..2nd Year :)...Freshers week and Module Briefs..

..It's the beginning of my 2nd year at Hereford..we're nearly a month into the year now and have recieved our module handbooks for Design Develpment and 3DSP. I am going to hopefully dedicate a bit of time to updating my blog with my progress so far in workshops and my project makings. I haven't really kept up with my blog properly over the years so i think this is the perfect time to start getting used to the documentation and reflection of my journey...

...Finding the connections...

I have displayed all of my images; which are a mixture of past and present, as well as secondary research (.e.g. internet, books). Although there are separate areas to my images they all have common themes which interlink them together. I think they show my eclectic taste in a range of areas, such as my travels, the abstract and even my color palette; which is bold and bright on one side, but i also like grey-scale and neutral tones:)

...Images over time...

I love keeping images, mainly ones from trips and days out - MEMORIES. I have a collection of SD cards that still need developed from over 6 years ago because i can't just put them on my computer and then delete them...so i horde them until i can get them printed. I'm telling you this because for this new module i know a theme I'm seeing so far is past images I've taken as well as new ones of things i see in the present that inspire thoughts for my creative practice:-

These are just a few of my images that I've taken over the years; traveling is a big passion of mine whether it's a trip to Berwick or further away to Germany (.e.g Pictures above)...i love seeing new places and different cultures. I would like to combine my need to preserve my memories and my art together.

Jessica Lowes

Another uni chapter - New Modules!!

Results have been given and i've passed DVL, Discourse and EXM/Utensil....was happy with the first 2 results as i wasn't sure how well i'd do as DVL wasn't my best effort - bar the experimental work. Wasn't as please with exm and utensil...i'd put more into the projects and received a worse grade, soo a bit down about it...it's hard to be enthusiastic about the new module (even tho i am) if i get so excited and then only get a good/average grade. I know i have to get into the mindset of being a 'craft' maker, but this work 'craft' tends to send my mind into tunnel vision...i over think and over complicate and tend to leave what i need to be doing til it's a bit too late; then it's a rush job.....my aim of finishing a project was nearly met until i saw my samples and realized i wasn't as happy with them as i could of been :/

Anywho the next module is on creative processes and 'what turns us on' as makers.....so i think i'm going to start looking at what really inspires me or even who - one of those people is my friend Jessica Lowes, she's one of those people who just breaths creativity...whether its singing, doing hair or through her artwork; which she has now put onto a website - http://www.jessy-art.com/, it's just starting off tonight!!!
We both studied art and design at GCSE and together for our A levels so I've been there through a lot of her creative journey. Unlike me she went on to pursue other areas that interest her at Carlisle College such as Hair-dressing and Catering, both creative outlets...these weren't the right paths for her and she is now independently setting up her website for all to see and enjoying exploring her creative practice as an artist. Her work has an ethereal quality, painting fantasy like themes...what i like most is the diversity of what she produces..from animal paintings to character Illustrations suitable to a Tim Burton Movie. I hope this website is the starting of a great career for her :)

So i have my starting point and a few other ideas for the new module...exciting!! XD

Deadlines are looming....

Well yet again it's been a while since my last post, i always say i'll start to do this blog properly and still never do....anyways here is a series of photo's of the experimental work i have been doing for my DVL Module. This is a drawing unit and the task is to do 5 bigger than A1 drawings, using different surfaces and a range of media/materials and techniques. For one of my drawings i have used inks and glue on a sheet of plastic, this material means if you hold it up to a window it will have a stain glass window like quality. Also the effect of how the ink bleeds into the glue after adding water reminds me of how oil looks in a puddle :)....

 I first drew my drawing on one side of the plastic and then turned it over to start the messy process of using ink's and glue.....

 I then added the next layer tonight, using another color which will blend ever so slightly with the still wet parts of the piece...

 Once the glue dries clear it will show the bleeding and flowing of the inks path, this process makes some really beautiful effects...

i love putting photo's like this onto Photoshop as even though i only know the basic's of the program i can play with layers and settings that changes the color and effects as well as being able to use as a background to other work/designs..enjoy....:)

Drawings.

This is just a few of the drawings i've done so far....more will come :)

 .....I've put a series of images that show my progress......

 The first were done by me drawing one of my Plastic Workshop sample.....the abstract, non-uniformed shape allows me to feel more comfortable with my drawings. I really enjoy drawing like this; which means i am more likely to practice.

 I took a close up photo of a charcoal drawing done in Developing a Visual Language module, when i draw i find like most artists, that i like certain areas of a drawing better than others; the curves and tone in this section appeal to me and my style of work....i find myself reusing a shape or line from previous work in my personal work, because i know i can develop it further in many different ways.

 I am finding the more i draw; the more i don't worry about the areas that don't work for me. My weaker areas are perception and perspective of an image.....3-D usually looks 2-D when i attempt to draw certain objects. I've realized i don't dread drawing as much as i used to, i know the more i learn and develop my own personal style.....then as long as i can get my idea across, the rest will come later.

 as i pan out a bit you can see that I've used a putty rubber to rub out areas trying to show the objects that are in front of me in my drawing; this is what i struggle with as i have a strong dislike for putty rubbers :).....i also feel that that part of the drawing doesn't look as good as the lines that i like to use for a more stronger shape and flow. The idea was to draw without lines as we don't see a black outline on objects, such as a bowl so why so we draw one on a page?....My drawing have become stronger so i feel more confident in trying the different tasks without thinking the outcome will be bad, i have a more positive outlook to my drawing.

 I drew this in my own time just after we'd had the Plastics workshop....as the shape i had melted looked abstract i wanted to see how i interpreted that on paper, i still think 'if only i could make it look more realistic/3-D', but that will come with practice :)

And lastly, this was a line drawing i drew of a scrunched up piece of paper....i enjoy doing this a lot more than i thought i would, I've always sat and doodled or drew shapes, but trying to draw folds and creases still eluded me even last year in my ND. But after only being on this course for a month I've found i want to do this more often as it helps develop my drawings and gives me something i can progress further.