Exploratory 2 Work

Development One

My first thoughts after receiving the brief and deciding which piece to take forward were to try and explore the different work shops again. I began by turning my original ink sketch into a screen print; increasing it in scale and exploring colour. The prints I thought were the most successful are in the second image and my favourite print is the third image down. I thought that the colours worked really well in terms of contrast and they also link with the skeleton and create connotations of halloween.

 

Development Two

After my screen print I decided to take full advantage of the print room and work on a lino cut. I wanted to explore more of the skeleton rather than just the torso and also work in a more clean way rather than abstractly. I wanted to print to be completely clean and it to just be the skeleton printed onto the background but as you can see I didn't cut away around the edge of the skeleton enough and I was left with cut lines. However I don't really mind these that much and I think it adds more texture and depth to the prints. Again, I wanted to experiment with colour so I used colours that would contrast well and that had links with skeletons, for example the skeleton on the red background provides connotations of death. 

 

Development Three

Following my print work I wanted to go into the 3D workshop. I wanted to continue the expansion of the skeleton and this time create the whole thing. I started off creating a smaller proto-type wire skeleton before creating a larger one. I don't feel like these worked out as well as I wanted them to, however I think the rib cage worked well on both and this is what I decided to take forwards.  

Development Four

For my next piece I wanted to just focus on the rib cage and go back to working more abstractly. I continued working in the 3D workshop but using a different material - acrylic. I wanted to create a larger sculpture based on a rib cage and I did some initial sketch ideas in my sketch book. I chose to use clear acrylic as I felt I had explored colour and wanted to return to the lack of a colour a skeleton has. This piece was inspired by artists I had researched such as April Wagner and Christian Ristow. 

Development Five

I was struggling for inspiration on how to develop my rib cage sculpture but then Vishal looked at it and said it was like armour and tried it on his arm. This then gave me the idea to create rib cage inspired jewellery such as bangles and rings. I used the same design as I used for my sculpture but on a smaller scale and I would again experiment with colour. I created one bangle and three rings, all of which I was very happy with. I made the rings to fit my fingers and my wrist, which now looking back was a bit of a mistake as I have rather thin wrists and fingers so the pieces didn't really fit others that wanted to try them on. 

Development Six (presentation)

I wanted to make it clear that my pieces were supposed to be jewellery because when they were sat on my desk they just looked like mini sculptures. I decided to buy a cardboard model of a hand and then paint it showing the bones inside the hand to present my rings on to. I intended to present my bangle around the wrist of the model as well however as I said before I made it quite small and it didn't fit onto it. 

Self Assessment

Have you worked outside of the studio? I have worked both inside and outside of the studio using the print room and the 3D workshop. 

Have you moved between 2D and 3D? Yes I have explored 2D in terms of print work and 3D using wire and acrylic. 

Have you experimented with scale? Yes I have created a large rib cage sculpture and much smaller rib cage rings with other sized pieces of work in between. 

Have you been using your journal as a way of recording your journey through the project? Yes I have been using it and my sketchbook to record my decision making and development process. 

Have you linked the work you are making to the work of other artists? Yes I have explored other artists and used their influence in my work. I initially explored a variety of artists that looked at skeletons and then did further research when I began looking at jewellery. 

What have you learnt about your way of working, time management skills and use of materials? I have learnt that I can get bored of one thing quite easily and I need to keep developing to keep myself motivated, that I like working in 3D a lot more than I thought I did (I had only worked in 2D before this foundation year). I've learnt that I struggle with time management in terms of written work and in terms of materials, I came on this course thinking I was a painter, however I have not used paint at all all as the basis of my piece in this project. 

How many new pieces of work have you made? Does the number constitute a 'body' of work? I have created over 10 screen prints, over 8 lino prints, 2 wire sculptures and 5 acrylic sculptures. 

Have you re-read the brief? Yes and in answer to the questions on there, I have worked in 2D and 3D, I have experimented with materials, colour, texture and surface, and scale, I have made full use of the facilities, I have researched artists and I have documented my work.