Arts Festival!

This is what i've been working my bum off for, come and have a visit!

http://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/news/plenty-offer-our-2012-arts-festival

Bibliography

Bibliography

Books

Samara, T. (2006) Typestylefinder. 1^st.ed. USA,Rockport publishers.

Rothenstein, J. (1993) 130 Alphabets and other signs. 1^st ed. London, GB, Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Klanten, R. Hellige, H.(eds). (2008) Playfull type. Berlin, Gestalfen.

Kegami, K.(1986) Japanese Bookbinding. 1^st ed. Japan.

Golden, A. (2005 ) Expressive handmade books. New York.

Smith, E.K. (2007) How to make books . New York.

Websites.
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/11/10/yuichi-yokoyama-interview/

http://blotcomics.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/06/21/shapes-for-sounds/

http://andyrementer.com/

http://www.lichtensteinfoundation.org/

Evaluation

Aimee Stevens
Evaluation
FMP

I was very excited about starting this final major project as it was something I would be totally in control of and something I would really enjoy doing seeing as I was writing my own brief. For my final major project I stated that I was going to explore comic book layouts, the shapes and sounds of type, and type from different eras. This was a very broad, not linked beginning to my project. I found it quite hard to write about what I intended to do, as my starting points were all such different broad ideas.

I do not think I have addressed all main parts of my statement as well as I should/could have. I  thoroughly explored comic book layouts, shapes and sounds of type, whereas exploring type from different eras I have only touched on a little. Through making small references in some collages in my sketchbook such as the word/sound ‘scrape’. I would have really liked to explore this more as I find the difference in old and new types quite interesting. I am disappointed with how my work has come along as I do not think I have kept to my brief as best I could. I also think through doing this I have missed out vital text research points that would have benefitted my work. This comes through having such a wide brief but it is no one else’s fault but my own.

I began this project with a lot of ideas, so to help myself I began brainstorming and researching different parts that did not link, such as comic books. I could use new and old text and alphabets. After researching various artists such as Tom Venning, Roy Lichtenstein, Cornelius Cardew, Andy Rementer, and Yuichi Yokoyama etc. These artists are researched and linked into my work, in my sketchbook and on my blog. For other types of research for this project I went on a weekend trip to Leeds. Whilst I was there Fiona Rae’s work was on exhibition, so I went to view her pieces. I got a lot of inspiration for my collages and to work on a large scale after seeing her work.

For more research for this project I was in the library a lot browsing all books for inspiration. (Which I have included within my bibliography) I also took a lot of photographs of objects I was relating to my work at that point. This helped me create my collages. To try and get some imagery down I began by just looking at random objects and deciding what sounds they made and how I interpreted them. From there I used different Medias to create collages in and out of my sketchbook to show my interpretation of what sound the object made. I experimented with zips for a while and the spellings of it as to what the zip was made out of and how long the zip was. This affected how the word was spelt and how long the word was carried on for.

This gave me ideas to listen to the sounds around me and then to associate them with images. Within my sketchbook I experimented with each chosen word and thought about how the word reacted, for example Clunk is a big, chunky, solid and heavy word. So the text I would create would be chunky, large, dark and bold. This helped me with ideas for possible final outcomes.

How I enjoyed making collages. What I used and why I used the colour I did. I really enjoy creating collages by hand. As I find it more satisfying to look at as an end product rather than a Photoshop document. This is why I have no photo shopped documents within my sketchbook. In crits people were suggesting to use Photoshop to tweak my work but it was the thing I was most trying to stay away from. There is just a nicer quality about a handmade collage. I have used quite bright bold colours as they seem to compliment the sound words the best. They also relate to comic book colours as they are also bright and block coloured.

