Saturday afternoon I spent 3 hours in the kitchen. I took on a couple of new recipes and loved it. Since moving out of the mr's mum's house in February I have done little cooking. Mike tends to cook, while I bake. However to begin with I had no motivation or care to cook. I lived off tuna and baked beans with lots of starchy carbs like bread, pasta and potatoes. Over the summer I lived off very little money, aiming, and managing, to save 100 pounds a week! This meant however that some weeks I only had 10 pounds for food, and often this left me with nothing for socialising or leaving the house at all.
Now that I am back to being a student, and not saving so tightly I have a bit more for food each week, and that means a suitable budget for buying extra food for cooking and baking! My cupboard has gone from bare and boring, to being full of the basics. Slowly, each week I have been stocking up on supplies and basic ingredients.
Other than collecting and saving online recipes, I have been working my way through the seasonal recipes of Sophie Dahls voluptuous delights, as I mentioned previously. So far this month I have tried Banana bread, lime and coconut muffins, chocolate and peanut butter bark and much more! As you can tell I prefer to bake desserts and sweat treats than conquer savoury dishes :) I leave that to Mike, and enjoy making dishes that I can pre prepare and eat throughout the week.
One of my favourite meals is soup. With a couple of pieces of crunchy toast and lathered in butter (or sunflower spread in my case!) However, other than tomato and basil, it is rare to find a good supermarket soup that doesn't include dairy as one of the key ingredients. Most soups are packed with cream, milk and butter to add flavour. This is quite annoying, and while I love tomato and basil to an extreme, it can get boring! So i decided to make my own :) I started out with a basic carrot soup, omitting the milk for soy milk. However I forgot Vegetable stock and it tasted revolting, so went straight in the bin! I love roasting carrots and parsnips throughout the week to eat with chicken, or on their own with some feta for a great and easy meal. So I always seem to have some about. I also often have coconut milk about as it is a great dairy alternative that I can add to curries and baking for a creamy, sweet taste. It is quite high in fat but very delicious!
So this week I googled a parsnip soup with coconut milk and found this one by Jamie Oliver. It got great reviews so I decided to give it a go, replacing the milk with coconut milk and the garam masala with normal curry powder. And I have to say, it is delicious!So, if you are feeling hungry after reading this long and lengthy post then I recommend this filling soup! Why not do as I did and make it carrot and parnsip, by having 3 of each in the mix? :) Plus it's easy and great to freeze!
Abiento x
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
Journal Day 45
Today I learnt and tried photo printing; a method of printing that uses UV light to transfer an image onto a screen. The adhesive applied to the screen then acts as a stencil, as only the exposed sections can be washed away. This works very effectively for doing thin or tricky parts of a image. I used it to create the outline for my houses. It was quite a time consuming process, taking most of the morning preparing the screen. By the end of the day I had only managed to apply 3 of the houses colours to the fabric.
However I felt the time was well spent. I could quite happily have stayed in the print room until I had finished, no matter how long that took. I find the results to be pleasing and satisfying, with a certain amount of order to them. There is a large reliance on chemistry in photo printing, and less reliance on skill. Sure, you need to be able to design and draw the print but that I feel I can do. Simplistic, colourful styles work best, and that is what printing is now known for. And that is something I am enjoying doing :). I feel that I am/could be good at it with a bit more practice.
This is definitely something I want to take into Part 2 and hopefully also work experience and jobs, possibly a career in the future. I have enjoyed researching printers and illustrators through a few print blogs and would be incredibly excited if I were to ever get to use a digital printer that could take away the painstaking process or print screening that we have been taught so far.
I believe I like printing because to me it feels like the pressure is taken off. I don't have to create beautiful lines or drawings with the skill of my hand with a pencil or paintbrush. I can leave that to the print. I can come up with the idea and slowly watch it become real. I love the bright, fun, simplistic patterns. The gorgeous repeated patterns that I can imagine being in someone's home as a wallpaper print, or on a pillow. I now get excited when I see kids clothes with fun prints on, because I feel that that is something I could design! I like the realistic application. The visualisation of it being used in real life. It is transferable and practical, it isn't just art. It makes us happy when we go shopping, when we buy gifts or decorate our homes. It keeps the consumerists in us spending. It makes for a fun trip out with your mum or your friends. It is something I have always enjoyed and liked. It gives me a way to transfuse my interest in interior styling and decor with the practical hands on side of design and craft.
