IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN EDINBURGH!

Our new brief for applied practice is Multiples.  I visited Edinburgh yesterday for research purposes.  As the title says, it was sunny.  This is a standing joke in our family.  It always seems to be sunny when I visit Edinburgh, maybe I'm just lucky. Anyhow it was a beautiful day, and I concentrated my research on the Royal Mile.  I think I was up every close.  I was even accosted by two pigeons in one of the closes.  There were many interesting 'Multiples'.  As yet I am a bit undecided which ones to use for my brief.  I have a few ideas so I must give them more thought before I do my PDP at the week end.  I'm working on my essay, trying to get my research into some kind of order.  Once I get started things flow more quickly, and make more sense.  The first draft is after Christmas so I still have plenty of time. I am going to a glass engravers shop to-morrow.  He is a friend of my husband, and offered to show me glass engraving techniques, which I am interested in.  I would also like to find out more about enamelling and hopefully try that too.  My Multiple pigeons are shown above!

New Timetable

Back to college and our new timetable this week. The last projects are now somewhere in the mists of time(even though they have still to be assessed) that will soon clear the fog! I have managed to borrow three great books from my friend for my essay research. I have chosen Art Nouveau.  As yet I am a bit undecided about the artists I want to discuss.  This was a global movement using diverse skills and I love them all.  I want to concentrate on two artists. Writing in depth about any more would seriously jeopardise my word count. I find Victor Horta, Antoni Gaudi,and Galle very interesting, so I'll probably choose two of these.  Meanwhile I'm enjoying researching all things Art Nouveau.
Started PDP Pathways and Projects to-day. It reminds me of a corkscrew. PDP works in the same way, extracting blockages and barriers from the riches and rewards within. I enjoy it.  We get our new brief to-morrow, looking forward to that.  My lovely garden shed (sorry,Studio) now sits proudly in the garden.  My husband is insulating it and shelving it for all my stuff to go in it.  I can't wait.  I'll be able to find stuff at a glance without digging in a 3foot pile of assorted 'art stuff'.  We will also be able to reclaim our table and eat in a civilised manner without the danger of finding embellishments and inclusions in our meals.  As you can see Santa has been to my house.  He has been working his magic in my studio, Insulating it and adding shelves etc. I love Santa.  He reminds me of my husband.

Deadline Time

I've been really busy finishing everything off for hand ins. It's been chaos for students and tutors trying to find spaces for displaying everyones work. I must say that the situation is not good, all the work is crammed to-gether and we were not able to display it properly.  It's a shame as everyone has worked hard to produce good final pieces which are not shown to advantage.  I hope the powers that be will resolve these problems before our next assessment.  The college is nice to look at but does not provide the practical necessities that are needed by artists, i.e.space, room to work, tables to work on (for everyone), personal storage areas and designated areas to display artwork.  Well that's enough moaning.  I feel my projects have gone well and really enjoyed the theme.  Wonder what the next brief will be, we'll soon find out, we get it on 26th.

Mid Module Tutorial time

Things are hotting up now.  I'm up to my neck in projects, Tying up loose ends on some and still ploughing through others.  I still have quite a lot of printmaking to do so I'm getting the plates ready this week for printing next.  I'm working on my 'Cocoon' and Connect' pieces, they are quite time consuming so I want to push on with them.  I have been adding to my sketch books this week too.  I'm not sure whether I want to choose an artist or an artistic movement.  I have a short list--Art Nouveau,Art Deco, Archibald Knox or Barbara Hepworth. I have a strong interest in all of these, my choice may be difficult.  We have had our tutorials this week.  I'm on track so if I continue in the same way I will hopefully present good end results.

Messing about

I've been really busy this week trying new workshop skills.  I've been well and truly plastered!  It's a messy business.  I 've been doing some intaglio prints.  I really enjoy printmaking and look forward to improving my technique and making better prints. 

My steampunk base for the 'Second Life' project is finished.  I'm ready to start work on the figure which will stand on the base.  I'm trying various fabrics and colours to see which work best.  Then I'll have to decide on the style of clothing.  It will be Victorian with a modern twist, incorporating some aspects of steampunk.  I will be using some photos of the base in printmaking class.  My garden workshop arrives next month.  It's 8"x8" and I can't wait to move all my stuff into it.  My house constantly looks like a bad day in the College workshop.  There's never more than a plate sized space on the kitchen table. I'll have plenty of light, a workbench, and shelves for everything.  I have a nice sunset picture taken in the Hebrides this week, no reason it's just beautiful.

Steampunk 'junk'

We started printmaking this week.  I made some collagraphs using tissue paper, feathers etc.  I also scored and varnished card which was printed.  I tried using MDF, lino, and caustic soda on lino.  I won't get the finished prints until next week as they still had to dry.

I have been doing some temporary trials for the constructed text brief.  I'm enjoying the variety of skills involved, and trying to narrow my final word/words down.  Still got lots of things to try before I make a final decision regarding word and materials.  At the moment I am favouring connect, cocoon, and abrupt.                                                     

My second life brief is coming along.  I've decided on placements for my steampunk figure on the base.  I have made a wire armature for the figure and cut the base from MDF. My next task is to make and fit all componants to the base before starting the figure.  I have loads of scraps of fabric, leather and all sorts of steampunk stuff. 

My husband got a bucket of 'rubbish' from a friend who is a plumber.  It was so exciting.  Wire, shower hoses, copper bends, brass nuts small bits of wire and much more.  Oh no, it's not rubbish it's like gold to me!                                                     

New College, New Challenges

Here I am in second year at Raploch campus.  The facilities and views are great!  Just managed to access my blog to-day,  thanks Paul.  We have been given new tasks and briefs.  So far we have 'Second Life' and constructed text. I have been doing temporary trials and paper folding for the constructed text.  I will also do some 3d trials using various materials before I decide how my finished piece will look.  I did some wirework relating to the constructed text ie. chain links=connect. The word connect was attached to the wire links and also made of wire.

I will be making a doll with a steampunk theme for the 'Second Life' brief, using re-cycled materials and findings.  I find this brief exciting, the steampunk genre is very interesting.  We were inventing a new super hero with a Scottish twist in contextual studies this week.  We have to choose names and design costume for next week.  I've been gathering information and art samples of Kate Downie for printmaking class this week.  I have chosen some of my photos, and did some drawings which I feel reflect the work of the artist.