The Final Cut

Here's the final edit of budget toy story. Go on have a gander!

http://youtu.be/2dl2c9tw6Mw

Merry Christmas!!!!

Holiday! Let's Celebrate!!

Tis the season to be jolly...pfft, aye right! The amount of work to be done is a horrifying prospect on top of work and Christmas preparations. God help me I will need a miracle.

Bonnie and Clyde

Back to Video Skills and we are having to shoot a music video of sorts. I will have to be honest I have sort of forgotten the name of the song but when reading the lyrics we were inspired by the sort of rebellious theme that ran throughout it. The song as I remember was also about a couple getting away from it all, after a we brainstorm we decided to recreate our own Bonnie and Clyde story. All of us play a cameo in the film, starring our fabulous Amy Downs and Roisin Gallagher (Sorry Roisin it won't let me do the dashes on your name) as Bonnie and Clyde. It is by far our most elaborate movie yet and also our last one second year. I'm actually gutted, Video skills is one of my favourite classes, I actually get an excuse to be weird!

A snapshot of the action

Networks

Here's some networking worksheets that I forgot to post. Its basically showing the connections that we have with one another's goals and ambitions, explaining how we need to get to our chosen career.

 

STOP!!! Camera time duh duh duh duh!!

Our first shot at stop motion and I love it. Despite the amount of time it took to take a shot of each individual movement, it was well worth it to see the result even if an hours work only amounted to about a minute. Working in a group with the girls from my class was great as well cause not only did we all enjoy the process we were enthusiastic to create a story, which is sometimes difficult to find in some group activities. Getting a group of people who were actually excited to make something made it so much more precious.

We have titled our little masterpiece Budget Toy Story, the editing is still in progress, so watch out for a link in the coming weeks!

Research On Writers

Continuing to look at writers for the brief. Currently looking at Arthur Conan Doyle who was studied medicine in Edinburgh and found inspiration for the infamous Sherlock Holmes under the tutorship Joseph Bell. Bell never got a diagnosis wrong and constantly forced his students to observe and perceive the overlooked. Sounds scarily similar to Mr Holmes.

Casting

 

This was my first attempt of the casting, turns out I hadn't pressed the clay in hard enough so it just crumbled when I tried to separate it. On the second attempt I learnt from my mistakes and made sure that the model had a thicker wall of clay and had been compacted against the cast.

 

This was the outcome, I had to smooth it out in a few places but the piece was exactly as I had desired.

 

I took a lot of inspiration from stairs and tiles for the detail, there was also something out the clay that I wanted to push the medium to the best of its abilities by creating this twisting movement. I really just found it to be an attractive shape.

Splish splish I was taking a bath!

Back to sculpture and we are doing splash cast. SO MUCH  FUN! Taking the clay model that we made a few weeks ago we left them to dry for two weeks. Then mixing some plaster you launch it at the model until all the surface is covered. Word of Warning: make sure you have a large area to work in and that you are wearing coveralls, don't do what I did and wear suede boots. After the first stage the work area will look like the murder scene of a marshmallow.

You then proceed by making a thicker mix of plaster and coating the model one half at a time until you have a layer about 2-inches thick. Leave to solidify for a few minute and scrape back the plaster to reveal the brass plate around the model. Then leave to dry before pulling out the brass and scooping out the remnants of the model.

Sculpture

Back into the 3D workshop and we begin by working with model making. We have to design and create a 3D piece that relates to our Multiples brief. Sculpture is not something I feel particularly drawn to but clay on the other hand is right down my street of expertise. I think having used fondant icing throughout my childhood has made using clay seem so easy.

My design has taken inspiration from the various writers and textiles of Edinburgh, I'm playing about with a fountain pen feature in association with the writers.

I've decided

I decided to look at writers that have been inspired by Edinburgh, particularly those who grew up there and achieved great success in the Capital; Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Irvine Welsh, Muriel Spark, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Ian Rankin to name a few. I am going to try and adapt their works and illustrations into a costume piece adding patterns and textures taken from the city.

