FMP - Photomanipulation

So, it has only been two weeks, but this project has already undergone several transformations. This weekend, I need to figure out how to tie all of these threads together into a coherent trail of thought.

I’m also setting up video interviews next week - both for research purposes, and also to display as part of the final installation. Speaking of, at least I have finally decided on what form this project will ultimately take - that of an installation. I’ll be drafting the questions to ask during the interviews as well this weekend.

Shown in this post are two images - one from the student protests back in 2011 (of which I was a part - feels like a lifetime ago now), and the same image broken down into what I felt were the consituent parts of a protest:

• Protestors - Purple

• Placards - Red

• Police/Stewards/First responders - Blue

• Members of the public - Dark Grey

• Physical structural boundaries - Yellow

FMP - Journal Covers

So, this is the end of FMP Week 1.

I’ve brought quite a few books back with me to read over the rest of today and tomorrow (I know I’m not going to get through them all this weekend). The general themes of the books are “community”, “space”, “gender”, “architecture”, “design” & socio-political analyses thereof. Through reading these books, I’m hoping that I can understand & help form a narrative for my project - which is loosely based around the theme of “community”: - what is it, what defines it, how does it come to pass, how does it manifest, how does it react/act/live/die, how does it evolve, along with many more un-asked and as yet un-answered questions.

This, coupled with the beginnings of demographic research I’ve collated (on advice of a tutor), will hopefully allow me to create a set of reasonably believable characters who will be followed along a journey, or perhaps shown in various, select situations along said journey. I’m currently thinking of setting this out in the style of a retrospective to be shown at a gallery or (future) museum exhibit, just preferably not as dull.

Next week I will need to try and wrap up the heavy reading, extrapolating & dreaming up the blanks in knowledge should any blanks remain. Subsequently, I’ll need to begin image research, which will help facilitate a lot more sketching; and I’ll also need to research electronics. It has been a while since I’ve played with any.

3DD - Photoshoot

I finally managed to get the photography studio booked for Wednesday morning. I took a selection of what I felt are my better models done so far this year in to get some proper shots of them. Colin Jackson - our studio photographer - provided much needed lighting advice and technical expertise, as I have little experience with studio photography (as you’ll note from a previous entry).

I also asked his advice for setting up some lighting shots of myself, and he took amazing shots of me with the lighting in question. I’ll upload those at a later date.

Next time I have the photography studio booked, hopefully I won’t be so nervous, and actually be willing to play around with the equipment myself. I’m not sure whether the fact that all the equipment is so expensive that makes me so nervous, or the lack of experience. Maybe both.

3DD - Skin + Bones

The biggest problem I encountered this week was not finding what I felt was a suitable final outcome.

We started the week off with some more workshop time - experimenting with different methods of sculpting. I also investigated dying plaster - using violet ink dye. The result was certainly different. I also harvested the skins, although I didn’t get a chance to use them in the end.

I made a clay model of my first design for the central structure - intending to use the model as a base to warp acrylic around (using a heat gun). However, I was not happy with the final shape, and the clay would have taken too long to dry out. Still, it is an interesting structure, just not useful for this project.

Running out of time and ideas, I went back to basics and sketched out a central “spine” for the structure on the train. I also came up with the laser cutting plan as well. Why laser cutting? To ensure uniformity & provide a cleaner, easier, adhesion using solvent (which has no gap-filling ability at all). It was also a lot quicker than cutting the pieces individually.

I used couched nylon w/ interfacing to provide the exterior “shroud”, however I am not happy with the shapes of the shroud. I am quite pleased with the central spine though.

Where did January go?

That is it. We have our final non-graded assessment next week (mine is on Monday), and we hand in our proposal for the Final Major Project (the graded one which decides whether or not we get into our chosen undergraduate degree).

We have 10 weeks (+ 2 week Easter Break - unofficially) to get this project done. I need to brainstorm this tomorrow, as right now, I am absolutely knackered.

3DD - Skin + Bones

Silicon! Pink Strawberry Silicon!

Pink - well, it is pink. Strawberry? It smelt like strawberry syrup.

Picking up from the failure to create a uniform sheet of skin (out of copydex) to play with, I turned to silicon.

For timeframe reference, I did the copydex experimentation on Tuesday & Wednesday, the London Trip was on Thursday, & the silicon experimentation I did on Friday morning.

With help from Sim (the sculpture tutor & tech), I sorted out a roughly A1 sized silicon sheet that will hopefully be roughly uniform come Monday.

3DD - Skin + Bones

Ahahaha.

Copydex.

Experimentation… well, I wouldn’t say that it was an abject failure. My intention was to create a skin of copydex which I could then play with. First, I used an old skirt (you may recognise it as formally being attached to a cheongsam, or wait, did I blog about that?), and coated the inside of that with a layer of copydex. I fully intended to peel it off, but it kinda soaked into the fabric…

Experiment 2. Same principal, I wanted to have a sheet of copydex/skin to play with. So I bought a nice big A1 acetate sheet to use as a base, and basically emptied an entire bottle of copydex onto it. I left it to set. The resultant sheet isn’t exactly uniform, but I’ll figure out a use for it. (The cured sheet isn’t pictured… yet).

3DD - Skin + Bones

One cool thing that happened last week was the acid etching workshop. First time I’ve played with a CuSO(4) solution since… well a long time ago. We used Zn as the etching plate, although we also have access to Cu & Al plates. (Cu is obscenely expensive though now, Al is cheap but the etch is a bit messier).

This was the process:

1. Pick up Zn plate, and using Brasso, give it a good polish

2. Use cream cleaner to get rid of the grease

3. Rinse with water - there should be no surface resistance

4. Place Zn plate on the hot surface

5. Apply hard wax (can also use soft depending on the desired etch)
   

6. Use roller to provide smooth, even coating onto the Zn surface, moving the Zn to the cooler surface when necessary to aid process

7. Get a sharp implement, and etch away at the wax until you’ve obtained the desired image

8. Apply tape, or some other protectant to the back of the plate (to prevent it from corroding)

9. Place the plate in the solution/etching bath for the desired time (wearing appropriate protection - in this case full-face goggle mask & thick gloves)
   

10. Remove, rinse off etching solution, check etching depth.

11. Repeat process if necessary, adding “paint-out” or “block-out” (basically varnish) to areas of the etch which do not require further oxidation.

12. Use white spirits & methylated spirits to clean the plate post-etch.

Afterwards, Georgia (another student) kindly showed me how to create a print out of the etch.

• Chamfer the edges of the plate to a 45 degree angle (etch up)
  

• Apply sparingly a coat of block ink, then wipe off the excess

• Place onto the press, followed by the print paper, then then a layer of thinner paper, and then the mats.

• Gently turn the handle.

• Remove the print.
  

That was a really busy week...

…and yet I feel like I got nothing done? Eh?

Things that happened last week:

• 3DD Trip to London

• Acid Etching & Printing Workshop

• Architecture Applicant Day

• Exhibition Opening & Fashion Show

• Played with Copydex

• Played with Silicon

• Mounted research images

• A little bit of sketching… !

That last one is why I feel like I got nothing done. As I don’t know what my final product/outcome is going to be, and I need to be able to hit the ground running on Monday morning. The only thing I know for certain, is that I’m going to be using silicon as part of the final design. Today is going to be a sketch-a-thon.

Also, all of my previous project work is a mess… I am not looking forward to sorting this all out next weekend. *gulp*