Making My Booklet

It was Hard picking an idea after trying out so many new processes in this first topic. I decided I wanted to really do something different, than what everyone else was doing, while still sticking to the brief given. The brief was to create a booklet/passport document on a computer programme called InDesign, by Adobe. This is a piece of software that I myself have never used before. The document had to enclose 12 pages of original work, with no descriptive words, and it had to be topical of 'The self'. 

I decided to make a detective board of myself and section it to fit into the booklet. I plan that the centre of both the boards and the booklet will be a map of the UK. Red strings will come out of London (where I was born and have lived ever since), these lines will go onto drawings, photographs and information that bit by bit will piece together me. The board will be quite large, and will be very tactile. The booklet will be less so as it will contain photographs of the sections of the board, however I will layer and make it more interesting than just some photographs. I will include layering, more string and possibly some post it notes to make the booklet more interactive  

 

Final Evaluation : File 0419

The brief explained to me that in this first topic, What I would work on would very much be an introduction to a wide range of processes and techniques that I would be using in my time at Ravensbourne. I was very excited to learn about new materials and techniques as well as computer software that I had never used before. We were told that we should be free in the way we think and experiment in this topic, something that I wasn't quite used to after doing art at GCSE level.

I was particularly influenced by Tony Cragg's work where he explores the organisation of objects in their colours. I decided for my final outcome I would create a detective board where I am the subject. I therefore used Cragg's work to influence the way I laid out all of my objects. For research I looked into legitimate detective boards and the way they are set out. This helped me when it came to making my board. I also looked at tactile and mark making drawings to give me inspiration to produce tactile portraits for my board. I found that a lot of artist books are quite three dimensional therefore I decided to do something different. I made a three dimensional object, and my book would document sections of this object in a more two dimensional way.  

Throughout the topic I went through quite a structured process. I would complete some research, whether that be of artists or in the form of reading articles/books or creating mood boards. A significant experiment that I carried out was my mood boards along with my colour palettes. This is because it helped me decipher which colours represent me and one of the big inspirations of this project, my keepsake. I found it quite difficult to actually think of an original idea. I tried to think of something that wouldn't easily come to mind when thinking of 'The Self'. This took some time but after going through my sketchbook, I was soon inspired. I was pleased to receive feedback throughout the 5 weeks I spent on this topic, an example being that I should explore different ways to experiment rather than the obvious ones. I also had to remember to link everything together to make sure that my work flowed. 

I used many resources, most being galleries and gallery websites, but one resource that was particularly helpful was a science article that included many facts about what makes each human different. I found this very helpful and it was one of the inspirations for my final booklet. I thought about how I could use the fact that finger prints differentiate us with a detective theme. I used many processes throughout this five week period, many of which I had never used before, so I was very excited to experience them. I especially liked using Photoshop, and InDesign, both being pieces of adobe software. I had never used these before and I really wanted to learn more about them in order to improve the quality of my work produced at Ravensbourne. One new skill that I have learnt that I'm particularly happy about is the fact that I need to remember that when I am drawing I need to focus less on what it should look like and more about the lines and shadows.

I like to think that I am very organised in the way that I work and therefore this gives strength to my work. However it can also be a weakness. I sometimes work too structured which sometimes allows my work to loose flow. I need to remember to include every experimentation piece even if it didn't go the way I expected it to.

Finally the name. The name for me was an easy element of this project. For the last two years, due to exams, I have been known as a number, this number being 0419. My booklet resembles a detective document hence the 'file' in front of the number.

Making Trophies - Part 2 (Final Outcome)

In the second half of this project, I encountered several unfortunate problems. A large one being that I had many issues setting up the laser cutter, to cut out my pieces of acrylic. It was my first time using a laser cutter so it took a while for me to make sure all the settings were correct. After several failed attempts, and with the deadline coming close, I had to come up with another idea. I thought to use another material,  as the settings were easier to choose. 

I think that it was almost a good thing that I had to change my material as it made my think quickly on my feet. I think I work best under a little bit of pressure, so changing materials and having to then paint my trophy, which I wouldn't of had to of done if I used acrylic as planned. 

I made sure I gave myself enough time to paint my trophy as I would not have had to if I used acrylic. I still choose the colours that I had planned with the acrylic. A black base, red for the 2nd and 3rd podiums and a bright yellow for the star on top.

The brief for my trophy was for it to be inspired by something I am proud of. In school I have always been told that I should be academic and aspire to be a doctor or a lawyer for example, but that has never been what I want to do. When I told my teachers that I wanted to go to an art college they all turned their noses up and didn't believe that I would make it in the art world. My trophy represents rising above my teachers comments and doing what I want to do.  

Making Trophies - Part 1

I began this project by sketching out so plans of what I wanted to make. The brief was to make something to give to yourself that was influenced by something you are proud of. I took the mascot I designed in my second year of secondary school. It was the first time I had done anything in art that I was really proud of. The mascot to this day represents the sporting house I was in.

After drawing out some plans, I chose on that was my favourite. I would then go on to develop the plan on Adobe Illustrator. After having an introduction of this software the day before, I was quite comfortable with using it. I drew out the shapes that would eventually be cut from different colours of acrylic. I wasn't 100% sure on how I was going to assemble my trophy, but after some deliberation I decided that the majority of the trophy would be quite 2D, however on some sections I would use a slotting method to create the third dimension. 

I chose to make the trophy with acrylic and the laser cutter as this would be quicker than 3D printing, and would allow me to bend and mould certain shapes like the book element. 

I made sure I gave my self plenty of time to plan out my ideas, and I tested out some with scraps of paper which made it a lot clearer than trying to imagine it all in my head. I spent at least half of this day planning to ensure everything went well when it came to physically making the trophy.