Monthly Archives: October 2020

Paper experimentation

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For our Product workshop we were challenged to transform a piece of paper in various way by cutting, folding and scoring into the paper manipulating the paper to become 3D. We were then asked to create a paper structure to go around a light source and explore how these techniques we practised would translate in shape and shadows affecting the light source. We were also encouraged to use different ways to attach the paper together so I decided to use coloured pins as my structure looked a bit like a pin cushion, these pins had coloured balls at the end of them and I chose the colours at random. To create this I cut out circles of paper then folded them into quarters creating small sections which I then combined to create a half ball to go over the light source. I tried to stitch the sections together but found it too time consuming and opted for pins which added an interesting element that I really like.

Experimentation with fabric

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To begin our Fabric and Textiles workshop we were asked to take pieces of fabric and clothing and experiment with draping and hanging them together within our own colour scheme. I wasn’t sure how to go about this but found it really cool once i got started, I liked seeing all the different folds and creases in the fabric as well as the changes in the patterned clothes as I moved them in different ways.

We were then asked to create studies from these photos, I started with water colour and pen for the smooth fabrics and added the pen detail on the seams and lines which I think gives it a really nice look I also really like how the colours compliment one another. I did the same again with the other study this time using coloured paper as a base and then adding in the seams and lines with blue pen and some shading with watercolour.

For these two studies I used water soluble crayons and coloured paper on the left for a simplified version of the cardigan and added the pattern for the cable knitting and lines. I really like how this one looks quite simple and monochromatic and the texture that the crayons added instead of a bolder line by pen. Then on the second I also used water soluble crayons this time combined with ink and oil pastels to experiment with how they would work together. I think the oil pastel added nice texture for the creases in the shirt and I was able to build layers of it to go over areas with soluble crayons already on it.

Product Workshop Research

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Lazerian

While in our product workshop we were encouraged to look at paper from a new perspective and image it beyond the basic 2D form and create something new and 3D out of paper. I really like this whimsical yet sophisticated sculpture by Lazerian, I particularly enjoy the pops of colour against the white paper to highlight the different organs and skeleton of the fish which is quite strange. I find the sculpture to be very effective and a great installation that took into account the history behind the location as a successful former fishing town and its residual influence with fish and chips. Lazerian layered paper to create this 3D form giving the paper more strength and creating this completely new shape instead of folding to make it 3D.


Cecelia Levy

I like how Levy carefully adds layers of paper to create these plant sculptures as if they were a real flower. Instead of using plain white paper Levy uses darker tea coloured pages with some having writing on them, this adds an interesting element to the sculpture which I like as it draws the eye into the centre of the sculpture as does the layers of petal like pieces of paper. Levy takes a different approach from both Lazerian and Sweeney as these sculptures are more realistic and create an aged feel with the lettering and tea coloured paper. Levy builds these sculptures using layers of meticulous petal shapes that gradually get smaller towards the centre, she also curves some outwards to give the same effect an actual plant would as the leaves dry and bend outwards.

Richard Sweeney

While researching sculpture artists  for our Product workshop, I was drawn to these particular paper sculptures of Richard Sweeney’s. Sweeney creates movement and fluidity in this sculpture using simple fan folding and creating natural looking curves and twists in the form. I really like this piece, it is untitled but to me resembles a bird, I like the way Sweeney doesn’t copy the animal exactly but focuses on movement and the essence of its shape. The simplicity of the sculpture and the folds used add to its effectiveness, it isn’t trying to emulate anything too hard it is its own piece and explores the limitations of paper from a flat sheet to an interesting 3D form.

Fashion and Textiles Research

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Zandra Rhodes

Zandra Rhodes is a designer who often uses bright colours and patterns in her work starting from the 1960s her work keeps alive the fun loving and colourful pop from the 60s. Her  print designs are reminiscent of the 60s especially the piece on the right, the iconic yellow floral print and loose fitting silhouette paired with the long boots are very kitsch. despite having such a clear style and bold colours and patterns her collections continue to stay modern without looking out of date.

 

Liz Payne

I adore Payne’s use of colour texture and shape to create these pieces, they are so vibrant yet mesh together to create a cohesive piece that is spontaneous but not random and without thought. The simplicity of the work adds to its fun and youthful charm the stitches look quite simple but done with skill and a god eye overlapping shapes and adding texture.  I’m quite interested in this style of embroidery with the bold shapes and colours I find it to be quite modern and more interesting than traditional embroidery. The added texture and levels  by including  different  sized  threads  intrigues  me  as it  looks  more  varied  like an  environment  of  its  own.

