CC: Closure II

This is how I plan for the book to look when closed.

The book will consist of four covers, one at the top, one at the bottom and two in the middle, these will work with the folds in the spine located at the back of the book to open in a similar manner to an engagement ring box. The maroon and gold layers seen in the above design are the covers and the cream layers will be the edges of the pages. 

I will be using a binding method which I have not previously used for this book called "perfect binding", this involves each page of the book being separate instead of being grouped in to signatures. I will then place the pages in to a book press and carve across the side where the spine will be, this allows the glue to penetrate deeper in to the paper and form a stronger bind. I will then add a second layer of glue to the spine and stick a layer of paper on to it which will fold round to make the top and bottom pages of the book and leave it in the book press over night to dry. 

As I am planning to carve in to the middle of both book layers I will need to stick the pages together, however I would like to only stick them together in the centre around the edges of each cut line, this will keep the cut area neat and together but leave the pages free at the edges to keep the piece looking clean and moveable. I will then stitch through the pages from one cover board to the next with fishing wire to keep the pages together so that the box opens properly. 

I will be making a prototype over the next week to test each of the above methods, more pictures and posts as this develops. 

CC: Closure

So, we have a new project at last and its slightly different to any other project I have had before due to the fact we don't have a fully set brief, part of it will be made up by an outside company. We where told that we could look for a competition, past, present or future and work to their set brief in the way we would if we where entering it but we didn't have to and we had to be finished by the OCVC set deadline.

The competition I have decided to use is set by "weloveyourbooks" and is their competition from 2009, the title is "Closure". The rule is that we have to make a book that relates to the word closure in some way, it does not matter which way we take it but it needs to relate. It can be a working book, decorative book or sculptural book and we would need to sent three JPEG images of our pieces to be put on to the exhibition website, however this competition is now closed.

My Idea:
I first thought about making a book full of different style doors that would close on to each other in a similar way you have probably seen in a cartoon or comedy sketch at one point in your life, and it is that very fact that put me off of the idea straight away. So I decided to take the word down a new route and think about emotional closure, the kind you find in relationships, you cant move on from it or believe its over until you get it kind of closure. I brainstormed some ideas but could not get past the first one, which I have designed in CAD images below.

Colour Set 1:

Colour Set 2:

Colour Set 3:

My idea is this, I plan to make an opening book in the shape of an engagement ring box as well as an origami engagement ring that will sit between two foam pads on the inside of the box. I have used the above colour schemes as they can be found in both ring boxes and book binding, I am also planning a sparkly surprise for the origami ring that will sit inside. On the box lid there will be a pair of scrolled initials in a gold heart of the couple who where to be engaged, on top of that will be either a sticker or stencil saying return to sender and the male partners name and address. I chose this as in most times in life, movies etc the engagement or wedding ring being returned to the partner who gave it is the closure that the relationship is over. I am currently thinking of using colour set 3 for this project as the box looks classy and the black interior will show off the ring. I will post a picture map of what materials are where shortly...stay tuned. 

FdA: Year Two

After what seemed like the longest summer break in the history books we are finally back at college and starting the second year of the FdA and already we have a new project to challenge us. 

203. Creative Competitions: 

This brief is different to any other that I have been set before or heard about, this is due to the fact that the project contains many briefs that have been created by outside sources, we are then to decide on a competition brief that we would like to produce work for and work to that outcome. We have been told it can be any competition, past, present or future and we are allowed to enter it if we would like to, however in my case the project deadline is before the competition one. 

My Choice: We Love Your Books - Point

For this competition you have to make a book in relation to the word "Point", you can take it any direction that you choose as long as it relates back to the word, the books can be in working order, sculptural, decorative etc depending on the artists choice. The competition is online this year and to enter I would need three pictures of the piece I make to be uploaded to the website, I will consider entering depending on the quality of my piece. 

More on my ideas as they develop 

Book Making:

So, I have a slight problem as I am waiting on the postman to deliver the faux leather to cover the book. Everything else is done except the page contents. Better get cracking as much as I can until delivery.