I am admittedly nervous about this project as so far I’ve not really had the opportunity to show the true extent of my skills as a costume designer. In years past when I’ve said that I want to become a costume designer, it has always been met with fierce opposition. I’ve come to understand that it is only meant to show concern, as costume is an incredibly competitive and difficult career choice – but I’ve never done anything easy.

Dreams you shouldn't have.

Another week of video skills and this week we were asked to create a video based on the subject of dreams. I decided to take a very strange approach, choosing to use a variety of characters to tell the story of an erratic nightmare/dream – starring me. The result is something that would strike fear into the hearts of grown men and should probably be destroyed for the safety of future generations.

Happy

Briefing time! We have been given a brief for our video skills class and I think I may have gotten a "little" overexcited. The brief is to create a movie charting the things that make you happy throughout the week. I have on average taken about fifteen selfies, filmed 5 minute long videos of me singing in the car, and also taken several photos of my meals. It is actually really difficult trying to decide what to film because you need to analyse the aspects of your life that have a positive affect on you.

To begin with I was very excited about it, but then I found that its the simple day to day things that make me happy. Sometimes its a memory or just chatting with friends and I feel its a bit invasive sitting filming my friends - and sort of creepy.

Lights, Camera...Action?

Part of this years course is a video skills class which shows us how to work with movies and photography as a possible medium for our artwork. I am really enjoying it because there was a time when I had a rather far fetched idea of me becoming a director - despite the fact I had never done any films or serious photography before - so it has very much pegged my interest. Whether my mini movies peg anyone else's interest is a topic yet to be debated. I think it is very much a case of trial and error. If you don't like something film it again. If you film in black and white, revert to colour. So on and so forth.

Personally I am partial to filming in black and white, in colour I feel as though it strips away the atmosphere that you are shooting in front of you. In black and white there is a glamorous look, which to me shows off the subject better.

"A swally down tae Auld Reekie"



Following on from our introduction to the Multiples brief we were let loose in Edinburgh for the day. Considering I have lived in Scotland my entire life and have been only about 45 minutes away from the capital, I haven't really had the opportunity to look at the heart of the city in much detail. Usually I've spend whole days in the galleries or end up getting dragged around Princes Street to go shopping. But, I was incredibly excited to just walk around the city and see what it has to offer. As part of my brief I had decided that I was going to concentrate on Scottish writers who hold a unique link to the capital whether it is through themselves or through their characters. I wanted to look at a range of textures from both old and new buildings, from cobbled streets to soot stained buildings. By doing this I am hoping to gain an understanding as to what captured the imagination of authors such as Ian Rankin or Robert Burns.

Personally, I can easily understand why the city has remained a prominent location in Scotland's literature history. Within one stretch of road you can encounter great beauty, dirt and squalor, and majestic landscapes, with a mix of old and new.

One down, Two to Go

So, just another year. Having come out relatively unscathed from my first year, I am quietly optimistic about my second year at college I have to admit. Our first week back saw the introduction of a new topic 'Multiples' which has slightly baffled me, mainly as to what to consider for it. The possibilities seem to be extensive. Look for a S.O.S. very soon.

Pathways Project

So, that’s the end of Conceptual studies and Drawing classes as they are now merging together, under the umbrella of the Pathways Project. This Project is an attempt to help us hone in on what we plan on doing for the next two years. A part of this exploration is to do a presentation showing artists that personally inspire you from each of the three Pathways: Visual Communication, Contemporary Art Practice, Applied Design Craft.

For Contemporary Art Practice I chose Edward Hopper as my first artist. His paintings charting the life of small town America are so visually striking with his contrast between dark and light which never fail to draw you in. Yet, I think the reason I like them so much is the fact that they have a true sense of voyeurism, you feel as if you are looking into the someone else’s life, and as a person I am quite nosy.

The second artist is an installation designer called Onishi Yasuaki. His work concentrates on the 3D structure of volume or sound, which he creates using hot black glue and drips onto lightweight tissue paper. The finished structures look striking and immense despite being such a simple method.

