Tutorial 15/04/2008

• Progressing well with a new confidence
• Remember to keep difference within the collections to show range and diversity
• Grids- Introduce own printed grids, lines, stripes and cheques instead of using graph paper
• Introduce Fabric pieces, cottons etc... these can be used to collage with and add more depth within work
• P.I well underway, start to edit down
• Update C.V and promo materials, business cards etc..

Business Card designs

Experimenting with Fabric

I made the decision that I would finally begin to introduce some fabric pieces into my work to show range and diversity within my portfolio. I have always been a predominantly paper based person so fabric is something new to me and this was quite exciting. As I had already prepared 2 screens bursting with imagery I started to print onto some cream fabrics such as Canvas and Silks and i really liked them. To take these to another level i began to experiment with disperse papers to add flashes of colour, I thought it would be quite interesting to add some thin blue stripes to mimic the graph paper I had been using within my designs. I like the idea of creating my own stripes, pin stripes, checks and even spotted fabrics which I will then print over. Here are some images of my fabric pieces which I have used to collage with...

Giftwrap Sollution

More work....

It was mentioned in my tutorialn that I should maybe photography my 6 books and use the front numbered covers as a design in itself. I really liked this idea and feel it would make a great contemporary giftwrap or wall panel. Here are some photographs..
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Formal Interim Critique & Feedback

• Studio practice is developing well into final portfolio collection well/needs to speed up.

Developing well with some highly personal solutions in the form of 'book art'- do now think about the degree show and exactly what you hope to acheive and show.

• Clear Personal concept evident.

Good clear strong concept becoming stronger with more reasoning.

• Clear vision for work progress- through final collections and degree show/ more focus/planning needed.

You know this will be paper products and artist books solutions but do be ambitious and produce some larger pieces- A2 pieces/wall panels. This will show more range

• Personal organisation, time management and attendance is good/needs improving.

Very good throughout the module- continue to show this level of commitment and planning for final works.

• Recording and Planning for Personal Interpretation module is underway/needs improvement.

This should be underway, recording and evaluating your practice and methodology regulary- check and dicuss at next tutorial.

• Technical Innovation/ substrate awareness is good/innappropriate.

Your book ideas are progressing well but do explore producing some ideas for just paper prints as we discussed.

• Contextual awareness and its relationship to practice is sound and appropriate/ needs further investigation/research.

Do continue to research this area- other book artists and think about other possibilities for the work- gift wrap/ cards etc..

• Verbal presentation clear and confident/needs more practice and thinking through.

Good presentation with confidence, do try to articulate positively throughout, have your work in logical order- label these to remind if this helps but generally fine.

• Further Comments....

You have some lovely pieces, now perhaps slow down a little and reflect on what has been produced and whether this works well or not. Decide on your final collections of work- Aim to achieve diversity and range, scale, complexity etc..

Screen Number 2...

Today I decided to prepare a new screen to introduce new imagery. I have been inspired by my research into victorian floral symbolism and the brushes that I made in photoshop a few weeks earlier. I decided to put numerous designs onto the new screen which included a newly drawn "over growing" garden image which didnt work on the previous screen, this image is a3 in size (narrow) This will be used to print some strong simple full designs which I will then work back into and possibly repeat. I have also added some of the imagery I produced within photoshop (relating to symbolism) to add more interest to my work and allow me to layer imagery, examples can be seen below

Brian Dettmer "Book Autopsies"

Whilst searching the internet for research and inspiration about artist books I stumbled upon the work of Brian Dettmer. His pieces are amazing and so incredibly technical and advanced, I havent seen anything like them before. He carves into the books and treats them like one off artifacts, carefuly cutting in to reveal the imagery inside and extremely complex layered 3dimensional sculptures. This has inspired me to be more technical and daring with my books, I like the idea of cutting out words and playing around with them, cutting out big sections etc...

Here are some examples of his amazing pieces...

PRINT!

For the past 2 days I have been in college making full use of the print room as it is quiet. Using my screen I have been printing my imagery onto book pages, cream papers, graph paper and squared paper using black ink and later on I introduced a deep green which I am not too keen on. I am very happy with the work that I have produced on the last 2 days and I feel that I am getting back into the swing of things. I also tried experimenting with introducing colour with disperse paper on the heatpress, this worked well and I shall be using this again. I introduced a colour palette inspired by my old books..dusky pale pink, grey/blue, lilac, orange and a moss green.
I tried to print over the cover of my RSPCA Guide to birdwatching book which looks great, I will be using this to reconstruct the book using the pages with printed imagery onto it.

Here are a few images of my work produced, Print and Heatpress

the printed cover...