Example: Edgar Hewitt Nye

So, I have been doing some more research in to the artwork of my great, great grandfather and found many pieces to be listed in auctions from the late 90's to early 2000's. This has been one of my favourite pieces I have found, I like the colours, detail and composition of the piece and I am now feeling inspired to try and paint my own original subject matter in a style similar to his. More on this as it develops, however I have a feeling its going to be a painterly summer for me.

New Findings: Edgar Hewitt Nye

Ever since seeing the BBC television show "Who Do You Think You Are" I have always wanted to research my family tree, both my mother's and my father's, however I had no idea how to do so.


At the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012 we where written to by a lady called Pat who lived in Australia and was following her husbands family tree (the Nye family tree), the letter was written to my great uncle Robin Nye and then shared with my nan Rita Nye. The letter also said that Pat and some of her family where planning a trip to England in order to find out some more about the Nye family. 


At the beginning of this month Pat and her family arrived in England and at the beginning of this week took a trip up to Oxford to meet with my nan and my great uncle, they came prepared with their findings so far. One relation that stuck out was my mothers great grandfather Edgar Hewitt Nye who through some research of our own we have found to be an American fine/ impressionist artist. This makes Edgar Hewitt Nye my 2x great grandfather. 




Edgar Hewitt Nye was a painter and teacher who was born in 1879 in Richmond, Virginia, and died in 1943 in Washington, DC, where he lived most of his life, except for the years he spent in France and England between 1901 and 1914. He taught privately at his studio.He studied at the Corcoran School and with J.N. Barlow of England. He was a member of the Society of Washington Artists; Washington Watercolor Club; and the Washington Landscape Club. 

Example:

Our Street

"Edgar Hewitt Nye (American/ Washington DC, 1879-1943), 
gouache/watercolor on silk panel
signed and dated E NYE 1920, l.r.
title inscribed on panel verso
19.5" x 24.25"

Other Examples:

I have found it completely inspiring to find out that I am related to such a talented artist from the past. I am hoping to find out more about the Nye side of my family tree from Pat and her family and continue with my own research after they have returned home. I would also now like to visit the American galleries where my great, great grandfathers work is being exhibited and see it in person. I am also planning to post any further findings and examples of work by Edgar Hewitt Nye to my blog very soon. 

Aston Pottery: Exhibition

Mary Knowland: 

This is a photograph of one of the pieces in the exhibition by local artist Mary Knowland. Unfortunately the photograph doesn't do the piece any justice as you cant make out all of the detail. In the painting you can see a number of body parts, I believe these to include a male figure sitting in the centre one leg cocked up as if on a couch and the other down as if his foot was on the floor, hands, fingers, a secondary figure bent down on the floor legs tucked up next to their chest, another leg and that's just at a brief glance. The piece packed a real punch and drew my attention straight to it, it would also spark some interesting conversation between two onlookers. I will be researching in to other works by Knowland as soon as possible and I am also considering attending a drawing class that she runs. More on that as it develops.

. 

 Rod Craig:

This is a photograph of my favourite piece of the day by my favourite artist of the day taken from his website. This painting was located in the corner of the gallery area on the left of the staircase, the piece was eye catching as soon as you walked in to the gallery area and myself and my family flocked around it. In the gallery it was framed and had been double window mounted with board which I had not seen used on a painting before and really showcased the painting. I will be looking at other works by Craig and hopefully continue drawing inspiration from them and start to see my home town in a fresh new light.

The exhibition has made me consider using my time over the summer strengthening my paint skills as so much can be achieved in this media and it remains popular throughout history.

Art Weeks: Aston Pottery

(Front of Shop)

(Tea Room)

(Plants Outside Tea Room)

So last week my dad saw an advert for Aston Pottery in the "Ox Magazine" so today we decided to take a drive out there and see what was on display. When we pulled up the front gate was covered in "Oxford Art Weeks" posters and there was an exhibition of work by local artists in the upstairs gallery.

Walking through the shop you could see the quality of goods being produced and sold, very traditional pottery and items normally found in a garden centre shop but also a variety of unusual jewellery, glassware, crockery etc. 

