Studio Practice

 Hi there
Since my last post I have had a meeting with Mike regarding possible lighting effects for the middle section of my installation.
This meeting was to discuss how the internal tubular element would be lit. The polyester pop up laundry bags that I had connected to show him, would prove to be problematic it seemed. When the light would be angled from above or below in to the tubular section, the wires and any internal seams would be seen. This is something that I do not want to happen. It is also an obvious problem, that I didn't even think about. It would detract from the reason I want to have the central lit section. It is to represent the human spirit, and I think that it needs to be a clear light with no other inclusions. There was also a discussion about the led lights. If lit from the bottom then my design with have to incorporate a blanked off small section at the base of the internal tubular structure. This will house the led light, which will be operated from a very small lighting box.
It was a good meeting that really made me consider elements that I hadn't up till now. But they are all solvable. I have made a  small felted sample to attach to the spiral maquette. This was to help explain my design idea to Mike.

This is a very rough felted sample, with a clear internal tubular structure with a small wire circle at the base. The white material is a section of the polyester from the original laundry bag idea. Section were cut off the top and bottom of the wire sprung bags to enable me to connect them together. So I used the off cuts for this.

When I showed this to Mike, he understood my design idea and that the lighting is an integral part of the design.

So following the meeting I had to find another form of material which I could use to create the concept of the internal human spirit. It had to be a material which would allow the light to penetrate it, to enable the light to hit the outer spiral which will be covered with the felting and other materials.It also had to be a material that would not warp or loose rigidity when in the centre of the spiral. It also had to hold its circular shape, if suspended from the ceiling,and be solid enough at the base to house the light. I had to solve this quickly to move on.
When I was in the class on Wednesday a possible solution was found. Heavy Pelmet Vilene. This is used by mixed media artists and can be used to make three-dimensional artworks. I have small section of this to take with me tomorrow, Monday, when I head to Mike's workshop, to carry out some practical lighting experiments. I am also going to try lighting the connected laundry bags, just to see the effect. Yesterday I also bought a small section of a different type of Vilene, a slightly lighter weight, but stiff enough to stand on it's own if required, and I'll also try that.

This is the vilene with a small internal led light. I think from this experiment, that it will work well when fully light internally. But, I have to make sure that the materials on the outer spiral are well enough lit. This will be tried tomorrow.

close up of vilene showing small holes which would help to let the light through


I have been spending a lot of time trying to work out the design  for my installation, and this is something that I am really enjoying doing. The challenge of working in a three dimensional way, is really pushing me to think through in depth design solutions.Although I have created three dimensional costumes before, from re-cycled materials, this is very different. This is a really good thing for me. I feel as though I am pushing myself to try to achieve my goal. I am also a bit cautious, and have to make sure that I decide on the internal structure this week. The time is slipping away, and I have to be aware of that.
I have also been experimenting with creating some felted samples depicting shelter and safety.



This sample had organza inclusions within the wool. I'm going to heat gun the organza to enable the felting to form shapes through the shrinkage to the organza.The research for my sketchbook is continuing, but not as fast as I would like it to. I have been spending time on the design solutions. But for me, this is hard, if I don't see physical experimentation in front of me sometimes, I feel as though I'm not making progress. But that isn't the case. I have to solve any design problems first and foremost.


Bye for now.

 

Studio Practice 2

Hi there
Since my last post I have been working on a design for my final piece. Following the Assessor's visit, I have experimented with a double spiral design for my final piece. I was thinking that the internal spiral would represent the human spirit. This is the section that I plan to have internal LED lighting within. But since trying this, it has made me feel that an internal spiral just does not give me the long tubular effect that I was hoping for. It also made me think that, the internal structure could be the main one to cover with the cob web felting, as opposed to the outer spiral. The design started to alter the message that I was trying to portray, the internal spirit and external needs of a human being. The link to the Helix is a more than relevant one, due to its link to human needs. But me, being me, I then started to explore the helix, and was lead down a route that I felt I did not have time to explore. I felt that I needed to research internal DNA structure and  use materials to portray this. I was aware that the double spiral was perhaps not portraying my original concept. At the moment, I envisage the internal structure as a long straight lit tube,a core, with the steel spiral surrounding this and gradually spiralling up to the fifth level of self actualisation.
I am in the process of making fine felted cobweb pieces to attach to the maquette. I want to see if, when lit, it will give me the desired effect.

small scale wire structure with central tubular section

experiment in class connecting the tubular material.Three sections connected but four would be used in final piece to make the central column taller

This central section is very light, therefore it would be possible to attach from the top, to the low ceiling when displayed.  I connected these with pins, just to get a rough idea of how they could connect. I will experiment with connecting each section with wire, as well as with crochet wire, to see the variety of effects. The middle section, will be secured at the bottom, so that it is grounded at the shelter level, the first level of needs. The lit central section will enable the viewer to see the detail of the silk threads which I intend to include within the materials, wrapped around the spiral, graduating  up depicting the five levels of needs.
I am having a meeting this Tuesday with Mike, a good friend of mine, who has worked with lighting, events lighting and theatre lighting, for many years. I'm looking forward to discussing the possible effects. I will also arrange a meeting the week after to have an experimentation session with using various lighting effects.

