Reviewing my work
Over the last few weeks I have been working on different ways to display my work mainly, looking at ways I can light up my acetate photography and display my photography and mirror pieces.
Firstly, I began with the idea of the light box - I successfully made one in the workshop and ahandmade one out of canvases. I liked both, they worked well but produced different results - the lightbox was very bright and good for highlighting key features of my photography, plus it could be attached to the wall; the "lantern" idea worked well in merging the two layered acetate photographs together to create a whole image and also the size and shape of the object added to an interesting effect.
Then I worked more on my mirror pieces - I experimented with paint on top of an acrylic mirror I had bought online; I used acrylic paint and glass paint which both created very different effects, the acrylic paint created a rough textured effect while the glass paint created a smooth, shiny effect that gleamed so much that looked as if the paint was still wet even when dry. I experimented with both effects together and then pasted imagery over the top of it (tracing paper photography) which created a layered effect. This worked very effectively and produced an interesting piece due to the colours and patterns that showed through the tracing paper as well as emphasising the colours of the images themselves.
Arranging the display is taking some time - I need to sort out the display and make sure the acetate images are successfully projected. Also the display of the pieces is important as I need the work to be carefully spaced out but also connected as it is a collective and an installation piece.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Artist: Mat Collishaw
Artist: Mat Collishaw
I found this really interesting artist that creates surreal works that range from sculpture to photography - all the works provoke a sense of the bizarre in a most beautiful way. Art Article This article is an interview with Mat Collishaw about his works, "Hard-hitting artist Mat Collishaw has long sought to drag humanity's darkest urges into the light."
This artist works with photograph showing hard-to-look-at images "an uneasy terrain of no-go areas" and I found his work inspiring because of the use of editting in his works - it influenced me to work more with my photography to produce more bizarre and unusual compositions as my work is focussed on the unconscious, mind images and issues within the mind. The artist worked with issues of the mind in one of his pieces when manipulating flower images to look as if they were decaying with STIs as inspired by a man who obsessively collected flowers, "...his flowes became diseased, like his mind was sickening..." I like using strange images to portray a mental issue, e.g the giant ugly butterfly eating rotten fruit. His work seems to have an almost dream-like quality.
MAGIC LANTERN
Magic lantern
I was inspired by this piece by Collishaw. It made me want to develop my lantern/box idea more - I wanted to show interesting and unusual photography in a display frame and a light up lantern was the best idea to show case my pieces.
I found this really interesting artist that creates surreal works that range from sculpture to photography - all the works provoke a sense of the bizarre in a most beautiful way. Art Article This article is an interview with Mat Collishaw about his works, "Hard-hitting artist Mat Collishaw has long sought to drag humanity's darkest urges into the light."
This artist works with photograph showing hard-to-look-at images "an uneasy terrain of no-go areas" and I found his work inspiring because of the use of editting in his works - it influenced me to work more with my photography to produce more bizarre and unusual compositions as my work is focussed on the unconscious, mind images and issues within the mind. The artist worked with issues of the mind in one of his pieces when manipulating flower images to look as if they were decaying with STIs as inspired by a man who obsessively collected flowers, "...his flowes became diseased, like his mind was sickening..." I like using strange images to portray a mental issue, e.g the giant ugly butterfly eating rotten fruit. His work seems to have an almost dream-like quality.
MAGIC LANTERN
Magic lantern
I was inspired by this piece by Collishaw. It made me want to develop my lantern/box idea more - I wanted to show interesting and unusual photography in a display frame and a light up lantern was the best idea to show case my pieces.
After tutorial 10/01/13
After being so nervous about my tutorial - concerned that I was going off track a bit and feeling a little uncertain about my work - I had some real positive feedback. I explained my ideas to my tutor and received confirmation that I wasn't completely losing track of my work and that I had some good ideas for creating an interesting installation. So really pleased.
Over the last few days I have been working on different ideas for my work and how to create a really unusual looking display. I decided, with help with my tutor, that I will be creating a type of installation because of the lighting and projections I will be using will make an inviting display. There are some main factors I need to work on to create my installation but a lot of it is just the finer details. Certain aspects of my work will need to be assembled now, such as my acetate/tracing paper creations - these need to be attached to some kind of display accessory such as a frame or a hanging structure. I want to work on the lighting too - create some kind of glowing structure that my work can be display on or in. I was suggested different artists to look at to inspire me and help me come up with a successful idea to display my work.