(Black tulips outside of the entrance) 

(Countryside)

The drive to Aston was particularly inspiring, the sat nave took us through loads of small villages and past fields of growing crops like the photograph seen above. 

The exhibition offered a variety of works by some local talented artists, I will be doing separate posts on each of the artists shortly. 

I would recommend Aston Pottery to any of my classmates or artists who want to see a range of unique ceramic pieces and especially during Art Weeks to see the inspirational works on show. 

Changes:

So, as mentioned in the post below I have had some issues during the "Only Make Believe" project. Approximately eighteen months ago I had an accident with a heavy object and damaged the acromioclavicular joint in my right shoulder, my right am being my dominant arm. Since the accident I have received a range of treatments from medication to an injection in the joint itself, during this project I had my second injection in the joint and since then the am is fine as long as I don't use it for lifting heavy objects or move awkwardly.

My tutors and classmates have all been amazingly supportive and myself and my tutors are now in discussion about an extension for the project and now my arm is okay again, watch this space =]

Exhibition: Work In Progress

So, this week saw the start of art weeks around the county and not to be left out we started our first exhibition of our work from throughout the first academic year. Unfortunately due to an on-going injury to the acromioclavicular joint in my right shoulder during the "Only Make Believe" project I had no work to exhibit and was forced to arrange an extension with my tutors but more on that in another post. 

Having seen the show being put up I must say that I found it inspirational, there was not one piece produced by my classmates in the gallery that I didn't like or learn from. The academic year is almost over and I look forward to the next working with such talented people and I am definitely going to be producing something for the next big show, look forward to seeing what that will be. 

New: Exhibition Presentation Idea

This is a SketchUp design for my latest presentation idea, it consists of...

• Four vertical, wall mounted presentation boxes, these will hold the puppets used throughout the production of the stop motion animation.
• A horizontal, wall mounted presentation box that houses the tablet pc that will be used to play the stop motion film. This box will have to be edited so that it is compatible with headphones for the viewer to hear the narration while watching the video.
• The stand holding the sketchbook will be scrapped if this is not needed to be presented in the show.
• There will also be two wall hooks to hold the headphones located underneath the horizontal display box.

Armature Samples:

I made this sample to show how the armatures are to be made for the final pieces, the materials I have used are aluminium wire, which has been bent in two and braided using a drill and an epoxy putty called "Fix It". Each piece of braided wire was then cut and bent in half to form two fingers and placed one inside the other in the epoxy putty. The thumb is made from a single piece of braided wire and inserted in to the epoxy putty and bent in to shape. The putty takes 5-10 minutes to dry, it also helps to build out the weight of the armature and acts as a guide to certain parts of the body such as the hand. 

I covered the armature in a polymer clay called "Super Scuply", it worked well but I found it showed any little impurities in the sculpting process, however I found from a tip online that rubbing baby oil in to the clay with your finger smooths it out perfectly 

 Armature hand example and baked polymer clay hand example ready to be used for casting to make further samples. 

Further Advice from Doug at Tiranti

Hello Daniel,

The flexible polyurethane foam we supply is buried in the casting section of our website in the sub catagory of polyurethane resins, it comes supplied as a 3kg kit and expands approx. 6-8times its original liquid volume.

if modelling the sculpt' in polymer clay you may be able to produce a mould from it beofre baking, this would make it easier to use a rigid plaster to produce the mould, if unbaked you shouldn't require a release agent.

if however the polymer clay is baked then i would advice you use soft soap as a release on its surface, and also between the sections of plaster mould.

the advantage of using plaster as a mould to swill latex is that it absorbs the water content of teh latex and dries it much quicker, you do not need a release agent as it will slow down the drying effect.

the foam being poured behind should bond pretty well to the latex, it will physically trapped anyway.

as for painting latex the best thing to do is add pigments to the latex and start using it as a paint. if there is a particular base colour you have in mind this can be added to the latex swill in the mould so all you have to do is paint on the additional details.

regards

Doug

Advice From: www.tiranti.co.uk

After looking at the process needed for foam latex I have been looking for an ukternative that would do the same job. After contacting two of the college tutors they told me to ask someone at Tiranti and see what they say, here is there reply...