Website News
I had a meeting with Stephen again this week, and I think that I am close to a decision for my website name. I've also passed some photographs etc.  for him to get started with the building of the site. I'm meeting him each week.I am hoping that the site is live as soon as is possible. No time to hang about. He's good to deal with. He is straight to the point and seems to understand what I am trying to project through the website.

 

 

Studio Practice 2 and general update

Hi there

I have good feedback from my contextual presentation, which is good, I now have to finalise the slides and text for the presentation for assessment week beginning 17th March.
I have had a good initial meeting with Stephen at the College this week, regarding building my website for when I graduate.As well as that, there was a meeting with Pauline from the Iris Murdoch Dementia Centre at Stirling Uni. This was regarding training linked to my graduation plan, as well as a delivery of a workshop at the "Meaningful Activities"training days next week.

Studio Practice 2.
I have been continuing with research of possible shapes and pattern for felting designs, using my own photographs.  I've been out and about gathering images of some materials that are used to provide shelter for human beings for this.These are just a couple of them.

textured brick

peeling paint on wall

I have been gathering images from on-line as well. When I am looking for images, they are all for sourcing pattern and textures, to translate, through using textiles for my final exhibition piece.Sourcing images this way, is ,for me, a good way to work out how best to depict the five stages of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.As I said in an earlier post, I have decided to depict just a few of the basic human needs, and working on this through gathered images linked to those needs, is helping me to formulate the possible shape and structure of the art work.
In my last post I had been trying to produce moulds using the plastic former machine and laytex. I continued this experimentation by including threads and silk fibres into this mould, before pouring in the laytex.




laytex branch mould with fibres included ,photographed at a window, to increase back lighting

I think that this is an interesting effect, and would work well if lit with LED from the back. But since trying this, and  thinking about the possible structure of my final solution depicting the human needs, I have decided laytex will not work for this brief.What this has done though, is, it has given me a  method to utilise within future work. I tried this  because I wanted to include a material which would symbolise human beings. I now realise, that this will not work as a medium alongside the wire and textiles. The laytex, when dried, is also heavier than I expected it to be. I could spend time brushing thin layers of layex on to secured shapes. But, at this point, I am not wanting to stray too much from my time plan.I think it is better to decide now and move on. The time is better used, working on the structure of my piece. I now know that I want to incorporate wire and textile, in the main body of the work.
 I have to work out the structure, before I head into more experimentation with materials. I will now work on possible designs, in the hope that this helps me to solve any issues within that area, as soon as possible. The laytex experimentation,and the gathering of images has helped  me to visualise and have a more informed idea of the direction I should now take.
Bye for now

 

Studio Practice 2

Hi there
Following my tutorial and a meeting with Lorna at Stirling Uni who is a partner with HR and Developmental Opportunities, I have decided to investigate the following areas of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Shelter, Safety, Relationships/Relatedness,Mastery and Growth- for Self Actualisation. The final artwork will also depict a period of my own self actualisation
My intention is to create an art piece with a central section representing the central spirit of a human,with the connected felting section wrapped around this, perhaps in an upward spiral shape. I wanted to try and see if layetx was an option for me to work with for parts or all of the central section.
I thought that it would be worth while trying to use the plastic former machine within the college.

image of the machine

I have only used this machine very briefly in my past studies, and I want to text the possible uses for my finals. I asked Trevor on Friday is he would give me a refresher course on the machine operation and safety requirements. This happened. I then tried some branch shapes, to depict growth, and some pattern using dried pasta, to see the results

pasta sample before being put into the machine

underside of plastic once formed by the machine,then branches were removed

top-side of plastic after plastic formed around it, and before the pasta was removed

I was wanting to try this to see if it would be possible to create a mould that I could then pour laytex in to. I could colour the laytex with food dyes or inks, but food dyes would be good for linking to a human need. The laytex was poured in to the moulds once the pasta and branches were removed. The laytex takes a while to dry totally, thus I have left these in the College and I will return to them on Wednesday. The length of time for drying is something that I will have to consider,if I am going to use this as part of my final piece.

I really enjoy  using the machine, and also enjoyed trying to work out, although minimally, at this stage, what items would work. This is due to the fact that if there are too many undercuts on the item I want to plastic form, they won't work. The plastic gets caught under them and then it is difficult to removed the formed item.

I intend to try using the machine to incorporate felted sections of wool, before the laytex dries. I could also use these moulds to create specific shapes when making silk papers. I am trying to work towards sections of my art work which can be displayed with led lighting behind some sections. Due to this, I thought that laytex would be a good medium to try for my first few experimentations.It would also be a good material to use to signify human skin.

My next blog will be reporting the outcome of these experimentations.

Bye for now

London trip & research for Studio Practice 2

Hi there
Had a fantastic trip to London with the College. It was amazing to visit the Tate Modern and especially to visit the V&A.where I was totally blown way with the history of fashion and spent quite a lot of time looking around that section.

