Photograms

Tomorow you have the opportunity to experiment with creating photograms in the darkroom. You will be working with the enlargers exposing directly onto photo-sensitive paper, then developing the images. You will need a range of resources to make effective photograms:

• Images of modern architecture on acetate - if these are put through the Threshold tool on photoshop first they work better.
• Cut paper shapes based on buildings/architectural shapes.
• Cut out symbols, numbers, words think about your font choices carefully to complement your Architectural imagery.
• Cut shapes from tracing paper may also give some interesting effects.
• Objects such as keys, cogs, washers, nuts and bolts.

Basically you will be making arrangements of cut-outs/acetates/objects that block or partially block the enlarger light from hitting your base sheet of photographic paper, this will create your image once you develop it and fix it with photographic chemicals.

Make sure you arrive with a good range of materials to allow you to make some exciting photograms.

Architecture Project Update

In addition to the work from Week 1 (see the previous post) you should complete these items based on your London Photos by Monday 4th February.

Really concentrate on producing some high quality prints, as these almost always feature in your course portfolios. Finishing this work on time will allow you to concentrate on producing an ambitious outcome in the last 2 weeks of the project.

• A good selection of your best London photos printed out and included in your sketchbook.
• At least one really excellent gold card plate cut (A4 or larger) with several prints made from it.
• One or more sustained monoprints (again A4 or bigger).
• A minimum of one really good drawing from the London images (spend 3 hours plus on this) this should be full page and in either pencil (using a full tonal range) or fineliner. Additional drawings would be beneficial too.
• At least 2 inventive pieces of mixed media collage, use photocopies of your London prints, drawings and photos. Experiment with inverts, single colour copies and other papers (brown packing, newsprint), text, paint to create rich images.
• 2 or more PhotoShop developments incorporating text based on your collage work.
• Research into two Artists whose work is inspired/influenced by Architecture, see the brief for names. This research should be carefully presented over at least 4 sketchbook pages and should include personal opinion and analysis of specific images. Try to choose Artists who work in a way that relates to the intentions you have for your final piece.

We will have a sketchbook review on Monday 4th Feb. so make sure you are up to date and everything is properly presented.

Ben Johnson

Brendan Neiland

David Hepher

Richard Galpin

Fashion photography -Fiona

Hey, here are some pictures from the fashion project photoshoot which i guess i kinda like :) 

...and then a robin which I edited on photoshop :) 

Fiona x 

Architecture Week 1 - To Do List.

 Architecture Project Week 1

Before the trip next Tuesday you should all complete the following:

• At least 4 pages of research into 2 contemporary Architects (see the project brief below for names). Include background information and analysis of some specific buildings/projects. Discuss materials, aesthetics (form) and function. Include good reproductions of the Architect's work and take care over presentation.
• A selection of photos from the College Architecture, print contact sheets of your shoot and include the best shots printed out at A4 or A5 scale.
• At least one full page sustained controlled pencil tonal drawing from your College photos (this should represent at least 3 hours work).
• Minimum of one full page precise linear drawing using fine liner.
• At least 4 other drawings exploring other techniques (expressive) and media (biro, ink etc.).
• Photocopier experiments with your drawings (inverts, blueprints).

Don't forget to pay online for the trip by Wednesday 16th January, you also need to return the paperwork to me by the same date.Ivan

New Project Brief

BTEC Extended Diploma 1^ST YEAR PROJECT BRIEF.

PROJECT:  Architectural Forms

This project provides evidence towards the following course units:

• Core Unit 1 (Visual Recording in Art and Design).
• Core Unit 2 (Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and Design)
• Core Unit 3 (Ideas & Concepts in Art and Design)
• Core Unit 5 (Contextual influences in Art and Design)

The project also offers you the opportunity to generate evidence towards the following specialist Units:

• Specialist Unit 12 (Computers in Art and Design)
• Specialist Unit 15 (Photography Media, Techniques and Technology)
• Specialist Unit 56 (Generating Fine Art Ideas)
• Specialist Unit 58 (Developing and Realising Fine Art Ideas)
• Specialist Unit 60 (Painting in Fine Art)
• Specialist Unit 61 (Printmaking)
• Specialist Unit 62 (Sculpture)

TIME:  5 Weeks

ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE:

We will be generating original 2D and/or 3D responses to modern architecture. We will develop our project outcomes through a sustained development of imagery gathered from primary sources.

We will begin the project by producing observational drawing from primary sources such as the college architecture and going to London to gather imagery from modern architecture such as The London Eye, The New Hungerford Footbridges, The Lloyds Building and Norman Foster’s “Gherkin” and Canary Wharf tube station.

Once we have accumulated adequate primary material we will begin to develop responses using drawing, painting, collage and 3D maquettes. After a thorough exploration of our imagery we will conclude our investigation by producing one ambitious outcome. This outcome can be figurative or abstracted and can be in either 2 or 3 dimensions.

Throughout the project we will enrich our practical work with research into relevant modern Architects, and Artists whose work has been influenced by Architecture.