"

good morning Daniel

There are other alternatives to using foam latex which would not involve such a complex process of mixing and baking, but would still use similar products like latex.

The main alternative that would give a similar result is to model you item in clay, produce a plaster mould as you would when preparing for foam latex but simply swill a mouldmaking latex into the mould, pouring a few layers and allowing each to dry before pouring the next, once a reasonable skin has been developed you can then use an expanding polyurethane foam to cast into the latex. this will fill the shape and give you a latex skinned flexible casting. you would require an armature to be cast into the piece, this could be made from a soft aluminium armature wire which will be posable. this would need to be in place when casting the foam around it so that it is fully encapsulated.

kind regards

Doug"

I will discuss this further with my tutors but I feel this will be the process I use for the final

Armature Example: Windy Miller

This is an armature that was used to create the character of Windy Miller in the series Camberwick Green. As stated before the armature is a basic metal skeleton inside a foam latex body that holds the flesh in place from each frame.

Stop Motion Example: Life On Camberwick Green

Life on Mars was one of my favourite series ot hit the BBC, while thinking about examples of stop motion animation this came straight to mind. My mum told me that this is based on an old series called Camberwick Green which I will also be looking at as examples.

Stop Motion Animation: New Findings.

For the last few days I have been making some samples out of plasticine, I have been testing the weight, durability and movement of it for this particular piece and found it to not be working. I found this to be the reason why....Introducing an armature

Traditionally made from soft aluminium wire and sheet the armature becomes the moving skeleton for most stop motion animation puppets. I found that the creators use a polymer clay to build up the character from this skeleton then make a cast of the character. They then insert this skeleton in to the cast and fill it with foam latex to make the final movable puppet for the stop motion piece. Since these findings I have ordered the materials to make my own characters in the same way, now I just need to find some foam latex and then the more advanced sampling can begin.

Final Piece: The Layout Plan

(Above) 3D Plan of Final Layout

My final piece will be a stop motion animation video, I wanted to present this in an artistic way and not just on an overhead projector mounted to face the wall. I also wanted to tie in the stories origins as a book but also as one in a series of stories by the brothers Grimm, so this is my plan.

I want to download the stop motion animation piece to a tablet PC and house it inside a custom case that looks like a book, made from book binding materials, I will also make five more books to the same size but with no content. I will add the title and some surface decoration to the cover of the case and the spines of the mock books. The mock books will then be stuck together in a set of three and a set of two leaving a gap for the video book to be removed from the series. The books be mounted to two book ends (I am hoping to have time to cast two elves from clay, one for each book end). This display will then sit on the table against a wall as if on a sideboard or shelf with the video book removed and open to show the tablet screen playing the video

Stop Motion Samples: The Basics

This will be my first stop motion animation so I decided to start with the basics and use some plasticine to shape a simple form. I originally made a basic human shape but found that the plasticine was too soft and flexible for the model to stand, this could be solved with either wire or a fine mesh. I have attached my first two basic stop motion videos covering movement of the model and the models arms. During these experiments I found that it is crucial to make sure that the finger is out of shot and the camera is in focus.

Basic Movement

Basic Movement 2: Arms

I will soon be using different materials for the models, including paper. I will also find which timing is more suited to the piece.



Plans: Final Piece Display

I have been thinking about how to display the stop motion animation in a way that would show the stories book origins. I came up with the idea of storing the video on to a tablet computer such as an iPad, possibly one that is a bit less in price, and making a case for it.

I will start by making a book slightly bigger than the tablet computer and gluing each page the size of the tablet to each other and cut them out from the rest of the page to form a space for the tablet to fit in to. This way it will look like a book from the outside but have a screen on the inside for the video to play on.

Cyanotype

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that gives a cyan-blue print. The process was popular in engineering circles well into the 20th century. The simple and low-cost process enabled them to produce large-scale copies of their work, referred to as blueprints. Two chemicals are used in the process:

• Ammonium iron(III) citrate
• Potassium ferricyanide

These chemicals are mixed to a 1:1 ratio. While researching online I found the following process to be the most commonly used, this involved.