Guy Larabee is the third and final artist in my category. Larabee is a sculptor with a trademark medium of book carving; he cuts a variety of mountainous scenes that have a sense of the sacred to them. His stimuli for these sculptures are based on the erosion of cultures and our dependence on technology, often overlooking the traditional sources of knowledge – all very deep.

So on to the next category, Visual Communication. I personally don’t see myself in this category; I am seriously lacking the technological touch. But, I really loved some of the work from artists who work in this pathway - the first being the renowned graphic designer, Saul Bass. Having created some of the twentieth centuries most memorable movie posters from ‘Vertigo’ to ‘The Man with the Golden Arm’ he truly set his name in stone as being an incredible designer. The secret to his work was his talent for distinguishing the most important symbol of a story, turning that into the face of the movie rather than the stars who were in it.

The second artist was a photographer by the name of Emir Ozsahin. Being relatively unknown in the world of photography I found his work to be immensely undervalued as their atmospheric resolution and unique approach to storytelling makes them stand apart from any photographer I have seen. Each photograph acts like a memory, like a slither of Ozsahin’s life, and I think that by using a lens/camera that is susceptible to light leaks was ingenious. I strongly recommend looking at his work.

Daniel Mackie was the third artist for this Pathway, an award winning illustrator he created a collection of drawing in 2011 that brought about international recognition. The works were inspired by prints from the Japanese Uki-o period, naval tattoos, and childhood tales. He took a variety of animals ranging from a chicken to a tiger and brought them to life with vibrant colours and designs, something that I can only aspire to.

Considering that Applied Design Craft is my personal preference for Pathways I find that there are not many artists that I particularly like in this group. But, I have some old favourites, which include Edith Head. A costume designer that truly defined the golden age of cinema she worked on over 1,000 movies, won eight Oscars and managed to produce some of the most elegant dresses that cinema has ever seen. Words cannot say how influential Head has been in shaping fashion of the 1950s and 60s, but it becomes clear when you watch some of her work , which includes all of Hitchcock as he used her exclusively as his designer.

Derek McLane is the second designer I chose, his work mainly concentrates on set/spatial design. Having designed the set for the 80^th Academy Award Ceremony, he has been declared as the must have designer of modern theatre productions. I personally enjoy the use of lighting within his scenes, as there is an element of pop art in all of his work.

Last, but not least, we have Petra Storrs, a London based fashion designer who has worked with Paloma Faith, Lady Gaga and various other artists. She produces incredibly modern designs that have a look of the extra-terrestrial to them by using almost impossible materials such as mirrored perplex or latex. I find her work fascinating and I would definitely mark her as being one to watch.

Looking at all these artists has been really fun actually, but, my resolve has not been shaken. I am a costume/fashion/set designer. I know what I want to do.

The Crown Jewels

During our drawing class we were given a small brief to bring in and draw something of sentimental value to us. When I heard these words, my mind went instantly to my Gran's Crown Jewels. At the risk of sounding like an X-factor contestant, I'll try to keep this short and sweet. My gran had a great love for jewellery which was unbeknown to me as a little girl, it wasn't until after she died and I had inherited these jewels that I discovered this. Her favourite colour was red and this particular set of jewels became her pride and glory. Despite the fact that they are only dimante, they gave my Gran a little bit more glamour to an already glamourous lady.

Books and Binding

My first attempt at book making

I used the traditional Japanese technique of stab-binding, and did individual illustrations for a poem by Edgar Allan Poe called 'A Dream Within A Dream'.

Ballpoint Pen Project

My dress design

Her Royal Majesty the Queen

Lazlo Biro the creator of the pen

Grace Kelly

Nelson Mandela

The initial template

Felt Making

Felt making is a much more physical demanding medium in comparison to silk paper making. Not only do you require patience, and strength but endurance – as I soon found out. The origins of the art range from continent to continent, in other words everybody thought it was a good idea.

