This is the images from my story about my toes. As usual, as I think about it it expands. It started with 8 frames, to which I had to add a ninth since the outcome was unexpected. I designed the font (I'll post about that later) and I put them in a book form. I do intend to get that printed, I'm currently getting in some prices (Yet another future post) and then I'll decide on the final format.
But for now here's version one:
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The story of me - a working title - is just that, a personal story told in pictures, short written bits and artefacts. There's bits missing that the reader/viewer will have to fill in for themselves, I don't want to put everything out there as there will be things that involve other people who could get upset.
The work consists a frame, which I have a sketchbook image of elsewhere in this blog and a number of resin incased items. Some items are too big to encapsulate or just won't work too well. Those ill ned to make a case for or just put in photos and drawings. But it seems a nice resting place for all the bits I've kept for years.
Here's the working diagram of the frame - which is 100% bound to change in dimensions, placings and number of spaces:
The white box is for the book/words to go into. As a guide, a red box is about 50mm square. The diagram was just to get a feel for the shape and number of boxes. You can see the first mock up of the frame in wood here
Question I got asked in a tutorial this week and also when I met a friend who I hadn't seen for some while yesterday. Tricky one that. I don't know. I just know I don't want to be retired as such. I've looked over the edge and it looks a bit boring. Possibly nice for a short while but boring.
In theory, had I graduated this summer last then I would be at a cross-roads anyway. Summer was dreadful, I considered for a long time not returning to University, I didn't get a good mark last semester and there was a shadow over if the SLE would 'loan' the fees.
On the Proposal for this year I put illustrator. It's closer to home than perhaps what I would have liked, but I like drawing and doing things for people, and I like seeing my stuff in print. So with that in mind I am trying to reinvent myself both continuing as a graphic designer and producing illustration. CAP, I think, allows me to do that.
To that end I am looking again the processes of running business, getting in work, establishing oneself as a brand, (not something I'm that comfortable with, I'm a bit 19th century there) building a website and pushing myself in various forms of social media.
I'm also on the lookout and reading books.
One I have found helpful is this one:
Today's tutorial and review of work gave some useful insights. I have learned to clear the table and not try to put everything on it. I'm also trying to talk less and listen more, Georgiana who sits opposite me finds my non-stop chatter amusing and I suspect irritating.
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| This is Georgiana, obviously, |
Zac and I talked about "The story of me" product. Zac seemed to find this the thing that interested him most, and we talked at length about encasing things in resin, costs of resin and the format of the book to go with it.
In particular we chewed over if the book should have photos, drawings or a mixture. How many things should go on a page. Zac is very interested in the resin encapsulation, and suggested making the shape of the encapsulation echo the object inside. It's a nice idea, but one I suspect would cost too much and take too long.
The moulds would have to be custom built. Probably it would almost be worth paying someone to do this as at the moment it's beyond my capabilities,
On reflection, I think the mixture would be best for the book. drawings, photographs and other illustrations done with a variety of media. I shall experiment over the next week. Photos first as that's easiest and also writing the stories of these items.
The conference was held over two venues: Bath Spa University - Locksbrook campus and the Watershed media centre, Bristol. I suspect this was to satisfy the sponsors, although to be honest I would have preferred just the one venue, as no doubt would have the exhibitors who had to haul their equipment between the two locations. At least in Bath, parking for the campus is relatively easy. While I'm mentioning set up, lunch was served at both locations, great, but only veggie vegan food. I don't mind veggie, we have it at home all the time, but I do object to vegan fake meat.
The highlight for me was seeing the small press/digital zines on display. I spent some time talking to various people involved in these activities. Having been involved in small press/underground press since a very early age, it was interesting to reflect on the changes and also on progression over the years. I started when letterpress was just ending being the 'usual' method of producing print. I have been through the litho and Letraset years; and been at the vanguard of the transition to digital.
Shelby Studios were running an interactive magazine project at the conference. One of the conference questions was "XXXXXXXXX". We were given a drawing of a window and asked what we thought would be outside. I'm not that optimistic. Here's my drawing:
My other detailed conversations was with people promoting and using VR/Metaverse. They were all enthusiastic and shiny-eyed about the possibilities of VR. I'm afraid I differ. I have been interested in stereoscopic imagery since I first encountered a victorian 3D viewer. Here's the remains of one I had as a child, somewhere I have some of the pictures...
Back to VR. I see parallels between 3D and VR, although I acknowledge the technical sophistication of VR make it more immersive (a 2022 buzz word). However, I also think that like stereoscopy as a mass media technology it will all decline.