I am also quite interested in this a subject. The art that has lead to consumerism. How art has become such a huge part of our now extensively visual lives. When did that happen? Why? Was it just because the technology was available and we could have it (i.e greed) or was it because we were bored with the plain lives our ancestors had been living? Are we now all patients of ADHD, constantly needing something to stimulate and excite us? I am. I always need something to be doing. It's nice to have a day of silence and focus every now and then, but I get bored if I'm working without music or tv. I need another story, something else happening, to keep me interested. We need that in our lives. We need the floral patterns of Cath Kidston to put a smile on our face every time we reach for our phone/keys/wallet/bag or whatever else it is she designs now. We need that feel good factor when we buy a product. To know that it is visually correct and acceptable. It has to have been designed well. Not always for function or purpose, but for appearances.
In the 20's it was all about form and function thanks to the Bauhaus. Now we have lost a lot of that. We like products that combine function; that can do two things at once. We want products that are beautiful, even if they do function well. What made us loose the need for the combination of both?
Abiento x
However I felt the time was well spent. I could quite happily have stayed in the print room until I had finished, no matter how long that took. I find the results to be pleasing and satisfying, with a certain amount of order to them. There is a large reliance on chemistry in photo printing, and less reliance on skill. Sure, you need to be able to design and draw the print but that I feel I can do. Simplistic, colourful styles work best, and that is what printing is now known for. And that is something I am enjoying doing :). I feel that I am/could be good at it with a bit more practice.
This is definitely something I want to take into Part 2 and hopefully also work experience and jobs, possibly a career in the future. I have enjoyed researching printers and illustrators through a few print blogs and would be incredibly excited if I were to ever get to use a digital printer that could take away the painstaking process or print screening that we have been taught so far.
I believe I like printing because to me it feels like the pressure is taken off. I don't have to create beautiful lines or drawings with the skill of my hand with a pencil or paintbrush. I can leave that to the print. I can come up with the idea and slowly watch it become real. I love the bright, fun, simplistic patterns. The gorgeous repeated patterns that I can imagine being in someone's home as a wallpaper print, or on a pillow. I now get excited when I see kids clothes with fun prints on, because I feel that that is something I could design! I like the realistic application. The visualisation of it being used in real life. It is transferable and practical, it isn't just art. It makes us happy when we go shopping, when we buy gifts or decorate our homes. It keeps the consumerists in us spending. It makes for a fun trip out with your mum or your friends. It is something I have always enjoyed and liked. It gives me a way to transfuse my interest in interior styling and decor with the practical hands on side of design and craft.
I am also quite interested in this a subject. The art that has lead to consumerism. How art has become such a huge part of our now extensively visual lives. When did that happen? Why? Was it just because the technology was available and we could have it (i.e greed) or was it because we were bored with the plain lives our ancestors had been living? Are we now all patients of ADHD, constantly needing something to stimulate and excite us? I am. I always need something to be doing. It's nice to have a day of silence and focus every now and then, but I get bored if I'm working without music or tv. I need another story, something else happening, to keep me interested. We need that in our lives. We need the floral patterns of Cath Kidston to put a smile on our face every time we reach for our phone/keys/wallet/bag or whatever else it is she designs now. We need that feel good factor when we buy a product. To know that it is visually correct and acceptable. It has to have been designed well. Not always for function or purpose, but for appearances.
In the 20's it was all about form and function thanks to the Bauhaus. Now we have lost a lot of that. We like products that combine function; that can do two things at once. We want products that are beautiful, even if they do function well. What made us loose the need for the combination of both?
Abiento x
Update
As usual there is something to update on in my life- and as usual it is to do with my decisions on what to do in and for my life! So I had mentioned all the schools and other thoughts going through my mind, and had found this Foundation Degree in Textiles at Bournemouth Arts University. I let it sit with me for a few days, let myself feel excited about. Discovered that I actually wanted to do the course bad enough to not care about having to live with people 4 years younger than me, and about having to move to a town where I know nothing and nobody. I looked at the work placements offered with it and discovered companies I would love to work for and jobs I would love to do. Finally an option that didn't make me feel like throwing up.