The V&A - History of Fashion
some of the sections were very relevant to my contextual essay regarding buttons. their link to social status and their important linkage to clothing design. It was wonderful to see the clothes, and it verified all my research.
Also the draft presentation in class on Friday Feb.7th went very well. I was thrilled with the response to my presentation. It was brilliant to see the variety of research areas we have all been working on for our essays.

My PLP for Studio Practice 2 had been approved and it has now been submitted. I have been starting my research using a book that I ordered on-line.

I am  researching Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory for my Final Project in the lead up to the Exhibition.
I decide to investigate this theory due to my interest in human  behaviours. My intention is to conceptualise the five basic needs. These will be Physiological needs of a human being plus, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self esteem needs and self actualisation. When I have been reading the theory it seems that it would be very easy to extend my research to every detailed element of the needs of humans. I think if I did this, it could very easily become too big and detract from my initial intention of working on the shapes, textures and structures which could depict each basic need. I'm going to  manipulate a variety of materials,  test out various forms of linkage as well as experiment with every day objects. Although Maslow's theory is usually seen as a pyramid shape, this is not the shape that I see it. I would like to represent my final artwork in sections which are linked. This may be in a circular shape, or five pieces on various levels, but they will all be linked by material,threads and perhaps silk threads. The LED lighting that I want to incorporate will also work well with certain techniques and not with others. I want to try and portray the delicate nature of the human journey. I also want to work with wire, as I did within my last experimentation for The Emperor's New Clothes, but on a larger scale. I can't wait to start my experimentation, but I have more research to do first. It will be very interesting for me to see where my developments lead.

bye for now

Hi there
The feedback from my PDP, up to this point, was good and I am delighted about that.Now have to work towards final promotional materials, leading up to the Exhibition.  I'm also now able to move on with my research for Studio Practice 2, after getting a reasonable grade for The Emperor's New Clothes. I'm very pleased about that.It's a huge personal achievement.
I've also been compiling  my presentation for Contextual to present in class on 7th Feb. I'm heading to London on Monday with the College trip, so had to get that sorted prior to going. I'm not sure how it will be received, but any feedback will be vital and then I'll work towards the assessed presentation.Trying to decide what to leave out of a Pecha Kucha style presentation, and cover relevant points, is a real challenge. But I think it will be a style of presentation that suits me. I tend to talk too much and stray for the point within some presentations. Although, most feedback in the past has been ok.
 I'm still researching buttons for the completion of my essay  the use and function of the humble button I'm enjoying garnering knowledge on a subject that I new very little about prior to this research.
I will update again after London. It will be good to be able to do some primary research for my essay at the V&A Museum.And see inspiring artwork. The trip will be great for keeping the creativity flowing for studio practice 2. Images will be included within my next post.
Bye for now.
Carolyn

Emperor's New Clothes-final piece

Hi there

Well, the final piece was submitted as was the Statement for Assessment for the Emperor's New Clothes. Making the final piece was quite a challenge.Once the cobweb felted pieces were finished to I began construction of the heat manipulated body that they would be secured on to.

these are some of the final samples which were left to dry

Once the body was built I then tried several design layouts with the final pieces. The original design thought changed when I saw them mounted on the body. There were several layouts which didn't work aesthetically. But I was happy with the final layout.
The main problem building the plastic body was making sure that it would stand straight once I it was mounted on my tailor's dummy stand. That was what I was using as the base, to present the final piece.I melted and moulded a central pin, which was secured inside the body. This would be the pin to then enable the body to slide on to mu tailor's dummy stand.

tube from middle of tin foil package used to mould the circular pin

The body was heat manipulated to shape with my heat gun. The small strip of led lights inserted into the centre of the body, before being packed with more large plastic wrapping bags. The bags were from a local shop, they get their loo rolls and kitchen rolls delivered within this packaging. Recycle, recycle. it took twelve large bags to make the body. Plus the one used on the outer skin.
There were many different stages to the building of this final piece, but every single stage was such a joy to do. I really enjoyed the challenge of building this and I am very pleased with it.

front view of final piece, which was based on lies- the outer and inner turmoil that lies cause 

the photograph below shows the front section when the piece is lit

What Lies At The Heart?

I really hope that the feedback for this is positive. The feedback from my first draft essay was really good. I was so pleased about that. I've found out during my research, that the button is anything but humble, as the saying goes. Now I am working towards the draft presentation that is to be done, linked to the essay. As well as that, I have submitted my personal learning plan for Studio Practice 2. I'll talk to the tutors next week and see what has to be done in the lead up to the final submission of that. I proposed that I base my research and finals on Marlow's hierarchy of needs.

I need to return again to my website that I am building for my post graduation self employment. Wix.com is a great way to do this. I never thought I'd be able to  build my own website, but there we go. Life is full of surprises.

I'm off now to get on with the reading. We are on a reading week this week, and it gives me a good chance to keep researching and to try to formulate my presentation for contextual studies.

There has been a College visit to London organised for the beginning of February. Visiting some exhibitions etc. Really looking forward to that. 

Bye for now