 I originally wanted to create a handmade book and a couple of handmade collages. Due to lack of time and planning for my book I did not end up making it. I was very strong about not wanting to use Photoshop in my final outcome as I wanted a nice collaged piece, as I personally find them nicer to look at than a flat printed out image as I have explained above. After deciding not to make a book I took the pages I had made for the book and thumb nailed some different collage ideas I could use as a final outcome. In the end I decided to carry on with one of my original plans of producing a couple handmade collages. I planned out to produce four or five collages in a comic book layout which I originally stated in my statement of intent. I planned and chose a combination of four A1+ shapes to collage. I chose a large size after gaining inspiration from Fiona Raes work. It looked powerful and just generally good. I then used the page layouts and tweaked them to explore my chosen words and images and create good interesting final pieces. Whilst making these four final collages I didn’t really come across as many problems as I had planned out quite well what I was going to do, what I was going to use and how I was going to do it. I also prepared everything i.e. got appropriate colours, amounts and sizes of paper and card to use. I also chose to use spray glue and double sided sticky tape to attach my pieces to my board as it would look better than prit stick which I had used before and made it look tacky. Once I had mounted my pieces I had a few issues with the spray glue as it would not take appropriately to the paper. This was annoying the fact that it did not work, but it was easily resolved and I just used double sided sticky tape.

When I saw my final collages finished, mounted and stuck on the wall. I was really happy with how everything had turned out, not because it was finished but because I had actually made the first vision I had at the beginning of the project that I couldn’t document. I managed to take my vision and make it into what I think is a really good, impressive and well planned final piece.

Throughout this project I have come to many dead ends at different points which I think is a little obvious when looking at my sketchbook. Although, I have got on with my work and got my head down when the ideas have been flowing, I feel I have not done nearly enough as well as I could or should have. I have completed everything to the best of my ability and time range. If I had more time or chance to do this again I would definitely manage my time so much better and make sure my ideas and work were flowing to the best of my standards. The timetable, crits and action plans we used were really good and helpful to see where we should be. I just found it hard to keep up with them. Which pin points where I need to improve if I ever get the chance to do this again. I feel I have learnt many new things such as information about type and new artists and their work. I have really enjoyed these past few months and am really sad for this to be all over as this has been my most enjoyable year and project so far.

Making of final outcome.

Whilst creating my final piece i came across quite a few problems. my main problem which was the worst was i had chosen to use spray on glue rather than prit stick to avoid glue marks. Everything had started to stick really well but then i started to notice things peeling off in places. At a last minute panick i had to re-stick everything i had done with double sided sticky tape. this was really awkward because on some pieces with them being collages were very thin and fiddly.

Final preparation.

 Looking at different ways i can create parts of my collages and how to stick them down.

Final preparation

 Stage one of foam board for mounting.
Four A1 pieces of foam board.

 Cutting of A1 foam board and joining of piece one with hot glue. The size of piece one on the left is larger than A1 as two pieces have been joined together.

Photograph of my space where my final piece will be mounted.
I intend to mount my pieces on the wall with velcro sticky pads on the back and double sided sticky foam as the pieces will be heavy.

Final Layout Planing.

Experimenting with different layouts that i could use.
Drawing and identifying which shapes i want to use with inspiration from included comic books.

The layout on the right page is the final layout i chose.

Measurements of final space and how much room will be around my collages.

These are small scaled experiments of how my foam board should work out and how i intend to place and stick them.

Thumbnails of what i plan my final outcomes to look like. This first thumbnail sheet i changed wuite a few things on it as i did not think the compositions and mixtures of words worked well. For example the small blue phone on the red piece.

These were my final chosen thumbnails of what i intend to create. The first largest piece was what i thought my strongest word so i did not combine it with any other word. For the top clunk piece i did not combine words but i combined wuite a few of the imagery ideas i had for it. For the middle piece i combined bring and bwurr as they both associate with the same imagery and both words could be combined in an interesting way. The bottom piece i combined roawr and rustle. I chose to place rustle at the bottom as leaves that make a rustling sound are dry and set on fire easily which kind of blends into the fire.

Research and Explanation.

I decided to begin writing out everything i had left to do just to make sure i did not forget anything.

Also on the right hand page i have explained why i do not want to use photoshop within my final piece. I prefer handmade pieces of work as they look so much better and are more appealing.