However that didn't last long. Because on Sunday I discovered that this year is the last year the course is running. Next year it won't exist. Next year if I want to do the course I can only do it and gain a lesser qualification, or can only do it at a lesser university, in fact it would be a college, with lesser facilities and access to great companies for work placements. And so I wanted to throw up again. In fact I genuinely did want to throw up. But this time it was because of all the chocolate I consumed to try to alleviate how gutted I was.
So now I am considering another plan. Life. It seems that degrees and continued education do not favour me particularly. I could still do the course and get the lesser qualification. Or I could take time and put together a killer portfolio, which I could send to companies with a letter explaining my situation and begging them for some sort of job! Anything to get me in and to allow me to learn!
We will see what I decided upon.... I'm gonna just enjoy this course for now and see where life takes me I think. (Whilst applying for the other course, just in case I decide I do want it!)
Abiento x
However that didn't last long. Because on Sunday I discovered that this year is the last year the course is running. Next year it won't exist. Next year if I want to do the course I can only do it and gain a lesser qualification, or can only do it at a lesser university, in fact it would be a college, with lesser facilities and access to great companies for work placements. And so I wanted to throw up again. In fact I genuinely did want to throw up. But this time it was because of all the chocolate I consumed to try to alleviate how gutted I was.
So now I am considering another plan. Life. It seems that degrees and continued education do not favour me particularly. I could still do the course and get the lesser qualification. Or I could take time and put together a killer portfolio, which I could send to companies with a letter explaining my situation and begging them for some sort of job! Anything to get me in and to allow me to learn!
We will see what I decided upon.... I'm gonna just enjoy this course for now and see where life takes me I think. (Whilst applying for the other course, just in case I decide I do want it!)
Abiento x
Friday Fun
This week I'm sharing a video that you are going to have to leave the blog to watch. It's the promo video for a new magazine venture by Jasmine Star... The style of the video honestly makes her seem like a celebrity rather than just a wedding photographer, and to be honest she is definitely becoming one! Congratulations Jasmine on being so savvy :)
Go here to check it out :) http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=1245&exposed-the-magazine
Abiento x
Go here to check it out :) http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=1245&exposed-the-magazine
Abiento x
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Journal Day 44
Today I finished off my multi choice project. I found a length of cotton fabric that was long and thin. But just wide enough to stitch the life drawing onto. First I started out with the two figures and text from this design in white. Then I went over the top with black stitch for one of the two figures.
When I finished the figures and looked at it, I flipped it over and saw that the back side of the print was simplistic and that I actually preferred it! The traces of white stitch where much more discreet, and the side of text much less messy. I preferred the clean feel to the reverse side. It felt neater and tidier. And so I tried to stitch "curved" in 3 or 4 places along the length of the fabric, alternating figures. However at each end of the fabric I struggled with this as the fabric was loose when stitching. Even when I used an embroidery hoop I struggled as the text needed to be so close to the edge of the fabric to match the repeating pattern. Plus the stitch itself for the text seemed stretched and I think I probably had the machine on the wrong setting for stitching text.
I like the small progression made towards a more simplistic style for this format, as it is not only different to the first format but also a progression towards the style that prints and repeated patterns such as these tend to follow.
Tomorrow I am excited to learn about photo screening for the packaging project, and think that that style would have worked well to create a print with for another multi choice format, or the same format but without the stitch. Perhaps another time.
Now that the multi choice project is finished I'm pleased with it. I think that the work I have done with life drawing has opened up new avenues and space to combine new techniques. In this project I have combined typography and text as well as a narrative, and a mixed use of mediums. I enjoy the merging of different ideas, mediums and techniques in projects like this, and am glad to have done the project this way as it has become a reminder of why I love mixed media textiles so much.
Having done the two formats and a fair amount of work in my book, I believe I have done enough; even though I kinda want to do more. If I get time tomorrow or Monday then I will add a print (or even after the assessment on Tuesday as I have most of the week free) or two.
In terms of my other projects at the moment, I would like to do some more for illustration, but am trying to do so much for packaging as that is something that I am really enjoying and want to develop as far as possible before the assessment. Again, if I get time I will do more and create a final piece for it.
