Surf kayaking - location photography

This photograph has been the most challenging to compose well, out of all my photo shoots so far.

I had originally wanted to capture Kim actually surfing a wave, but I now realise it is difficult to do so with out being in the sea your self.

I have learned that to be successful in location photography you have to be able to adapt your plans, there is no point in having just one outcome in your head, and not having the ability to see other opportunities out there. 

The composition for this photograph and my other best images were not planned, they actually look better because in a changing you are not able to place the kayak in the exact potion on a rolling wave, you just have to make the most of what you have!  

Collage Shoe

Today I did four drawings of different shoes, I tried to use materials that suits the type of shoe.

I think this college shoe on brown paper was the most successful drawing the block shapes with contrasting organic area creates an interesting image.

I learned to make sure the proportions was correct from the start of the process. An easy way of doing this is to do a quick sketch to map out the shoe, before sticking down other materials.  

The only panel on the shoe that I don't think completely fits is the water black colour. I should have watered down the colour more and painted more smoothly, instead of doing rough brush strokes. 

Or painted the black thick and even to give a smooth leather feel.   

Appliqué fashion illustrations

Pen drawings from life and free machine appliqué illustrations.

I loved the unusual effect you get when drawing with thread.

The illustration on the right was my first time using this method, and I think was the most successful one. This is probably due to the fact I had more time to complete it. I think the combination of red and orange thread that I used in this figure worked well together. 

They also contrast well with the grays in the background. I had used excessive material to lay over the top of the figure, and as a method of keeping keeping it down I sewed a blanket of thread over the top of it. This has made it look like the figure is standing in a field of grass. Although I had not intended on putting a horizon in the image (about a third of the way up), it adds perspective into the piece, really making the figure stand out. 

I added a horizon into my second piece (as it had worked well in my first), by using contrasting materials. I really liked the creases that were sewn into the clothing in the orange thread. In the dress of the second illustration there is plenty of opportunity to add this detail, so I made full use of it.    

Life Drawing

Using charcoal and graphite. 

A tutor from Plymouth University come over to our college today, to do a morning of life drawing. 

We did a series of quick sketches concentrating on proportion and keeping the figure three dimensional.

I have a bad habit of drawing the figure outlines making a very flat image, this helped me to think about drawing lined across the page rather than just up and down. 

Also before partaking in this mornings class I would often start drawing the head first, then would regularly have to come back and re scale it as it would be out of proportion to the rest of the body. He taught us to always draw the torso first, this not only helps with proportion but also weighting of the body, to show the body leaning or slouching.   

Texture Prints in Resin

Material textured prints in resin, to develop innovative textiles.

fabrics

fibres

resin

stitch 

I covered the tissue paper panel with resin after arranging and sewing the prints onto it.

Originally I did this to capture the prints inside of the clear glass like material. Although as it started to dry it went rigid like plastic, forming a stiff pannel sheet. This turned out to look very professional when displaying my work. 

I only covered this piece with resin, as this is were I had sewn the prints onto. Although in hinds sight I would have defiantly covered the back as well as this would have help keep the materials in better condition and made it stronger.     

Interconnected cells storing memories, lives and moments.

With a great interest in finding new material, I am constantly exploring new possibilities.

Transferring images and words on to latex has been one of the most exciting discoveries of the year so fare :)

I am really happy how well this project turned out, although with more time there is still much more that I could have done. 

As these cells were the first and only that I made, I learnt much but I did not have time to change any of these improvements. 

The images that are being transferred onto the material needs to be highly contrasting, to see the image clearly. So black and white lettering seemed to work the best.  

It is important to make the material the right thickness, if it is too thick it starts to look like plastic and too thin it just breaks when putting the panels together.

The ink only transfers form newspaper, I found when trying to transfer my own photographs with ink would simply just not stick to the latex.   

  

These ceramic tiles were very successful, and had many matching tones with the cell structures. Although i didn't make the tiles to go with these images, I found they did.   

If I had known i was going to put my ceramic tiles with my cells for my portfolio. I would have made the markings that I pressed into the clay more relevant to my 'memories' project.  

Memories - collage torso

I made this collage torso in response to a brief 'memories'. 

I really enjoyed using this process, but I think to develop this technique I could expand on the materials I used (newpaper, magazines, charcoal, white paint and graphite). 

I could bring in my own photographs and tickets/receipts ect. This could make it more personal to me, as well as using newspaper articles.

I should have/ could also photograph the torso on somebody or hang it up in a relevant environment.