Margo Duke

Duke uses lots of fabric and felting in her work to create these layered and beautiful pieces, I really like the colour scheme she chose it reminds me of marine life and coral especially the layering and texture created by the fabrics.  The process of dying she uses is called Shibori which is a manual resist method like tie dye, the dye will only penetrate some parts of the fabric leaving interesting designs. I’ve tried felting before, layering as Duke has done here and i really enjoy the process and outcome as it gives a really nice soft look to the piece.

Artists in Protest

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Barbara Kruger

 

Barbara Kruger was a found photography collage artist whose works often commentated on society, predominantly consumerism and feminism. The effectiveness of the piece “I shop, Therefore I am” is in its visual simplicity, monochromatic background with bright red and white straightforward text, it stands out like an advertisement itself playing on the theme of consumerism of her work. Kruger sourced her images from advertisements and magazines, taking the advertisements and using them as protestive art against the idea of consumerism and its own links to feminism. Kruger herself used to be a graphic designer which gives her an insight into the world of advertising and how to get the attention of the consumer, she uses the medias own tricks against them as a warning to the public. I think the piece is very successful as it uses a bold yet simplistic style that is eye catching like an actual advert would be, it also provokes thought in viewers on the ideals of consumerism with the quotation “I shop, therefore I am”. The phrase is similar to the famous philosophy “I think therefore I am”, this comments on how deeply engrained the fast-paced consumer market is into what we know as society. This also could commentate on the stereotype about women and consumerism, Kruger may be reiterating the supposed advertised view of how a woman should think based on marketing how a woman should think. I really enjoy the depth of the artwork despite its deceivingly simple looks, the effectiveness lies within the  direct and clear nature of Kruger’s work and message along with the striking red colour choice against the monochromatic background.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol created this portrait of Nixon, though stating to be politically impartial, with the caption “Vote McGovern” who was Nixon’s far left opponent popular with the younger generations. The portrait depicts Nixon as ghoulish with the blue grey skin tone and vibrant yellow teeth contrasted against a bright orange background creating a chaotic pop art piece. I really enjoy the bright colours and sectioning Warhol uses and the loose feel despite it being very polished. Warhol’s use of colour is  a big part of why this piece is so successful as it makes it eye-catching grabbing the viewers’ attention forcefully to draw attention to the terrible nature of the candidate and urge the public to vote for “McGovern”. The piece also serves to paint Nixon as a point of mockery, exaggerating features with bright colour and using a dull colour for his face to create an off balance and strange portrait that is less than flattering, almost clown like. Warhol used this as an effective method of protest against a presidential candidate who’s ideals and person he did not agree with, and while Nixon was still elected it remains an effective form of political artwork.

Found Photography

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In this workshop we were tasked wicth creating an alphabet by using items we find throughout our homes, i found this quite difficult when gathering the letter forms but thoroughly enjoyed creating the phrases. I think mine are effective as they have a pop of colour and different sizes making the question phrases and “clutter” seem more mismatched in style which i like.

We were then asked to create an outline alphabet of our objects and experiment with they shapes and mark making, i used ink to do this and i really like the messy nature yet you can still see the shapes.

Mark Making Tools

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During our alternative means workshop we were asked to create 12 mark making tools and experiment with them, I chose to do 6 using natural materials and 6 using found materials. The 6 natural materials I got were plants and a feather, I chose them hoping to achieve different and interesting marks. I then used found materials like plastic, cardboard paper and wire to see what kind of marks they would make and how i could use them. My favourite tool is the cardboard as i think it gives a really cool and versatile mark that i can layer or use to shade.

3D Building creations

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In our alternative mean workshop we were asked to create multiple 3D structures. For this first one I wanted a simplistic design so I made a tall 3 sided building out of paper which I decorated with highlighters and pens to make it bright and colourful.

Next I created a simple little house made out of cardboard with a wire antenna. We were then asked to make another building but this time out of found materials, I decided to use a plastic bottle which i cut in half and cut a door out of. Then I used colour pencils and cardboard scraps. I connected the pencils using wire and attached them to the cardboard roof.

 

Concertina

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The concertina ties in with environment, I drew by areas around my house by sight and chose a different area for each panel. I used paint markers, ink, watercolours, water soluble crayons, highlighters, markers and coloured pens. I experimented with colour and combinations of the media to create bright panels that stand out by exaggerating the colours and adding expressive lines.