Coding

Computer coding is something most users absolutely take for granted. The source page of a website is something that appears by accident and scares the hell out of your grandmother.

Despite the fact that I consider myself well aquatinted with HTML and CSS coding, I was glad of an official context with which to put it - as someone entirely self taught some of the meanings and references went unknown, and it was interesting to hear the elaborated information. 

The day was spent first creating a standard web comic before 'hacking' it. Or, changing it to fit a different story.

Despite the fact that we were moving at the pace of the slowest (which is mind numbingly slow when the 'slowest' doesn't particularly care about it in the first place) I still found entertainment in the work I was doing, and am pleased with my final result.

I am also going to keep note of the host we used for future reference.

3D: Bridges

After a morning presentation concerning the versatility of the topic, we were set the task of building 5 'spanning structures'. They could be big or small, for humans or decorative, so long as they connected a point 'A' to a point 'B'.

Starting small in my sketchbook (as I wanted more evidence than photos that this days activities had occurred) I made five pop-up bridges across the pages.

This was a fun little exercise that got me thinking about both the aesthetics and the function of structures I was making.

The second part of the afternoon was spent making a bridge out of cardboard that would support a toy car driving across, and be tall enough for a table to be wheeled underneath. Thankfully we were put into teams for this task.

Using bamboo, cardboard and parcel tape, my group constructed a simple, functioning bridge.

This was a good opportunity to work in teams that we were unfamiliar with; our team was very efficient, first drawing up a plan and diagram before starting construction, then taking shifts during lunch in order to be finished with time to spare.

This was also helpful practise for thinking about supporting structures on a larger scale - we had to consider the size, shape, and weight of the car, as well as how heavy the bamboo was as part of the structure and how much cardboard could be supported by how much bamboo. 

I had to veto the use of bamboo as part of the required barriers, as I was sure that they would be too heavy for our lightweight structure. As it turned out, bamboo was entirely inecessary anyway, as the job could be done easily with the remainders of our cardboard and yet more parcel tape.

The only thing that I would perhaps have changed would be the incessant need that others felt for flinging the elastic bands around the room. That and possibly the amount of work it was to get everything cleared up afterwards.

3D Design

As with any good Monday, we started our 3D rotation by destroying a few habits. One such was being at all precious with work.

To start with, we would put pen to paper to draw a squiggle. Or perhaps our house number. Or some random dots. Then we had to make it into something else.

Behold, a squiggly line turned into a structure that can support two people and a cat. 

Here we have my post code drawn into a bus shelter.

Then using the very piece of A1 paper we had been defacing with these designs, we had to build a structure to support a full water bottle 20cm off the ground.

I started with the idea to build sturdy stars out of the paper, however they would not achieve the full height, nor did I have enough paper. Having cut up quite a bit of my paper, I was left with few options and fewer ideas.

As a result I fell back on what I knew to be the strongest structure to support weight - a pillar. I then added rolls of paper to the edges for balance and support. My structure worked whichever way up you placed it.

It has been pointed out to me that I create the most sophisticated accidents they had ever seen, and I suppose the morning served as a learning curve as to embellishing those accidents; by all means people thought I had time to put much more thought into it.

After lunch, the task was set to build a structure out of cardboard that could support your weight. As the smaller members of the class started planning without preamble, there was an audible groan from anybody over 6 foot.

As I didn't wish to create another pillar, I went for the second strongest shape I could muster - the triangle. Rolling over the edges of the cardboard, I strengthened the corners with makeshift pillars. A second pice slotted into the form providing the third side. Stuck in place with two cross grain pieces of cardboard and I had a structure that could support my weight.

With 45 minutes left I decided that my piece should do far more than function to stand out. I spent a good while adding embellishments in the form of yet more cardboard.

 

At the end of the day, it supported my full weight off the ground, and then got put in the bin anyway, as there was no way I was taking that thing all the way home to throw it in the bin there.

It was an awful lot of fun to attack these tasks under my own steam, as these sorts of activities had only been used before now as 'team building exercises', which more often than not meant that I would be totally ignored for the entirety of the task.

Whilst I didn't learn any outright facts about he materials I was working with, I feel that I set a suitable tone with which to continue this week.

Fashion Photography

Whilst I consider myself experienced with a camera, it would only be in social settings. It was very educational to be in the company of a professional; not only one who was skilled, but certainly wasn't trying to glorify the workload nor pay.

The honest account of the stresses and pitfalls of the job truly gave me an understanding of the dynamic between the fashion photographer and the rest of the industry. It was also very interesting to look through the selection of photos he had brought for us to see of his work - using my existing knowledge of composition and lighting effects it was good practise to try to identify where these techniques actively took effect in his work.