Summing up
Things I have decided on:
- I am going to use an overhead projector to project an image onto my red painting. I just need to decide which image to project onto my work. My tutor offered a suggestion, saying that the pieces she liked the most were the more distorted images that you were not quite sure what they were. I like this idea because the images of the mind are often distorted and dreams frequently reflected a delirius element where things are not fully perceived. Possible images that I could use are the one of the tree branches and the one of the giant butterfly eating part of banana (both distorted and unusual images). I do like the photographs of the figures - even though my tutor mentioned that it seemed too literal - I did agree but I believe that when the acetate images are layered together and light is shone through, ordinary images can become really strange and interesting.
- I am going to present acetate/tracing paper images using some elements of lighting. I need to work out a way I can shine light through or over my images. My first idea was to create a frame (using frames from canvases as they are the best size and easy to display) which I could paste the acetate/tracing paper over and then experiment with different types of lights to attach to wall behind the frames - of course the frames would have to be quite thick or the lighting small or I would have to find a way to make the work stand off from the wall - either way I will have to do a lot of experimentation to see which works the best.
Also another (easier) idea would be to shine light at the images using ordinary lighting/lamps or possibly fluorescent lighting but I am not sure this would create the desired effect I want as I really want the images to show up.
Another idea would be to hang the images in front of some lighting - this is quite an intriging idea as this would make my work into a more interactive installation as the pieces could be viewed from either side. I have also emailed Anna to help me with lighting suggestions so I will just need to wait for a reply and a confirmation that I have booked a overhead projector - until then I will be doing a lot of experimentation :)
- Work out what to do with my blue painting. I would like to project an image onto this one too but depending on if I can get another projector remains to be seen - also the painting might look more interesting with other pieces displayed on it, it is such an interesting colour, so vibrant, that it might work well as a display piece/background for other works.
- Work on and decide what to do with my mirror piece. My mirror on a roll arrived today! I ordered a large fake/acrylic mirror online so that I could work on a reflective surface - similar to what I have been doing previously but a little more safely as it isn't made of real glass! I wanted to use the reflective surfaces as it connects the audience as they can literally see themselves in my work and I want to create the layering of images in my work so the reflection becomes an image itself. I have the idea of either using paint on this mirror piece or imagery or both - most likely both.
- Final details, such as mounting my work on the wall. Mainly it's just putting my work up, although I'm not sure if my large painting needs to be on the wall as it works well as it is quite large - however if I can just elevate a little then it will be at eye-level and that would really work to help the audience feel as if they can step into my work. EXPERIMENTATION NEEDED - will be done tomorrow :) Also just putting up my transparent images and mirror piece - links in with the lighting concept.
Over the last few days I have been working on different ideas for my work and how to create a really unusual looking display. I decided, with help with my tutor, that I will be creating a type of installation because of the lighting and projections I will be using will make an inviting display. There are some main factors I need to work on to create my installation but a lot of it is just the finer details. Certain aspects of my work will need to be assembled now, such as my acetate/tracing paper creations - these need to be attached to some kind of display accessory such as a frame or a hanging structure. I want to work on the lighting too - create some kind of glowing structure that my work can be display on or in. I was suggested different artists to look at to inspire me and help me come up with a successful idea to display my work.
Summing up
Things I have decided on:
- I am going to use an overhead projector to project an image onto my red painting. I just need to decide which image to project onto my work. My tutor offered a suggestion, saying that the pieces she liked the most were the more distorted images that you were not quite sure what they were. I like this idea because the images of the mind are often distorted and dreams frequently reflected a delirius element where things are not fully perceived. Possible images that I could use are the one of the tree branches and the one of the giant butterfly eating part of banana (both distorted and unusual images). I do like the photographs of the figures - even though my tutor mentioned that it seemed too literal - I did agree but I believe that when the acetate images are layered together and light is shone through, ordinary images can become really strange and interesting.
- I am going to present acetate/tracing paper images using some elements of lighting. I need to work out a way I can shine light through or over my images. My first idea was to create a frame (using frames from canvases as they are the best size and easy to display) which I could paste the acetate/tracing paper over and then experiment with different types of lights to attach to wall behind the frames - of course the frames would have to be quite thick or the lighting small or I would have to find a way to make the work stand off from the wall - either way I will have to do a lot of experimentation to see which works the best.
Also another (easier) idea would be to shine light at the images using ordinary lighting/lamps or possibly fluorescent lighting but I am not sure this would create the desired effect I want as I really want the images to show up.
