Exploring mark-making and the 3D object

Using my favourite outcomes from the mark-making exercise last term, I have created a series of 3D objects. 

Choosing: 

Paired with: 

Update, Easter and.....lighting?!?

We break up for Easter today and you know what, I'm ready for it! It's felt a long term. There's been lots to think about and prepare for. The weather at the moment is horrible too, it's Spring, and SNOWING - what?!

All of that aside though, I felt like I've had a good few weeks. Here's what I've been up to...

latex sampling and my very cluttered workspace!

latex and lighting?

an interesting new fruit to me Eddoes

I liked the texture and the form, it worked well with some of my samples

I bought a melon too

lovely markings

that texture is just delicious!

I found half a fan cover in the freecycle space at uni - why pick it up? to latex it of course!

or use it to draw into?

texture left on latex as it was drying on a sheet of greaseproof, the crease lines are lovely!

2 part slipcasting moulds

a latex mould of the eddoes

to work as a light bulb/cover?

Over the break I have a few things planned...

I'm booked on to the symposium Marking The Line: Ceramics and Architecture, heading over to the Pitt Rivers Museum for some drawing, attending the Living In Threads exhibition and Erik Kessels: Album Beauty. I'm also booked on to a Trend Forecasting Workshop with Trend Boutique - should be a fun couple of weeks!

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