This is extra research to back up part of my final piece

Final Checklist.

This is a final checklist i felt i had to make so i made sure i did not miss anything out. and knew where i was with time and what i had left to do to keep on target. 

Book binding.

These are quite a few different ways i looked into binding my book. Some worked better than others but all looked really nice.

In the end i decided not to make a book so this book binding excersize was not neccessary. i decided not to make a book as i did not have nearly enough time to create and think about everything that i did.

Fiona Rae, Exhibition.

I went to visit this exhibition in Leeds. As i have not really viewed Fiona's work before when i got there i was really inspired and impressed with her work. Her collages you can just tell are so thought out every little detail. This gave me lots of inspiration for my final collages to try and create something as good as she does but in a totally different way.

Mind Map.

This is basically a checklist of what i have left to do and ideas and planning for my final outcomes. The final outcome mind map is to think about the details and things i need to plan in more detail.

Sound:Bring

These are some experimental collages for the word/sounds bring. i used photocopies, observational drawings, printing and stencils.

Sounds:Bump

For the word bump i took ideas from previous collages i have created. I also brought in a new fun idea of mr.bump. This i think i quite an obvious thing to do but it gave me interesting imagery and ideas for colours with this word.

For this collage i looked at speed bumps and tried to turn the word into seperate speed bumps themselves. I think this worked quite well but theres something about it i am not 100% sure of or like.

Sounds:Clunk

For the word/sound clunk i associated the clunk of high heals, clunking of when you put a kettle or mug down and also the clunking of seetbelts.

Sounds:Roawr

From previous drawings and photographs i created these collages.

For this first collage i layered up four colours to creat a nice interesting blend of colours for the fire as there is so many different colours and shades within a fire. For the text i started it off at the bottom as it begins as a small deep dark word like the osunding of a fire and then i built it up by doubling up letters and making the word work it's way up.

For this second collage i kept i very simply with two simple colours red and orange and for the word roawr i did it free hand in the shapes of flames for it too blend in with the fire as if sparks or flames are coming off.

Sounds:Craaack

For these collages i looked at different points and how you creat the crack of electricity. i used the original triangle and arrow electricity symbol. I then included lightenning bolts as they form a crack sound. i also incorporated lines into this for the main pylon wire and wires in a house. As if come into contact with anything make a crack noise. For the word crack i created a sharp, bold, strong word which works really well wth everything else.

Sounds:Flump

For these collages i began by photocopying the word flump so i had a flat image that i could cut out and turn into an interesting stencil which it the first and second photographs on the left.

Observational Drawing.

Observational drawing of objects i have associated with the words/sounds i have chosen. i have done this so i can re-work into these and generally have images to work from.

Sounds:Flump

The word Flump i got from someone flicking through a book really quickly flicking the pages. I also associated this with the flump of pillows when you throw or drop them onto your bed.

For this i thoguht the word flump was a soft, rounded, low word. I thought a good thing to do was actually write it out of flumps itself. it worked quite well.

Sounds:Bwurr

Quite a lot of people have been asking what the word/sound Bwurr relates to which is a little dissappointing as i really quite like this sound/word more than most others. The sound bwurr i got from the vibrating of a mobile fone on a table.

For this image i used the volume symbol and turned the word bwurr into a line of sound like a visual representation when on a computer.

For this piece i used blue brusho quite thck and runny. i then used the hair dryer which makes a bwurring type of sound to dry it and give the effect of if it was vibrating. When you dry paper with a hair dryer if you do not hold it down the paper itself vibrates.

Sounds:Wobble

For the word wobble i first got this from someone putting a plate or a cup down but not properly as sometimes the do make a wobble sound.

This was quite hard to show and work with as you can't show wobbling well in a still image.

for this i wobbled some pva glue in the word wobble, waited for it to dry and then gave it a blue wash over the top.

For this image i found a water soluable pen and covered my paper in water i then wobbled it about to see what effect i would get. As you can see the outcome isnt that great.