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.

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 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.