In the cinema there have been repeated waves of 3D. From red and green* 3D in 1930s, polarised light in the 50s (The Mask, Creature) , waves of 3D in 70s (Stewardesses, Jaws 3D) and then the emergence of RealD and digital cinema which have solved many of the issues surrounding film based stereoscopic systems.
Except one.
The headwear/glasses.
Bottom line, people don't like wearing headsets, spectacles, holding up cardboard masks and so on. For some it's OK for a viewing of a special movie, but for others it's headache inducing. It's also not very comfortable for a long time. VR headsets are expensive as well. One thing suggested at the conference was that meetings could move from Zoom/Meet/Teams/etc to a VR system. Personally, I don't think that many people in a meeting like a 'normal' business meeting, especially those who struggle with technology anyway, will want to create an avatar and then hold a meeting in a virtual environment. I also think that the tech will quickly date.
History is dotted with stuff that didn't catch on, or only for a short while, outside of gaming I suspect VR will be the same.
*Red and green give a much better image than red and cyan in my opinion. I won't bore you with the technical reasons - but get in contact if you want.
My digestive system. A first version. Anatomy, or rather artistic interpretations of it have fascinated me for years. As a kid I was heavily into biology and even had a brief idea I might be a surgeon - I liked dissection. The careers teacher rapidly put that one to rest! However, the attraction has stayed and discovering Fritz Kahn (more about him in a separate post) and other people who have drawn analogies of human workings have re-kindled that interest. Others have taken a more liberal approach such as Basil Woolverton, but I have yet to track down a link to the images I want to show.
This is my first effort. It's wrong on man counts. The background and body filling are wrong. Arm should have been behind body and probably it should be a front view. I'll have another go this week, but leave this here for the record.
So a bit late to this party, as most people had done this weeks ago. But I have thought through and written a proposal which I was hoping to discuss today. Sadly tutor is ill, but I have decided to put it out in any case as I hope that will hope me to focus on work - or more specifically, work that matters; something I find tricky sometimes. Haven't done the 'negotiated' bit yet. Having read it again, I find it a bit pompous. Probably I'll reword it.
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Inktober Illustration, prompt was 'gears'. Inside my head..Back to learning. |
Life changes and I find myself reviving this blog. Having toyed with other blogging platforms, there's no doubt that this ticks the "Make it easy" box.
Due to various reasons, I had to take some time off in 2021, I was due to return Feb 2022 full time and repeat a year. Unfortunately the university made time-table changes which made that difficult and resulted in me going part time. My last semester in Fine art was also less than spectacular. I had discovered a grow chasm between what I wanted to achieve and what was (rightly) expected. At the end of the day I look towards how I can provide for myself from what I do; probably that is "to commercial" an expression I heard more than once.
So I have transferred to CAP - Contemporary Arts Practice, where I have found a first class tutor in Matthew Robertson. He's also been a graphic designer and we share backgrounds in common.
Currently I'm still finding my feet here, but the future looks promising, and with Ruth studying our lives look good, if hard.
For my CAP tutors, there will be several pages to help you navigate:
CAP_context_folder
CAP_sketchbook
CAP_research
CAP_reflection
Using these tags will take you to the right pages for assessment.
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| Whole image, it's 100cm x 100cm on canvas. Have painted about 25% of detail. Really taking ages, about a week now. Manage around 3 hours a day. But not every day. Arm aches after that! |
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| Close up of detailing. First layer, will need light/dark/underpaint in-between lines. Then glase with overall wash. |
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| Test glaze. Needs bit more work. Struck me I could use a gold underneath or even gold leaf in a future project. |
Armed with the information from the walk and (obviously) a brief from the client, I sat down yesterday to start drawing the map. This is just first draft, I have a feeling there will be many drafts. Already I can see changes I want to make. For what it's worth, I think the rear works better than the front - but that may be the effect of the pencil drawing here - makes it look very busy.
I have been commissioned to draw a walking map for Bathscape. These posts will show development.
First up, was walk the route. These are in no particular order and are part of approx 200 pictures and an hour of video taken to document the route. Found several differences and walking the route gave an insight into what the map should look and feel like.
It's quite muddy and very pretty.
Start of something new. 🙂🤞 Using #oilcolour for first time in a very long time. Up to now, I haven't really appreciated them. This is an experiment. Will they frustrate me less, drying too slowly than acrylics drying too quickly? here's the first version:
This time with pastel pencils. Never really used them, which is weird because I have 144 different colours! Will try again. Used fixative between layers. #derwentpastelpencils #fabercastellpastels#derwentpastels #paper #drawing #Art#bath_bafineart #illustration
So I'm catching up with blog posts. Wish I could link some applications - still here's the first catch up. The other thing that annoys me is that the drag and drop for pictures has stopped working.
