UAL Foundation Art and Design Units 1-4

INDUCTION WEEK

Got a visit from some local artists who are doing a large community project in the new sports centre Blackburn town center next to the college. We got asked to create our own triangle based on things we found around the town.

I went around the park and spotted lots of pretty autumnal things I also took a photo of a bee.

From this little bee I saw the people of Blackburn.

 I started off  making the bees. I found some old tights and cut 3 small pieces out and using rubber bands and news paper I shaped the tights into the basic bee shape. 
At this point they do kind of look like bananas but I'm happy with how they are taking form. 

After I did the basic bees I started on making a hive out of the triangle shape the artist's told us about.


I tried a cotton mesh but it didn't work properly as I hoped as it was too flimsy.



I tried other materials but then I found one which was ideal. I used a stronger mesh which was made from stronger material.

I weaved the material to the triangle using some strong cord which worked well.

I attached the bees in each corner to make the effect they are working on their hive

Using bits of fabric and yellow cellophane I cut pieces and started sticking to the mesh to make a honey comb kind of effect.



This has become my own tribute to Blackburn and it's workers. And using the materials what could have been made in the time of the industrial revolution.

I'm happy with the outcome, if I could change one thing I'd make the bees much better.




FOUND OBJECTS 

At the end of the second week we got asked to bring in some things from home which we could turn into a piece of art.

I found a big piece of wire which must have come from a barrel. With this I also found some wool and started to make a dream catcher.

I started adding different textiles to add a different textures.








I wasn't happy with what I was doing to so I decided to restart the whole thing. I found some new materials.

Using the new materials I found, starting using some textured wall paper I wrapped it around a tube and added a zip for pattern.

   



Using some plastic I wrapped around a sponge and then wrapped a layer of wool and attached all to a film reel.

I attached everything together to create this very funky looking red cap mushroom.    

Image found on Wikipedia

I think I did better with this piece as I felt a fondness for what I created and as I went along I could see that the piece I made looks like a lamp from the 1970's. 

DOLPHINHOLME RESIDENTIAL 

As we drove down the little country road we entered a little drive away onto a farm. As we got off the coach we could hear lots of goats within the barns.

After the introduction and the few rules we got told we could go and get settled in and find ourselves a tent. but these weren't your usual tents, these were very special, on the outside large purple and a black cabin made from water resistant fabric with a little chimney coming from the top.

When you entered you were joined by the smell of crackling wood from a nice warm wood burning stove in the middle of the main living space.

After we got settled we met back up in the main study area for a quick brief by the tutors.

I decided to focus on my photography and I went for a walk down by the river, just hearing it was music to my ears.

After I left the riverbank I walked around the edge of the meadow by the hedgerows. I spotted all kinds of unusual shapes and and different patterns within the trees and shrubs around. 

 I made my way up to the woodland all around me i saw autumn slowly appearing and with the sound of the leaves rustling under my feet. I found all different shapes and patterns within the trees and on the floor.

As I walked around this beautiful place I caught my eye on all the different shapes, sizes and colours of the different mushrooms and toadstools.

All the mushrooms and toadstools captured my imagination, all unique and other worldly in every way.

During the evenings the rains came in, at this time I was by the river again. Just sitting there listening to the rain tapping the leaves and splashing within the river I was inspired.

As the sun wet down a few students got some open fires on the go, I joined some of them and sat around the fire to keep warm. As I sat there I took some photos of the beautiful flames which also captured my imagination.


Dolphinholme was a beautiful experience and I'd recommend to future students as it gets us out of the studio and we learn new things about our selves and to capture the beauty of things we don't see everyday.



ROUNDABOUTS

3D

I have an interest in insects mostly winged ones which include butterflies and dragonflies, something about them fascinates me.

I also have an interest in dragonflies for a spiritual reason. I remember when my grandparents were alive they had dragonflies in artwork and gifts they received over the years. Just after my grandfather died I felt him squeezing my arm, I went outside to get some fresh air into the garden. As I sat there a dragonfly landed next to me and perched on the arm of a chair it stayed there for ten minutes. I felt it was my grandfather coming to say one last goodbye in the form he loved the most, the dragonfly.

For me also  dragonfly and butterfly wings the closest thing to fairy wings. I have a huge interest in fairies and I hope to make something to do with them as I go along with this course.

Before I started doing this assignment I'd been making dragonflies for about two years using different materials including wire and beads, I made them into sun catchers and decorations and selling them at craft markets and events.

I used a wide range of different medias to create the wings from cellophane and wire as well as a wide range of colourful and different sided beads for the bodies.

 Using the strongest wire I shaped into the basic dragonfly wing shape and spot welded it together 4 times to get 4 wings.

 Then I shaped a longer piece of wire to get the basic body form. I attached all together using the spot welder once again.

Photography

I experimented with the use of light and manual focus. The first photos I took in the workshop were accidentally removed so I had to retake them.  With the help of some class mates I took some more photos exploring the idea I had in mind, which was to use glow sticks. 

I am really pleased with the results, I particularly like the bold contrasts and colours.

Visual Communication 

After finding some leaves I put a blob of a bright blue ink based paint on a piece of clear glass and using a roller applied an even coat of the ink. 

 After inking up the plate I placed a leaf on the ink followed by the paper, using the roller I pressed down hard to get an impression of the leaf.

 The image below was the best one I managed to get. Being able to get the veins of the leaf and the outline.

 I was very pleased out these prints came out. I like how the remind me of cave paintings.

After the leaf prints, I had a try of typography, this is where you write in the ink backwards and then use either paper or other chosen material to print on this will make the writing appear the correct way.

The image above is my attempt it didn't work as I had in mind I had too much ink on my plate. The wording I used was ' Someday we'll find it the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me' 'Rainbow Connection' - Kermit the Frog - The Muppet Movie (1979).

Video 

After watching  the video: Parcel Postage Experiment. by Derek Davalos experimental film made in by Len Lye in the 1930s, we got an opportunity to have ago at making our own 4 second scratch film. 
We started off drawing some simple designs on a 16mm clear film inspired by what we saw on the Parcel Postage Experiment. 
For this we used simple everyday coloured marker pens and did any pattern which came to mind.

After completing the whole strip we put the film through the projector to watch the final product.

http://www.vimeo.com/110126309 Here is the finished film

Fine Art

Using some different painting techniques, I applied them to some of the photos I took on the residential.

When I first read the brief for this assignment I was a little resentful to paint on some of my photos but as I started I began to enjoy it.


The first photo I used I used painted on top of the toadstools to add a new dimension to the the shapes.






Units 1-4 Assessment 
Blog- I got told to make my blog to easy to navigate so I put it all onto one page, I also got told to check my punctuation I've gone back through and done all my spell checks.

Practical work- enjoyed all aspects of the roundabouts in the program and includes my interest in nature and the environment throughout my work.

Attitude- Good attitude, makes a positive contribution to the group and become a valued member of the group.
Small targets

• Make blog easy to navigate 
• Expand written comments including more reflection and evaluate comments 
• Attach loose sheets to sketchbook
• Work into the background of drawings on white paper to make them more stand out.