Abiento x
When I finished the figures and looked at it, I flipped it over and saw that the back side of the print was simplistic and that I actually preferred it! The traces of white stitch where much more discreet, and the side of text much less messy. I preferred the clean feel to the reverse side. It felt neater and tidier. And so I tried to stitch "curved" in 3 or 4 places along the length of the fabric, alternating figures. However at each end of the fabric I struggled with this as the fabric was loose when stitching. Even when I used an embroidery hoop I struggled as the text needed to be so close to the edge of the fabric to match the repeating pattern. Plus the stitch itself for the text seemed stretched and I think I probably had the machine on the wrong setting for stitching text.
I like the small progression made towards a more simplistic style for this format, as it is not only different to the first format but also a progression towards the style that prints and repeated patterns such as these tend to follow.
Tomorrow I am excited to learn about photo screening for the packaging project, and think that that style would have worked well to create a print with for another multi choice format, or the same format but without the stitch. Perhaps another time.
Now that the multi choice project is finished I'm pleased with it. I think that the work I have done with life drawing has opened up new avenues and space to combine new techniques. In this project I have combined typography and text as well as a narrative, and a mixed use of mediums. I enjoy the merging of different ideas, mediums and techniques in projects like this, and am glad to have done the project this way as it has become a reminder of why I love mixed media textiles so much.
Having done the two formats and a fair amount of work in my book, I believe I have done enough; even though I kinda want to do more. If I get time tomorrow or Monday then I will add a print (or even after the assessment on Tuesday as I have most of the week free) or two.
In terms of my other projects at the moment, I would like to do some more for illustration, but am trying to do so much for packaging as that is something that I am really enjoying and want to develop as far as possible before the assessment. Again, if I get time I will do more and create a final piece for it.
Abiento x
My Week in Photos (365 Project)
04/11/11
05/11/11
06/11/11
07/11/11
08/11/11
09/11/11
10/11/11
Meh. What can I say? It was a pretty boring Friday...
05/11/11
Remember, remember, the 5th of November....
06/11/11
Back at Gylly for the weekend shifts! Yummy soup for lunch :)
07/11/11
Yes I spent the whole day watching the Twilight films back to back whilst sewing. And yes I would say it was 7 hours well spent.
08/11/11
Eggs and mushrooms with melted cheese on toast :) YUM!
09/11/11
Back to Uni after a few days in the studio (i.e my bedroom)
10/11/11
Breakfast at Gylly with the mr and his mum :)
Abiento x
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Journal Day 42-Preparing for assessment
One of the requirements for our assessment is that we answer a basic survey on ourselves and answer the questions in journal. This is another post that I am going to say beforehand is something you may skip if you don't care about it! I am still considering moving it to another section of the blog to keep it separate.
Anyway, so here goes for the survey;
1. Would you describe yourself as a Fine Artist, Designer, a Designer/Maker or an Art/Design Historian? Consider/ reflect on your reasons for your answer.
I would consider myself to be a Designer/Maker and/or an Art/Design Historian. Without sounding too obvious, I say this because that is what I am good at and enjoy most.
2. Did you have any idea of your specialism before you started this course?
Yes. I thought I would do photography, textiles or art history.
3. How has the course altered/confirmed your perceptions?
The course has allowed me to try new things, and confirm what I want to do. It has helped me to re-focus on textiles and realise that that is what I really love and would like to do in the future.
4. What discoveries have you made about yourself in relation to 2d and making?
I have discovered (confirmed) that I work best when making things, and only well in 2d if I am doing photography. Although I believe that this is to do with a lack of training. I have done a lot of photography and textiles and therefore that is where I am comfortable and confident. However I have discovered that I am both good at, and enjoy life drawing. Something that was a surprise to me.
5. Which areas have potential for your further development?
I have other interests in Art History and interior design and styling (linked with my interest in textiles and fabric) And so including those with photography and textiles, the areas we have covered so far that could lead to further development for me are;
6. Ideally, what would your working life be like?
I have always imagined myself as being self-employed one day. I have a strange idea in my head of working from an office or studio with mood boards and fabric swathes. Designing and evaluating projects for clients. (I'm not yet 100% sure what I will be designing/making and evaluating however!)