To begin you will need two sheets of voile, a bamboo pad, soap flakes, hot water, a water bottle, a towel, and wool fibres – these fibres can be found in any good haberdashery or craft shop. Mix the hot water and the soap flakes in the water bottle. You should work on a sturdy flat table, begin by laying down the towel, a good work area is essential to the process. Place the bamboo pad on top of the towel, then lay down one sheet of voile. Start by selecting your wool fibres, you will need to pull out wisps of fibre and place the first layer vertically on the voile. A second layer must then be placed horizontally over the first layer of fibres - this is done so that the wool becomes matted as the fibres will intertwine. Continue this process for another two layers; remember not to make your layers too thick as it will take longer to create the felt. Then place the second sheet of over the felt, and douse the felt with the soapy water until all the fibres are completely soaked.

 

Now the physical part, roll up the bamboo pad tightly with the fibres inside and begin rolling, you should roll the pad 100 times constantly checking the progress of the felting - don’t be afraid to put a bit of elbow grease into it. Continuously douse the felt as you are rolling as it will help in the matting process. When the felt is fully matted the fibres should not lift easily from the surface. In the final stages of the felting you must rinse the felt and get rid of most of the water, I recommend throwing it at the sink as the force of impact causes the water to travel from the felt. Allow to dry.

You can also make a felt bowl with this method by placing a strong disc of plastic in between layers of felt fibre and rolling in the same manner as you have done above. When the felt is dry cut a circle on one side of the felted disc and remove the disc, it may need a little manipulation to make it more of a bowl shape.

 

I felt that the process has been beneficial for me as I had never had the opportunity to make felt before, though I had always been told about it. Yet, there are several constraints with the medium that in my mind act as a ‘deal breaker’ when it comes to me and felting. The materials, the wool in particular, is too expensive for just experimental use, as a student it is a lot of money to put into a medium that I may not use. You are also limited with the size of felt pieces that you can create; if I was to use felting I would need to make large panels for it to be any use.  

Silk Paper Making

Being the first time I had ever come across this medium, I found it to be an incredibly simple process – simple enough for even me to deal with. Silk paper is a thin layer of silk fibres that have been compressed together by a thin layer of cellulose paste. The outcome leaves a sheet of smooth paper-like material that can be sewn into, cut up, moulded.

Silk Paper

Firstly, you will need two square cut sheets of voile, silk fibres, and cellulose paste. I would also recommended doing this on a washable surface as the cellulose paste can be quite sticky. Place a sheet of voile onto the surface making sure it is flat. Taking your silk fibres, begin layering wispy pieces of fibres down onto the voile, gradually building up an even layer. At this point you may also want to add threads or ribbon for added texture. Place the second square of voile over the top of the silk fibres. You can now begin using the cellulose paste; it may need a good mix with a little water, it should be like the consistency of custard. Evenly spread the paste over the top layer of voile, using your hand to push it through the voile. All the fibres should be covered with the mix to ensure the best results. Gently remove the voile and lift the silk fibres from the sheet then lay down on a flat surface to dry. You may also want to try moulding the paper around a cup or bowl, anything that takes your fancy.

The process is very easy to pick up and is an ideal method of creating textile art. However, for me there are a variety of constraints that I have found with the medium. I cannot see myself using it on a regular basis as it is quite limited in its results and the materials are also very expensive. I would only invest in the materials if I was going to use it on a regular basis. But, as I always say don’t allow me to put you off; it is definitely worth the try.

Photoshop + Me = ERROR.

We were introduced to the magical world of Photoshop this week I can honestly say I was by no means enthused by the prospect of doing another week of it. The truth of it is this – I have been doing Photoshop for years. I only use it for posters and I have never considered using it for artwork. I am just not excited by it at all, which it really bad for me to say because I feel like I’m wasting my lecturer’s time. I will keep at it for the next few weeks and see if it leads to anything, but for now on can only hope.  

Cut Me a Collage

A recent workshop that we took part in was collage pieces inspired by the works of Matisse. Matisse’s large, vivid pieces were created during the latter part of his life due to his decreasing health, having been diagnosed with cancer. Wheelchair bound he raced to generate the final flurries of his artistic mind. The collages that he produced in these years are considered to be his greatest works. Taking the freedom of shape and colour as my own inspiration I tried to make my own collage works relating to the brief. I would say like most things I do, it does require some fine tuning.