Now to the highlight of my week.  I have been led up the digital mountain by Sherpa John, and hallelujah I have digitally rendered my mushroom drawing in photoshop using the airbrush tool.  It's looking good.  This week I will do the same with my Baobab tree drawing. I'll try and put a photo of the magic mushrooms on this blog but don't hold your breath.  Watched part of "Harry Brown" in contextual studies this week, very thought provoking.  Well I'm off now to stare at my list on the fridge and make my first selection of the day. Back again mushrooms were wrong file type or something so here are some wooden onions.

Accordians and concertinas etc.

On Monday we were looking at book making and bookbinding.  We did a couple of samples---accordian and concertina, also a normal shape with a couple of pages and a cover. I will be making more samples using the PDF file for guidance.I loved this workshop.  The wee "books" were so cute and could be adapted in so many ways.
Handed my digital report in , it went better than I thought.  Next digital mountain is to take one of the artists techniques from my report and make my own image using a similar(but very basic) version of the technique.
Still working on various versions of my mushroom/fungi drawings.  I would like to do a lino cut for one of them, also ink drawings using plywood.
Talked about power and knowledge in contextual studies.  Writing a piece about a personal experience involving the topic for next week.  I have also decided to base my 500 word critical review on Percy Wynham Lewis. Busy week ahead, finishing my Personality Map, handing in on 21st. Also must do my Statement for Assessment for Creative Concepts, and my PDP Mid Module tutorial.Phew. A little light relief on Saturday.  I'm going to the Edinburgh Art Fair. I go every year and I will look at the art with different eyes this year.

Post Modernism Madness

My mid module assessments went very well.  Onwards and upwards!  My personality map is coming to-gether now.  Will have it finished for deadline without any stress.
I have been making some shibori and felt samples to include in my sketch book.  Got lots more I want to make, just need more hours in the day.
We were learning about Post Modernism in contextual studies this week.  I found the lecture interesting, and I try to look at all sides and opinions of art but this defeats me.  For me, Post Modernism is a way for sometimes not very talented people to produce something they call art which has probably already been done to some degree.  Nothing is new, just re-jigged but Post Modernists appear to think they are unique and clever in their ideas as if no one else has ever had an alternative or conceptual idea.  THEY JUST TAKE IT TOO FAR!  Apologies to all Post Modernists for this rant. 

Maps,Semiotics and Moobacs!

Started to work seriously on my map this week.  Ploughing ahead with ideas.  I am enjoying this brief more than the last one.  Watched a very interesting film called "Do you see what I see?"  It was about colour perception, how colour affects people and how colour can create a mood. Doing some colour exercises for Dee.  More illustrator practice this week.  Looked at Modernism in contextual studies this week.  Best laugh of the week was in Pauls' class when we were asked to think of two animals, then make a new animal from them.  I chose a cow and a pig which I called a Moobac!  We then had to draw our imaginary animal.  It was all too much for me and I decended into a fit of uncontrolable giggling.  I have decided to make a small story book for my Grandson about Milly the Moobac. 

Time Presentation

Monday-did my Wacky Birthday presentation.  It went ok, the feather and glitter filled balloon which burst at the end made a LOT of mess!  We got our new brief.  We had to choose from two, but as one involved quite a bit of digital wizardry, you'll know which one I picked.  Correct, I chose the one which required the portrayal of my personality in the format of an ordnance survey map.  I think I will enjoy this one better than the last.
Did needle felting this week, I managed to produce what I can only call a muppet style caricature face.  The technique of stabbing the merino into the sponge was quite theraputic, and I only managed to stab my finger once.
More illustrator madness with John.  What more can I say?
Discussed the art of John Martin.  His Apocolypse exhibition is at the Tate London.  This art is to say the least depressing.  Also Has all that is solid melted into air?  A question asked by Marx. 
Got things into order for pdp skills,  all up to date now. 

Posh and Becks ----Ambassadors????

Monday again.  How time flies!  Speaking of time, Been working this week on 'time' brief.  It's finished at last.  Hope all goes well next week during presentation.
Had a flat felting workshop.  I made a flat piece, and also a small bowl.  It was interesting to see flat felting technique used to produce a 3D bowl.  The only addition to the procedure was a circle of acetate.  Would like to make a bigger one now.  Printed and mounted my photoedits at last.  Practising with photoshop illustrator. Another digital nightmare for me to grasp!
Looking at mythologies-Roland Barthes.  I find his theories a bit complicatedin parts, but I think I'm getting the drift!  Ah the 'Blue Blood' cruise.  I feel that the moral of the tale is 'you are what you are'.  Me and Carmel did a' Posh and Becks' collage to reflect the similarities between them and 'The Ambassadors' by Holbein.  Next week I must select two songs from my lifetime which signify the popular culture of the time.  Thanks to Paul, I managed to upload two photos of my work on to my blog page.  Hope you like them.