Look at these lists and highlight all that apply to you
What are your Personal Attributes & Aspirations?
Team Work
Single/Alone
Corporate/Commercial
Self Employed
State Employed
Business Employed
Entrepreneurial
Romantic Loner
Outdoor
Indoor
Desk & Computer
Physical
Theoretical
Theatrical
Problem Solver
Leader, Co-Leader
Partner, Co-Partner
Team Member
Organiser
Co-ordinator
Facilitator
Gregarious
Independent
Creative Expressive
Creative Disciplined
Organised
Chaotic
Tidy
Untidy
Formal
Informal
Literary
Researcher
Large scale worker
Small scale worker
Self Motivated
Work to a brief
Narrative
Authorial/Creative writing
What are you good at? What are you interested in?
Painting
Printmaking
Drawing
Performance
Conceptual
Animation
Graphic Design
Typography
Furniture Design
Product Design
Theatre/Set Design
Spatial Design
Interior Design
Architecture
Garden Design
3D Sustainable Design
Sculpture
Installation
Sonic Arts
Wood/Metals/Plastics
Ceramics
Jewellery
Silversmithing
Fabric and Stitch
Multi-Media Textiles
Constructed Textiles
Surface Pattern
Fashion Design
Fashion Promotion/Styling/Marketing
Fashion Illustration
Costume
Photography
Time Based Media
Digital Media
Computer Aided Design
Video/Film
Contextual/Theoretical Studies
Illustration
Abiento x
Anyway, so here goes for the survey;
1. Would you describe yourself as a Fine Artist, Designer, a Designer/Maker or an Art/Design Historian? Consider/ reflect on your reasons for your answer.
I would consider myself to be a Designer/Maker and/or an Art/Design Historian. Without sounding too obvious, I say this because that is what I am good at and enjoy most.
2. Did you have any idea of your specialism before you started this course?
Yes. I thought I would do photography, textiles or art history.
3. How has the course altered/confirmed your perceptions?
The course has allowed me to try new things, and confirm what I want to do. It has helped me to re-focus on textiles and realise that that is what I really love and would like to do in the future.
4. What discoveries have you made about yourself in relation to 2d and making?
I have discovered (confirmed) that I work best when making things, and only well in 2d if I am doing photography. Although I believe that this is to do with a lack of training. I have done a lot of photography and textiles and therefore that is where I am comfortable and confident. However I have discovered that I am both good at, and enjoy life drawing. Something that was a surprise to me.
5. Which areas have potential for your further development?
I have other interests in Art History and interior design and styling (linked with my interest in textiles and fabric) And so including those with photography and textiles, the areas we have covered so far that could lead to further development for me are;
- life drawing
- screen printing
- photography
- textiles
- KIT project
- Messages project (I like narrative)
- Art history
6. Ideally, what would your working life be like?
I have always imagined myself as being self-employed one day. I have a strange idea in my head of working from an office or studio with mood boards and fabric swathes. Designing and evaluating projects for clients. (I'm not yet 100% sure what I will be designing/making and evaluating however!)
Look at these lists and highlight all that apply to you
What are your Personal Attributes & Aspirations?
Team Work
Single/Alone
Corporate/Commercial
Self Employed
State Employed
Business Employed
Entrepreneurial
Romantic Loner
Outdoor
Indoor
Desk & Computer
Physical
Theoretical
Theatrical
Problem Solver
Leader, Co-Leader
Partner, Co-Partner
Team Member
Organiser
Co-ordinator
Facilitator
Gregarious
Independent
Creative Expressive
Creative Disciplined
Organised
Chaotic
Tidy
Untidy
Formal
Informal
Literary
Researcher
Large scale worker
Small scale worker
Self Motivated
Work to a brief
Narrative
Authorial/Creative writing
What are you good at? What are you interested in?