• Mixing the two chemicals (1:1)
• Using just enough of the mixture to cover the area or sheet of paper and leave to dry.
• Apply an image printed on to acetate.
• Place both on to a UV light box.
• Apply a cover over the paper and image and weight/clamp it down on to the surface of the light box.
• Expose the image (in this case for 6-8 minutes)
• Remove the acetate image and place the paper in to water
• The areas of the image will turn bright blue.
• Remove the image and place it in to another bowl of water with a drop of peroxide to fix the image to stop the process.
• Leave to dry.

This process is to be done a a dull light or dark room as the chemical will react to the light. I believe this process could be done using negatives from a film camera, but using paper coated with the mixture instead of photographic paper. Below I have inserted the video demonstration I first watched, I beleive it to be the most helpful and explanatory. I look forward to trying this process in teh near future.

Stop Motion Ideas: Paper VS Clay Pt:2

Just to add, if I where to use paper I'm not sure if i would use 2D cut outs or 3D modelling.

2D would be pretty simple but create a bit more work for the amount of cuts needed for each movement, however it would tie in better with the book origins.

3D would be less work as I would be using one or two models and moving them to fit each frame, however,this would require some thought on how to join the models limbs to and head to its torso while keeping it loose enough to move, sturdy enough to stay in position and hidden from view. Wire, pins, nails, tape, dowel, clips, more paper, so many different ways of doing one thing.

Anyway, I really must get planning.

Stop Motion Ideas: Paper VS Clay

So, I have been thinking about this stop motion animation idea and been looking at a variety of different samples on YouTube (proving to be a very good source of inspirational content). I have found so many different examples using "claymation", some are better than others but I believe that is down to the cameraman and his chosen software. I have found very few "papermation" examples, however the ones I have found are amazing, such as the one posted further down the blog.

I have done some basic samples with clay and found that whilst moving each piece for the next frame it is hard to not get finger prints, nail nicks and smudging. This could be solved with the use of tight fitting latex gloves.

The addition of a thin layer of paper may dismiss these issues but bring a new list of its own, would the joints in the model still be able to move? Could i use glue on all non-moving areas of the model but keep the joints glue free so the paper would just crease on the joint allowing it to move?

Hmmm, with that said I believe its time to do some sampling and find out.

Artist of the Day: Haruki Nakamura - Made My Day! - Amazing

Rewind: Mrs Beeton Project

Just realised I haven't put up any pictures of the final piece from the Mrs Beeton project. I do have them and they will be posted on the blog shortly. I was very happy with the way it turned out, looked very similar to my original designs, that's a first, I have a habit of changing things around. I was very thankful to my family and friends of the family who took time out of their own busy schedules to drive me to places to buy materials that I needed and to find others that I could not.

Pictures will be posted soon.

Brothers Grimm Project: Inspiration

For my final piece for this project I plan to create a short stop motion animation based on the fairytale "The Elves" which is also known as "The Elves and the Shoemaker". This is one of my favourite books from childhood so holds many nostalgic memories for me. I plan to create the animation using cut and folded pieces of paper, I plan to use this method as it will relate back to the book origins of the story. I have noticed recently that stop motion animation is being used in a variety of different adverts for products on the television. I decided to look for some examples on YouTube that have used paper cutting and folding and found this beautiful example. (Below)

I found this advert amazing and totally inspiring, I would love for my final piece to be up to the same standard as this if not better. I know this process takes ages to produce, I remember a girl in my media studies class during A-Levels making one, so I have given myself a month to make the video, more on this as it develops.

Coming Soon

I feel as if I have been neglecting my blog recently while planning my work for the current project using the Grimm fairy tales. I have also been planning some changes for my blog, I will still talk about things happening at college but I will soon also be talking about art related interests that I am working with outside of college. These topics will include the following.

• Behind the scenes of college topics
• Gear reviews
• New skills  
• The big build - Printing Press
• My own clothing brand and designs

And many more, I will be updating the blog three times a week starting next week. Watch this space

Final Idea: Sketch Up Design - Unfinished

Running Title: Mrs Beeton's Party Planning Box

Victorian Table Lay Out: Sketch Up Design

Unfinished