first pictue, upload

Seedhead

Stained glass box

Semiotics and the 'Blue Blood' cruise

Still ploughing through my 'Time' piece. Nearly finished now.  I had to make a few adjustments this week. I have only a few bits and pieces to finish  then we'll see if it works! Learning to read artwork this week.  Considered the effects of colour, space,balance, weighting  unity and rythm.  Factors which can portray the mood of a painting, and the meaning of it.  We also deconstructed our photograms.  We then reconstructed them in a different design and drew the new design. I found this an interesting procedure.  Now we must tackle semiotics and 'Blue Blood' cruise. After much deliberation, I have (correctly I hope) come to the conclusion that Semiotics is the study of cultural signs, non written, and non spoken.  That of course is only the tip of the iceberg!  As for 'the cruise', well I'm feeling seasick already, I'm off for a tot of rum.

Rayograms and The Two Jacks

Continuing my thoughts for "time".  I've ditched the dandelion clock idea.  I think Enzo thought I was a bit mad when I explained my thoughts.  Well he may be right.  I'm now developing another idea, if it works, I'll fill you in next week.  Back to the drawing board.

On tuesday we were creating a photogram.  We arranged objects on  a photocopier using symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial compositions.We  used black and white and selected the invert option before pressing copy.  The results were interesting.  I have also been researching some artists work using the different compositions which I have included in my sketchbook.

Still cropping my images in photoshop.  Class was shorter this week,  so due to my snail like pace, I din't get much done.

Our contextual studies tutor David arrived this week.  I really enjoyed the class.  We were given loads of in depth information regarding "The age of popular culture" and "The tale of two Jacks", Jack Kirby and Jack Vettriano, Two very different Jacks.  After the presentation we had a group discussion on the topics highlighted by David.  I enjoyed listening to the varied opinions concerning the subjects.  It's good to look at things from other viewpoints.

We did a mindmap and looked at optimal learning in PDP skills this week.  I noted the CREAM strategies for future reference.  Creative, Reflective,Effectively organised,Active, Motivated.

College heating was turned on this week.  PHEW!  too hot.  

Sample and research

Waiting for my sample seedhead to dry before attaching each 'berry' to the main stem.  I've been researching more textile artists, and have found a Dutch artist who has blown my mind!  Her main mediums are hand made felt, silk paper and various forms of plastic.  She finds the ageing process inspiring, and uses this theme in lots of her work, manipulating the mediums to achieve her desired effect.

Have been thinking-----no, flapping about the "time" brief.  Had loads of ideas, some too obvious,  and some I was unsure how functional they would be.  It's all part of the development process.  It will fall into place soon as I am down to two choices, and after a little more development I will decide which one "will leave the building", as the deadline will be looming soon.

I find the PDP class enlightening.  This week we discussed our expectations of our course, and the college/tutors expectations of us.  It is becoming clear that pdp is a voyage of personal discovery, and a very important part of my course.    

Images and briefs

12/09/11.  Have been out and about this week taking photos for John.  The theme is lines and shapes, paying particular attention to composition.  I really enjoyed looking for suitable images.  It's surprising how many interesting things there are around that go unnoticed.  Took some in Falkirk, and some of a small industrial yard in Larbert where I live. 
Got a new brief from Enzo and Dot  this week entitled "Time".  Can only use recycled materials and finished piece must function.  Started to develop ideas on Monday and had a eureka moment during the night last night!  I have settled on my idea, now I must make decisions regarding materials, size and functionability.
Started looking at photos to-day, and selected some for cropping.  Havn't used Adobe Photoshop before so it takes a long long time !  the images look good after cropping.
I also researched more textile artists this week, and made a sample sculpture of a seed head (which is still to be finished off ).

Workshops and Briefs

Missed a day this week due to college holiday on Monday.  On tuesday, we had a workshop making samples of silk paper.  We used fine strands of Mulberry silk, voile, and cellulose paste.  The first piece was flat, and the second piece was placed on a paper cup enabling the silk paper when dry to retain its' 3D shape when dry.  This was a simple but effective method with interesting results, and lots of scope for further development.

After the workshop, we were given a digital photography brief for next week.  We are to produce digital images using the theme "line" and "shape".  We will take 10 - 12 exposures which will be manipulated using photoshop, resulting in a final four for each theme.  The final size will be 7" x 5".  I look forward to some interesting results.

First Blog

Just started my BA Art & Design course.  Had to set up this blog page to use during course.  Not good with computers, hope to improve soon! I'm off to find some "artistic ancestors now".  May.