Painting
Printmaking
Drawing
Performance
Conceptual
Animation
Graphic Design
Typography
Furniture Design
Product Design
Theatre/Set Design
Spatial Design
Interior Design
Architecture
Garden Design
3D Sustainable Design
Sculpture
Installation
Sonic Arts
Wood/Metals/Plastics
Ceramics
Jewellery
Silversmithing
Fabric and Stitch
Multi-Media Textiles
Constructed Textiles
Surface Pattern
Fashion Design
Fashion Promotion/Styling/Marketing
Fashion Illustration
Costume
Photography
Time Based Media
Digital Media
Computer Aided Design
Video/Film
Contextual/Theoretical Studies
Illustration
Abiento x
Journal Day 42
I have missed a few days of writing for my Journal mainly because I have had self directed days where I have simply been creating and getting work up to scratch for the assessment next week. I haven't felt I have had anything to say or evaluate on here (as minor evaluations and adjustments happen in my drawing book or head) so have just left it. We are supposed to be producing and writing every day, but some days there just isn't anything worth saying.
But today I had the illustration workshop; a chance to create an identity. We started by looking at a long list of illustrators and how they have shown or represented an identity and then chose a name for our character. From there we had to create the basics behind a story for our character; where they live, what they do and like.
So, I would like to introduce you to Noah. Noah is 10, he has a younger brother Eric who is 5 and a baby sister Elsie who is 16 months old. He lives in Bath with his parents, plays rugby, skateboards and is going to learn the guitar once he has left Bath County Primary School for their Secondary School.
His family is happy. He has young parents who take them out to do things often. They cycle to their favourite restaurants for burgers and chips and they often take trips together. His parents are still progressing through their careers but are smart stylish and have enough money to live happily and comfortably with 3 children.
Noah's best friend is Toby, together they go to the park to skateboard and eat melons or they listen to music. Their lives are the simple lives of happy children.
Therefore my representation of him would/will be with happy colours, in a simple setting. I may use photographs rather than drawings. I may illustrate his likes and dislikes through simple drawings on his parents interlocked hands, or in a joint circle diagram of his parents. (You know, when two coloured circles join to make another colour). I would focus on the key, basic ideas, small parts of the character. As that's all there is; he is a child, small and basic himself.
So far it is idilic. It is based on ideologies of life; of what I would like my life to be one day as a parent. It is rosy and sweet. It is not real.
I struggle with the idea of drawing this character mainly because I struggle with the idea of drawing. I'm not good at drawing. It makes me close up and feel weird. I know I'm no good at it. I don't have the ideas (or at the moment the time) to develop a drawing long enough to create a great piece of work. I don't have the talent to just produce it in one go. Nor the ideas. I need the time to develop ideas. (something I am only just coming to realise)
However in the same way that I enjoyed packaging, I enjoy the aspect of representationalism in illustration. The small elements that you see that actually say something about your subject. How everything has something to say about your subject. These kind of things can easily be analysed on viewing and discovered through learning more about the subject in focus. I find this interesting, and think it is one of the key traits that interests me in analysing work in art history. The story and information you can gain from it. The personal touches.
So far I am beginning to be able to see links in things that I like, and am good at doing. Common reasons as to why I like those things. Which is good :) It will help me to be able to identify similar traits in other fields and things that I like; hopefully enabling me to select something based on that trait rather than liking it and then discovering that is has that trait about it. (I know that last sentence doesn't really make any sense but it does in my head!)
Abiento x
But today I had the illustration workshop; a chance to create an identity. We started by looking at a long list of illustrators and how they have shown or represented an identity and then chose a name for our character. From there we had to create the basics behind a story for our character; where they live, what they do and like.
So, I would like to introduce you to Noah. Noah is 10, he has a younger brother Eric who is 5 and a baby sister Elsie who is 16 months old. He lives in Bath with his parents, plays rugby, skateboards and is going to learn the guitar once he has left Bath County Primary School for their Secondary School.
His family is happy. He has young parents who take them out to do things often. They cycle to their favourite restaurants for burgers and chips and they often take trips together. His parents are still progressing through their careers but are smart stylish and have enough money to live happily and comfortably with 3 children.
Noah's best friend is Toby, together they go to the park to skateboard and eat melons or they listen to music. Their lives are the simple lives of happy children.
Therefore my representation of him would/will be with happy colours, in a simple setting. I may use photographs rather than drawings. I may illustrate his likes and dislikes through simple drawings on his parents interlocked hands, or in a joint circle diagram of his parents. (You know, when two coloured circles join to make another colour). I would focus on the key, basic ideas, small parts of the character. As that's all there is; he is a child, small and basic himself.