It was also my first time handling such monstrously good cameras; I thoroughly enjoyed my time behind the camera, despite the fact my model was rather unwilling.

Unfortunately the photographs I took that day are still inaccessible, however they will be hosted here first opportunity.

Fashion and Textiles: Part 3

After selecting a favourite (or most easily constructed) design from the previous day, our task on the final day of the direct rotation was to create a paper toile if our chosen design. We then had to ensure that ample photographs had been taken of it completed - on both mannequin and model.

I was very glad of my prior experience with textiles and pattern work, simply because it gave me a base from which to start.

I had chosen to make my 12th design into a toile because it was simple and striking in structure, and reminiscent of various different characters, the shape of the garment remarked to be similar in ways to the Akatsuki from Naruto, the blue lines dividing up the torso and arms also reminiscent of Kyogre, a legendary Pokemon.

It is important to note that the above picture is in fact, the back of the garment. Or, it could also be used as the front in you did not wish the high collar to obscure your face. 

After I had completed the basic shape of the toile, I realised two very significant features of my design. Firstly, it could be worn back to front without contradiction or difficulty. Secondly, and perhaps more important, it can be worn easily by either genders due to its neutral cut and pattern.

This is why I had it modelled by my friend Fidel, whose striking features and short hair provide the presentation of the garment with a much more androgynous aesthetic.

Although through the course of the day - modelling, travelling around in order to take a photo on every level, then on and off the mannequin, then back on Fidel for a casual catwalk at the end of the day - it got rather creased and the oil pastel with which I drew on the blue lines, it was still a shame to see it go to the bin.

Nevertheless, I have a plethora of images of my piece in action. I also have the reassurance that I am capable of much more than I previously thought in two hours.

This week has been a challenge, but has given me much more faith in my abilities to simply let an idea roll forwards with a natural sense of momentum. It has also provided Fidel with an ample amount of potential Facebook profile pictures.

Fashion and Textiles: Part 2

The second day was spent developing potential designs for a garment. This first begun with the manipulation of already existing images from fashion spreads in magazines.

By adding to these images in a creative way, we not only explored the possibility of 3D structure in collage, but built up a momentum of developing ideas for future design.

Afterwards, we made tenplates of ten different garments, and cut them out of our favourite painting. What was a long and tedious task did herald worthy results, however, as a specific image I ended up with became the basis for the next task that day; making designs.

Upon viewing my designs, everybody had concluded much the same thought as I did after seriously considering the quick sketches; Queen Elizabeth I meets space - like the Christmas special of Blackadder. 

I had decided to design exclusively outerwear - coats and jackets. I very much enjoyed this entire day, as it was very rewarding to see vagueness and experiments form into full ideas quite so succinctly. 

Beyond reminding myself of how much I enjoy designing clothes, I have learnt a great deal about simply letting my designs flow forth; very little thought was put into the shown designs and because of that lack of thought, there is a refreshing lack of criticism on my part. I can simply enjoy them for the products they are.

Fashion and Textiles: Part 1

The three days spent completing the fashion and textiles rotation was rather intensive work.

The first day started by selecting our favourite paintings and using inspiration from them to create 3 small 3D paper samples, each drawing from a different section and feature of the painting. My selected painting was 'the Solidity of Fog' by Luigi Russolo. 

This first one was inspired by the moon in the piece, and the ripples in the fog, acting as an echo.

This second piece was an attempt to put further emphasis on the ripples.

The final model was created in more of a rush than I had anticipated, despite giving up my break in order to finish these pieces. Nevertheless, it is expressive of the way in which the lighter tones of rippling fog wrap around the figures in Russolo's painting.

As you can see, the blue in the painting has been included quite minimally on white, an inverse to balance in the painting. Whilst I do love the simple cleanliness that is brought to mind from the colour scheme, it was only implemented out of practicality - I had a blue marker pen and white paper to work with.

The time before (and during) lunch was spent making ten larger copies of the samples. I chose to replicate my original design, as it was the most interesting design.

In groups, we then spent time arranging samples on mannequins; our own and other peoples. This was useful practise getting comfortable with the ease of simple experimentation.

I then managed to transport all of my samples safely home, and am currently looking for a way in which to include them in the interior design and lighting without them catching fire.

Life-drawing day

On Monday we had a break from more imaginative tasks and turned to fine tuning our translation - working straight from eye to pen, or as was the case with most of us, eye to charcoal.

Working large always presents somewhat of a problem for a girl with such short arms, though I managed to complete several pieces without sacrificing too many of the correct proportions. Saying that, I've been adequately reminded of just.how useful an easel is.

After a series of quick sketches, we moved on to more time consuming, detailed works.

