Specialism, Latex and layers layers layers...

In preparation for Third Year (eeek!) we have started on a self directed project. 

The Brief: 12 Week Project. 

Produce a range of experimental, playful and explorative work that investigates: 

Your chosen specialist use of material techniques and processes to produce finished outcomes.
Your chosen mean of production: bespoke, batch or mass production.Your chosen context of work: Gallery, high street, high-end retail, commission, display, public, domestic etc.

Initially wanting to continue with what I had been investigating in my last project, I made the decision today to embark along a new line of questioning...I started to think about what it is that interests me in terms of design/art/culture, what it is that has driven my research thus far and looking back to all I have thought about and experimented with before. 

I felt that an exploratory process led project was key, so, with an interest in the construction and deconstruction of an object; the notion of decay as a result of natural process, and the intention of an object being placed within a space (I'm constantly drawn to installation so why hide away from it?) I am looking to produce a range of objects that explore the ideas of layering, material investigation and juxtaposition of surface/form.

Through a process of initial exploration, then to mould making, casting and reconstruction, I will explore the chosen materials in their widest sense and develop an understanding of the objects I have created.

Using mould making as a process to inform batch production, I will look to its ability to cast across different materials and create a number of outcomes to assess for installation within a chosen platform/gallery/site specific space.

I started by exploring latex. I have never used the material before and still with in an interest in wrapping/concealing/layering I thought it would be a good starting point. Here are some of my initial experiments: 

samples drying with altered surface texture, bubble wrap, netting, egg box 

stretching over forms to distort and layer

using a framework to create structure

Alongside this I have been developing a better relationship with my sketchbook. I don't feel like I've been using it to its full potential on this course and after an inspiring session on visual research last week it really got me thinking about how I could do that.

I'm a keen collector of paper/found object and have boxes of the stuff at home just sitting there. They have moved house with me time after time and I just cant face to throw them away ("you never know when you're going to need them", right?) So, I figured that in terms of this project and what I want to get out of it, I would start exploring what it is about these objects that make me want to pick them up in the first place!? 


I looked back through some old photographs and realised that I had amassed a lot on compositional decay. I chose these particular two as a starting point:

and notice that they both contain circles! Sifting through more images, more circles appeared, so I started looking through my boxes of treasured papers and these popped out:

I then set myself the task of picking up all that jumped out at me on the way to uni today and assembled a few things before my tutorial:

This was an interesting activity - very reactive. It reminded me a little of the Streetcombing Project by Margo Weijer and is something I would like to keep up. 

I feel that the project has real scope overall and these two strands of discovery could be very good for one another. I am going to further my explorations this week by creating a variety of structures to pull and stretch the latex over. I'll update on progress in about a week.

Assessment time...

...Again!? 

It's been a busy time during this project, I've made a visits to Interiors UK and the Surface & Design Show. Both were interesting events, if only for the new designers and lecture tents!

So, 1, 10, 1000, what's been happening? Well, mould-making has been a key part to this project, and an exploration of form....

I began by looking to secondhand figurines and through a concept of wrapping, started to bind them with layers of videotape. I chose this material, as I did the figurines, for their throwaway and secondhand nature. With a mind on sustainable practice and the choice of material for production, I was considering all that was readily available to me.

Continuing with the idea of throwaway, I used plastic bags to inform the shapes and masters of my moulds. It was with these that I developed plaster casts and samples, and made a number of good and bad mistakes!

The casting of plaster in the bags gave a whole new dimension to the shapes both inside and out. This has given me some ideas for my next project, more on that later though... 

So, after a process of casting and editing, I found my masters and went to work on a 4-part plaster mould for slip casting. My first attempt was disasterous, one big block of plaster with a plastic bag stuck inside of it - eeek!? Second attempt, with some technical help was much more successful and I was on my way to creating my 'batch'.

mould and master

4 part split mould, master and sponge(!)

slipcasts of varying thickness

slipcasts with black slip, inside and out for contrast

I am pleased with the outcome of my slip-casts in terms of form; however feel that with more time I would have liked to have developed a range of glazes. These would enhance their overall appearance and potentially open up a new dialogue in which to explore. 

In addition to the slipcast moulds I have made some silicone with jacket moulds that I intend to use for lost wax casting in glass. 

I have found this project a 'frustrating-at-times-but-overall-enjoyable' one. I feel that my mould-making skills have improved, or my understanding of them has at least, and I look forward to seeing the influence that it will have on my future work. 

In terms of the next project, I see this one as an active spring board for it. We begin a 12 week self-explorative project as of Monday and I note the process of casting, forming, changing, altering and dismantling as key informants of my current thinking. I am mindful of the idea of a casting photocopier whereby each time a form is cast, then remodelled to cast again in can change and alter its shape until it becomes 10 times removed from its initial form. This process excites me and has real scope for material development and exploration. I hope to keep a bit more on top of my updates next project a perhaps commit to a few less things. 