Another idea would be to hang the images in front of some lighting - this is quite an intriging idea as this would make my work into a more interactive installation as the pieces could be viewed from either side. I have also emailed Anna to help me with lighting suggestions so I will just need to wait for a reply and a confirmation that I have booked a overhead projector - until then I will be doing a lot of experimentation :)
- Work out what to do with my blue painting. I would like to project an image onto this one too but depending on if I can get another projector remains to be seen - also the painting might look more interesting with other pieces displayed on it, it is such an interesting colour, so vibrant, that it might work well as a display piece/background for other works.
- Work on and decide what to do with my mirror piece. My mirror on a roll arrived today! I ordered a large fake/acrylic mirror online so that I could work on a reflective surface - similar to what I have been doing previously but a little more safely as it isn't made of real glass! I wanted to use the reflective surfaces as it connects the audience as they can literally see themselves in my work and I want to create the layering of images in my work so the reflection becomes an image itself. I have the idea of either using paint on this mirror piece or imagery or both - most likely both.
- Final details, such as mounting my work on the wall. Mainly it's just putting my work up, although I'm not sure if my large painting needs to be on the wall as it works well as it is quite large - however if I can just elevate a little then it will be at eye-level and that would really work to help the audience feel as if they can step into my work. EXPERIMENTATION NEEDED - will be done tomorrow :) Also just putting up my transparent images and mirror piece - links in with the lighting concept.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
09/01/13
I managed to book a location for me to set up my work - PS1. I wanted more space than the area in my studio as I felt that the work would look much more effective if it was spread out a little and given more space so that the pieces did not clash too much as there is a lot going on in each.
I have become rather sick of my project of late, it is getting quite draining for me so I am working on setting up a successful display that will create a good visual effect for an audience. I might as well use the pieces I have and create something interesting as I feel some of the works I have done are quite successful. I am sure I can create something that will be engaging.
PROJECTION
I am planning to use a projector like I used before when planning out my designs. I want to project the best of out my images onto one of my paintings - most likely the red painting as it worked more effectively. I may try projecting other images if I can sort out another projector, if not then I plan to use lighting to shine through my work to create interesting effects.
LIGHTING
As I have the use of PS1 I will have access to some of the ceiling lighting which I plan to use to shine onto my work to highlight certain pieces. I am also going to work on shining lights through my acetate images - the idea of using a lighting box or creating a set of lights myself that will create a similar effect. I think I may need to use a type of florescent light to shine through my work rather than a simple bulb which is likely to focus on one particular section of my work.
I have become rather sick of my project of late, it is getting quite draining for me so I am working on setting up a successful display that will create a good visual effect for an audience. I might as well use the pieces I have and create something interesting as I feel some of the works I have done are quite successful. I am sure I can create something that will be engaging.
PROJECTION
I am planning to use a projector like I used before when planning out my designs. I want to project the best of out my images onto one of my paintings - most likely the red painting as it worked more effectively. I may try projecting other images if I can sort out another projector, if not then I plan to use lighting to shine through my work to create interesting effects.
LIGHTING
As I have the use of PS1 I will have access to some of the ceiling lighting which I plan to use to shine onto my work to highlight certain pieces. I am also going to work on shining lights through my acetate images - the idea of using a lighting box or creating a set of lights myself that will create a similar effect. I think I may need to use a type of florescent light to shine through my work rather than a simple bulb which is likely to focus on one particular section of my work.
Monday, 7 January 2013
Progress 07/01/13
Summing up and looking back over what I've been doing: The project began by looking at imagery and idealogy to do with dreams - then progressed to looking at things on a more personal level for (touching on expressionism and creative writing) focusing on the idea of the unconscious mind being a collective of images and thoughts - then I wanted to hone in and create a kind of experience with the audience as I wanted the audience to have a connection with the pieces I was creating (I didn't want the work just to be focused around my personal experiences).
I began working on reflective surfaces, reverting to an original idea from the beginning of the project, to create the idea of layers of imagery and the audience could look through the images onto a mirrored surface. I included elements of photography a lot more and still included some aspects of my creative writing.
I am now focusing on creating the experience for the audience - I want to use the reflective surfaces, lighting and projections to create a space full of imagery and a collective of aspects of the unconscious (I am using images that are personal to me/I have association with but at the same time I want to create an experience that the audience can connect with).
I began working on reflective surfaces, reverting to an original idea from the beginning of the project, to create the idea of layers of imagery and the audience could look through the images onto a mirrored surface. I included elements of photography a lot more and still included some aspects of my creative writing.
I am now focusing on creating the experience for the audience - I want to use the reflective surfaces, lighting and projections to create a space full of imagery and a collective of aspects of the unconscious (I am using images that are personal to me/I have association with but at the same time I want to create an experience that the audience can connect with).
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