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