FINAL OUTCOMES ARCHITECTURE PROJECT

 3D Book Illustration 

Project Outcomes:

As you complete the Collage stage you should start thinking ahead towards planning your project outcome. The format of this is entirely down to you, it just needs to be inspired and visually informed by Modern Architecture.

In the past we've had paintings, large scale mixed media work, sculpture, series of prints, animations, graphic magazines, books of illustrations, garments, jewellery!

It makes sense to produce an outcome in the area you intend to specialise in next year (if you know what this will be) as this will be of more value to your portfolio for application to Higher Education. The piece might be an extension of things we have already tackled in the project (a more ambitious collage or drawing for example) or it might explore an altogether different creative area.

There should be clear planning for your final piece in your sketchbook, so this means both annotation and imagery outlining your intentions. The nature of the imagery will depend on what you are planning, but it could take the form of painted studies, fashion illustrations, trial page layouts, photos of 3D maquettes or many other things.

Everyone should make sure they have the following in their sketchbooks:

• 2 Mood-boards containing:

ideas of things to inspire you - artists' work, things within design that show  techniques and construction methods you aspire to
Information on the techniques that you will need-  colours, swatches, and ideas of techniques and possible processes to use.

You should be aiming to complete this planning (over several sketchbook pages) over the next few lessons, so that we are ready to start working on project outcomes in earnest on Monday. If you have particular material requirements for your final piece (e.g. Canvases, fabric for garments)You will need to speak to technicians then you will need to talk to them today.  Start organizing all  these things now.  It is your responsibility to make sure your project get's off to the easiest, most productive start. 

As you begin work on outcomes next week remember to record your progress so you can include photos and imagery of the creative journey you take with this piece. A diary of make is essential. 

ARCHITECTURE CHECKLIST BEFORE DEVELOPMENT BEGINS...

 Digital Collage

So to recap on what you should have before you embark on development/realisation of your project outcomes:

• 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 careful pencil tonal drawing from your College photos (this should represent at least 3 hours work). 
• Minimum of one or more full page precise linear drawing using fine liner. 
• 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.
• Contact sheets of your London Photographs.
• A range of your best London shots at A5 or A4 included in your sketchbook.
• At least one A4/A3 sustained and detailed monoprint based on a London photograph.
• A detailed A3 Gold Card based on London, cut and printed.
• A monoprint onto collage image
• An A4 carbon print from a complex London image.
• A set of timed expressive drawings.
• Photocopier experiments with your drawings (inverts, blue prints).
• Research into at least one Artist who uses paper engineering in their work, references here http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/02/papercraft-creative-paper-art-design-sculpture/
• "Paper City" photos - include contact sheets and larger versions of your best shots. 
• Produce a range of mixed media Collages (4 or more) making use of the bank of Architecture based printing, drawing and photography you have accumulated and adding paint, coloured papers, acetate overlays, text etc.
• 2 pages of research into one Collage/mixed media Artist (see previous post below for names).

COLLAGE WORK ARCHITECTURE

Some examples from previous students.

By the end of Wednesday 30th you should have created 4 (or more) mixed media collages. Use your existing Architecture imagery as the basis for this - prints, photos and drawings. Try manipulating them on the photocopier or through Photoshop too. Combine this imagery with the additional collage ingredients supplied - coloured papers, stickers, tape, squared/graph paper, raffle tickets etc. 

A few pointers:

• Inclusion of text, numbers and symbols can be very effective.
• Using strong focal points (e.g. a larger image of a particular building) often helps your collages becoming too fragmented.
• As well as papers you might work back into your collages with paint, spray stencils, pens etc.
• Along with addition be aware that subtraction can be a key part of the collage process. If your images become overcrowded using areas of plain papers or white paint can be an effective way of freshening up your piece. Careful consideration about the retention of areas of space as you make the collage is another way to do this.
• As with other images we have created this year producing a composition with balance that leads the viewer's eye as you intend is the ideal. Repetition of colours or symbols can help achieve this, along with strong directional elements.

Supporting Research

To inform your own collage experiments you should look at the work of all the following Artists/Designers who use collage techniques in creating their work. 

Once you have familiarised yourself with their work choose one of the Artists whose work is illustrated below and produce 2 pages of research into their practice. As usual obtain several good reproductions of their work, provide some background information and analyse at least 2 images in depth, identifying what media are being used and commenting on how they are being handled is particularly important. 
Discuss ideas such as:

Use of materials- how do you think they have produced this image?
What makes their marks, technique interesting?
What combination of materials and techniques are they using?
Can you describe the use of space, composition, form and use of colour within this work?
How does the eye travel around the piece?  What parts are you drawn to and why?
How have they made the architecture theme 

Richard Galpin

Martin O'Neill

Robert Rauschenberg

Nazario Graziano

Tim Marrs

Architecture Update

So having been to London we now have the imagery to branch out and create some really exciting work. From what I have seen you all have some excellent photography 

In addition to the work from the College Architecture (and the Architect research) from Week one (see earlier post) these are the things you should be completing by the end of Wednesday 23rd January:

• Print out contact sheets of your London Photographs.
• Print out a range of your best shots at A5 or A4 for inclusion in the sketchbook.
• Complete at least one A4 or A3 sustained and detailed monoprint based on a London photograph.
• Cut and print a detailed A3 Gold Card plate.
• Complete an ambitious A4 carbon print from a complex London image.
• In preparation for the paper city work we will do later this week or next   you need to research at least one Artist who uses paper engineering in their work, there are a range of names you could find out more about in this article http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/02/papercraft-creative-paper-art-design-sculpture/

Also ...

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 careful pencil tonal drawing from your College photos (this should represent at least 3 hours work). Choose a complex composition that will challenge you.
• Minimum of one full page precise linear drawing using fine liner. 
• A set of rapid expressive drawings - we will complete these as a class exercise.
• Photocopier experiments with your drawings (inverts, blueprints).

ARCHITECTURE WEEK 1 BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Architecture Project Week 1

Before the trip on Friday you should all begin to start 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 careful pencil tonal drawing from your College photos (this should represent at least 3 hours work). Choose a complex composition that will challenge you.

For this project you will need:

• Cameras (with plenty of battery and memory capacity, also USB download cables or card readers if you have them).
• Memory sticks/online space for saving your photos, save on Onedrive.
• Money for a new sketchbook (or purchase online) - A3 generally best for this project.
• Drawing media - pencils, fineliners, biros, erasers etc.
• Printing/photocopying credit.

ARCHITECTURE PROJECT

BTEC Extended Diploma 1^ST YEAR PROJECT BRIEF.

PROJECT:  Architectural Forms

TIME:  6 Weeks + Half Term

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 "Walkie-Talkie", Tower 42, The "Cheese Grater", The Lloyds Building, 1 Canada Square as well as Norman Foster’s “Gherkin” , British Museum Courtyard 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 print 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. As a group we will produce some printmaking and collage based images, but we would encourage you experiment widely with a range of 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 and realise an original and ambitious outcome. The outcome needs to express the Architectural theme in some way but the form is entirely of your choosing - it could be anything from a painting to a garment to a piece of animation. Your outcome should be clearly developed through a process of visual investigation and experimentation with your chosen media. 

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.
• Word-processed project evaluation (500-800 words).

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

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