I was glad of the additional feature of the kimono, as I take great joy in observing and drawing draped fabrics; the pale silk gave off a magnificent sheen as it caught the light, as well as providing the curves of the body with contrasting straight lines as the fabric fell.

Ultimately I found it a very tiring day, as recording all the detail of the body is quite a challenge. However, as always the practise helps develop the important skill of drawing from life which can be transferred to any subject I encounter in life.

Task: Misleading Combinations

As long as photography has existed, so have tricks to fool the viewer - from post mortem imagery to famous paper fairies, fluttering slightly in the wind.

After examining and discussing a series of staged, faked and unbelievable pictures, we were set off on the task of creating our own unbelievable images.

As I'd not managed to complete the homework, I did not have the starting images to edit and mislead. So instead I took inspiration from Terry Gilliam (the animator responsible for many of the connecting sequences between Month Python sketches) and sought to take a classical figure and place them in menial or unlikely places.

The first outcome of this process was the simplest and perhaps most misleading image I created. 

I have had great fun showing this image to friends and family with the introductory line "I didn't use photoshop. This is totally unedited and a picture I took with my iPhone." Mostly because nobody has thus far managed to guess that the figure of Venus is blue-tacked to a window.

Along this line of thinking, my classmate and I manipulated the following image using a photograph of the bathroom in the college, and images from Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne. 

I had a great amount of fun working with this image, and the juxtaposition of the situation against the sophistication of the figures is certainly a source of humour that I would like to experiment with further in future work.

I believe that if I had more time to work on images such as these, I would experiment more with what can be achieved by simply sticking figures to windows; an astonishingly simple and effective action.

Task: A story in six pictures

The morning was spent analysing the components of a story. Considering the beginning, middle and end of a story, the balance between success and failure of the protagonist, and how the setup will affect the end.

We then created a series of six photos that told a story drawing inspiration from out ten meaningful objects.

The character, the red hand, has their pen stolen by the hand we dubbed 'evil hand'. In fighting back and becoming victorious, the pen is broken, leading to a tragic and dramatic end. 

Considering all of the setup, the world, the character and their one flaw (characters are bungalows, they have one 'flaw') was an incredibly enjoyable experience. Even if eventually the world of the hands was a very empty one indeed.

In regards to the task, I felt that we told the story adequately, and no frame was repeating itself (a new action is displayed in each) however in no frame is anything misleading, besides perhaps the initial expectation that you will see the people attached to the hands and yet never do.

In order to perhaps provide something more misleading we attempted a second run, however beside the leap from the first to the second we didn't manage anything so misleading as we did comedy.

Again, a tragedy by the end as the protagonist is left without their desire.

One of the main challenges was trying to fit a story into only six panels. I think that if I had another chance I would try to include a more fantastical world for my character to be in, as both worlds were more a product of what resources we had near, and it would have been more fun to attempt to create a totally new world.

Task: Analysing Composition

The first official day of Lens Based Media commenced with an introductory talk; what the plan is, what to expect, and then how to start thinking.

Firstly we looked through the various photos we had taken over the weekend. Mine had mostly been of birds, as I went to a birds of prey showcase on the Sunday.

Examining each picture, we made notes concerning the subject matter, composition, colours and detail in an objective manner. I found that often I cropped photos in a way as to isolate the subjects, that they are surrounded by sky or grass only. Surprisingly, I also favoured photos in which faces or figures were partially obscured.

In the afternoon we spent an hour and a half creating an A1 copy of our chosen favourite image. I completed this in charcoal.

I am very pleased with the final outcome of this drawing, not only the detail that I achieved, but the simplicity of the composition and the use of white space. 

Our task then was to consider how changing the composition or obscuring certain parts of the image might express a different meaning. I photographed my drawing several more times, showing different parts, in order to experiment.

For example, in this shape we might think that the bird is attacking or otherwise harming the girl, whereas we know from the full picture that she was holding upher hand to receive the bird.

This version, cropped to a square and rotated, becomes a much more abstract impression of people and feathers; the strong darkness at the top of the image in contrast to the rest of the untouched page suggests a sense of weight and importance, like an ornate frame.

The final task of the day was to take photos expressing certain words - crush, happy, sad, jump, fall and echo. I managed to take all six photos without travelling lower than the fourth floor of the building.

Here you see 'echo' and 'sad'. 'Echo' is simply a reflection of my shoes in a window, and 'sad' is the dividers between class areas shown at a severe angle, then put into black and white from blue.

Whilst attention to images had already given me a good idea of the actions and desired effects in photography, it was much better to really engage with and put this knowledge to action today. I feel much more confident on manipulating composition to establish an atmosphere.