GUIDELINES: 

• Ensure you begin the project with a range of high quality observational drawings. Good line drawings are particularly valuable as they reproduce well and can be used as a starting point for more experimental collage and mixed media work.
• Make the most of the trip, it is essential that you gather a rich and diverse body of imagery from the day. In addition to a sketchbook and basic drawing materials you will need to bring a camera (if you do not own one, borrow one or arrange to loan one from college).
• After the trip it is important that you process photographs within 2 days, as any delay will hinder your progress in the project.
• Once you have got your imagery you will need to be inventive and experimental in developing responses to it. Consider the following approaches: 

1. Line Drawing
2. Photocopying
3. Tonal Drawing
4. Painting
5. Integrating Text
6. Paint Transfer
7. 3D Maquettes
8. PhotoShop
9. Photo Montage
10. Collage
11. Mixed Media
12. Acetate Overlays
13. Monoprinting
14. Relief (gold card) printing
15. Film/animation
16. Sewing
17. Spray Stencils
18. Heat transfer

• Imagery derived from modern Architecture lends itself towards abstraction, try zooming in on shapes, overlaying them, repeating and rotating them to develop interesting compositions.
• Be thoughtful in your use of colour, subtle neutral colours can be very effective, and may be more in keeping with your Architectural sources.
• Once you find an approach/idea that has potential you need to explore it thoroughly in a range of studies before attempting to resolve it in a final piece.
• You will need to develop 2 outcomes, these can either be closely related pieces (where the second outcome is almost like a development of the first piece), or radically different (for example a painting and a sculpture). The important thing is that all your ideas are developed through a clear process of visual investigation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

You will be marked on how effectively you:

• Observe and record from primary sources.
• Demonstrate resourcefulness in gathering appropriate source imagery.
• Develop your observational studies through experimentation with media and mark-making.
• Generate ideas through purposeful investigation.
• Demonstrate inventiveness and skill in the handling of materials.
• Select and resolve compositions.
• Research and present information and imagery related to the project.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Sketchbook including observational drawing, photography, developmental studies and research material.
• A fully resolved project outcome (can be either 2D or 3D).
• Word-processed project evaluation (500-800 words).

(For additional guidance on submission requirements and evaluation see separate sheet)

REFERENCES:

Architects:  Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, Nicholas Grimshaw, Frank Gehry, Cesar Pelli, Mario Botta, Renzo Piano, Shigeru Ban, Daniel Libeskind, Santiago Calatrava. 

Artists:  Lyonel Feininger, Maria Elena Vieira da Silva, Charles Demuth, Charles Sheeler, Naum Gabo, Ben Johnson, David Hepher, Richard Galpin, Carla Klein, Brendan Neiland, Robert Rauschenberg.

WEB LINKS:

www.artcyclopedia.com/                                         www.GreatBuildings.com/gbc.html

www.artnet.com/                                                       www.archinet.co.uk/index.html

Fashion Photography Shoot - Ellen

These are a couple of the photos I quite liked from the fashion shoot I did for my piece. I'm pretty happy with the outcome to be honest seeing as I really seriously insanely dislike taking fancy photos :D

Also check out my blog! http://weareallmadeofgold.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy New Year, project update.

Happy New Year everyone, I hope you have all had a great Christmas and festive break. I'm looking forward to seeing you back at college tomorrow. In order to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to finish the Recycled Fashion project to a really high standard we will dedicate the remainder of this week to any final touches and improvements you need to make and writing your evaluations. Remember you also need a really good Photoshoot of your final garment, so if that needs completion you have a few more days to organise it, I'm hoping to see some really impressive and professional images!
So the deadline for the Fashion project will be the end of your last lesson on Friday at 3.00pm. We will launch the new Architecture project at the beginning of next week.
Evaluation guidance for your Fashion project is posted below:

Recycled Fashion Evaluation

In order to pass this project you must complete a word processed evaluation of 500-800 words, discussing the following ……

• What object and garment did you get to work with?
• How did the development of your Prezi help in understanding the possibilities offered by your object. What sources did you access in researching your object and garment?
• Did you enjoy working in Prezi? What challenges did this programme present?
• In what other ways did you respond to and investigate your object? (e.g. photography and drawing)
• Who were you collaborating with? How did you share tasks? Do you think you communicated effectively together? Did you find this collaboration helpful?
• Which designers did you look at? What appealed to you about their work?
• What did you learn from looking at the designers work? Did their work influence your own garment designs later in the project?
• What were your first ideas for your garment design? Did these bear much relation to your final solution?
• What was it that appealed to you about the fashion illustrators you chose to research and respond to?
• What did you learn from recreating the styles of the illustrators you looked at, and how did this help you to understand the techniques employed in fashion illustration?
• How did you go about creating your own fashion illustrations – what processes did you employ in developing your final images? Describe how you used photography to style them initially and what you did to get them to a high standard.
• Which Fashion Photographers did you research? What appealed to you about their work?
• Describe the process you went through to create your initial 3 garment designs, and how you decided upon the one you chose to make.
• What elements of your original garment did you retain and what was added/taken away?
• What materials and techniques did you employ in the production of your final garment and what problems did you encounter along the way?
• Discuss your final photoshoot, how did you style your garment? Mention aspects such as make up, props, location, models, postures, lighting, composition.
• Do you feel your final garment will work well with your collaborators? Did you maintain good communication throughout the project?
• How do you think your piece will look on the catwalk and what will you need to do to style it properly in preparation for this?
• What do you regard as the most and least successful aspects of your project?
• How well did you manage your time and what you would do differently if you did this project again?