Space set up for assessment showcasing (clockwise from top left);
plaster models, silicone with jacket moulds, wax casts,
4 part plaster mould, slip casts, dipped slip experiment with upholstery foam,
vacuum formed open mould from 1st failed silicone mould

Sketchcrawling in Sheffield

I joined the Sketch Crawl North group in Sheffield yesterday for a day of wandering, coffee, food and drawing. I stumbled across the group through the Urban Sketchers network and was excited to see what a sketchcrawl was like. It took me back to being in Spain, even though it was many degrees cooler, and I realised that sharing some drawing time with a group of people was just what I'd been missing! 

So, with the snow outside and the company of fellow enthusiasts inside, here's what we got up to... 

Starting off with a coffee in Cafe Nero

We drew before taking in a visit to the Millenium Galleries

Then it was lunch at the Frog & Parrot

Where I saved this newsprint that was resting under my chips!
I thought it would be good to use for collage in another drawing sometime, sauce marks and all!

Wine, tables and of course some Sheffield Cutlery!

Then a final stop at the Showroom before sharing our day of mark making with one another.

It was a really great day! Very nice to meet another bunch of enthusiastic scribblers and I'll be looking to attend as many meets like this as I can throughout the year, thank you Sketch Crawl North!

New Year, New Project

It's nearing the end of my Christmas break and in between seeing friends and family I've been thinking about my upcoming project. Today I made a mood board of some of the objects, ideas and images that have been inspiring me:

I've been looking a lot at the work of Christo and wondering how I might apply the techniques he has used to that of leather. I will be using the words wrapping, binding, stretching and forming in this project to explore the properties of materials and ideas.

When visiting Nottingham Castle a few months ago, I noticed that they had a applied a similar Christo-technique to their outer statues as part of the LaceWorks exhibition: 

They are be no means as successful as any of his monument works:

and it is this attention to shape and form that I wish to apply to my designs.

As part of my visual research, I will be considering;

broken busts, 

mummified feet,

surface manipulation

and textural form

I wish to consider sustainability, through working with objects that are often thrown away and through a process of concealing, wrapping and reforming look to be creating an exciting new range of objects and experiments.

1, 10, 1000

With term one finishing today and a 4 week break ahead of me, it's time for some down time.  During the break however I will be thinking about the next project: 1, 10, 1000. 

I have planned a visit to London new week to do some visual research at the British Museum. The Design Museum has an interesting jewellery show on as well so I'm looking forward to seeing that too, post to follow.

So, The Brief: 1, 10, 1000 

6 Week Project 

You Must Chose to Produce finished work using one of three approaches below that you feel most suits you and your ambitions: 

Bespoke: Individual Artworks or Commissions, produced for individuals or a high end gallery/museum context.

Batch: Produced small volume of a similar object or range, produced for a high retail or craft gallery context. 

Mass Produced: object produced using manufacturing techniques that may be produced in large volumes by others people rather than yourself, aimed at a more mass market consumer/retail outlet.
All the above approaches have their pros and cons, which you will need to explore.

However all the approaches require you to undertake some exhaustive market research. The market must be explored in its widest sense, not just as an outlet but as an indicator of trends, innovation, customer motivation and future developments. Through analytical market research, you will identify a potential product for a viable commercial outlet in contemporary design.
Apart from the Market the theme of this project is entirely up to you; remember soon you will have to generate your own brief, idea and concept. So think carefully about a theme which will really get you excited. 

The Process:

You will undertake one of four specialist workshops that are designed to develop your specialist skills and assist with production of work for this project.

You will also carry out personal development of outcomes including: sampling and prototyping in appropriate workshops.

You will produce Market research that shows a consideration of outlet/market place, trend and fashion, product analysis, costing and price points and sustainability issues.

Initially, I'm drawn towards Batch and have opted for leather as my specialist workshop. I'm interested in exploring its properties and taking it outside of it's normal working methods. I'm interested in lighting, porcelain and leather combined. This feels exciting and I'm interested to see the outcome of it through experiments.

Graduation, Dogs and Papers!

It was my sister's Graduation from Sheffield Hallam last week and because I knew it was going to be a long ceremony, I decided to take my sketchbook! Here's the day in marks:

the audience sat

listening to violins

we were welcomed

applauded honorary doctorates

listened to speeches

then some more

before we sat and watched

the graduates walk the stage in their hundreds!

Our weekend continued with lots of time for dogs and papers, 

So as willing life models, here's the family:

Dave

Chris and Dave

Mike

Nic and Dave

Dad

George, Jasper and Nic

and the beautiful floppy eared Jasper up close!