So far it is idilic. It is based on ideologies of life; of what I would like my life to be one day as a parent. It is rosy and sweet. It is not real.
I struggle with the idea of drawing this character mainly because I struggle with the idea of drawing. I'm not good at drawing. It makes me close up and feel weird. I know I'm no good at it. I don't have the ideas (or at the moment the time) to develop a drawing long enough to create a great piece of work. I don't have the talent to just produce it in one go. Nor the ideas. I need the time to develop ideas. (something I am only just coming to realise)
However in the same way that I enjoyed packaging, I enjoy the aspect of representationalism in illustration. The small elements that you see that actually say something about your subject. How everything has something to say about your subject. These kind of things can easily be analysed on viewing and discovered through learning more about the subject in focus. I find this interesting, and think it is one of the key traits that interests me in analysing work in art history. The story and information you can gain from it. The personal touches.
So far I am beginning to be able to see links in things that I like, and am good at doing. Common reasons as to why I like those things. Which is good :) It will help me to be able to identify similar traits in other fields and things that I like; hopefully enabling me to select something based on that trait rather than liking it and then discovering that is has that trait about it. (I know that last sentence doesn't really make any sense but it does in my head!)
Abiento x
Journal Day 30 (past due)
Today we did/ are doing (as I am beginning to write this at 12pm) packaging and branding, focusing on creating something that can show and represent your identity. We started by going over examples of big brand packaging, and what each one says about the company or the product. So to start making some packaging about ourselves we started by brainstorming about who we are; what we like, what our interests our, qualities and traits we have etc. After filling a page with notes about myself I chose a few key words;
- Organised
- Adventurous
- Colourful
- Well Travelled
- Georgian Houses
- Textures and Fabric
- Books/Narrative
- Details
- Interiors
- Homely things
- Shapes
- Adventurous
The main thing that sparked inspiration for me was the Georgian Houses. I had recently bought a book of Iron on Transfers illustrated by Julia Rothman with a great illustration of some funky European houses from which I thought about creating my own house, or a doll house. I have already talked about this house in my post about printing and packaging, posted earlier on last week, but wanted to add a bit more detail and insight into my thought process for the project.
At the moment, as it is developing I am creating 3 A1 height buildings that will be alongside each other and will represent one side of the doll house, or a fabric illustration that could be taken further. This 'maquette' half finished style of working is just to show what could be done with more time. In order to make the fabric houses I am illustrating drawn versions on an A1 piece of paper, so will have those to show, most likely in water-colour as well.
Abiento x
Monday, 7 November 2011
Great Quote
Often when people find out that I do a bit of photography, they ask what camera I have. They often assume it's something amazing and fancy. Most professional photographers I meet do have expensive, high quality cameras, but I'm not professional, and that shit is expensiiiiiivveee! Other than my film cameras, the DSLR I have been working with this year, is a basic Sony camera bought for me by my family as my 18th Birthday present. So it's 3 years old now (and won't last much longer). I have obviously updated it since then with better lenses, however it often annoys me when people assume I have an amazing camera, like that's the only way I could produce amazing photos.
All of the film cameras I use are old. Like over a decade old. 2 of them are even made out of plastic. But I still use them. And I know of a few professional photographers who even use them now and then. But the assumptions still bug me. So when I found this quote, posted by Deb Schwedhelm, I knew I had to re-post it :).
All of the film cameras I use are old. Like over a decade old. 2 of them are even made out of plastic. But I still use them. And I know of a few professional photographers who even use them now and then. But the assumptions still bug me. So when I found this quote, posted by Deb Schwedhelm, I knew I had to re-post it :).
My beloved old minolta. Which is fantastic. Even though it is 13 years old and only cost me a tenner.
A photographer went to a socialite party in New York. as he entered the front door, the hostess said ‘i love your pictures. they’re wonderful. you must have a fantastic camera’.
He said nothing until dinner was finished, and then said; ‘That was a wonderful dinner, you must have a terrific stove’.
- Sam Haskins
How true is that!? You wouldn't dare say that an artists tools do all the work! And yet you do say that to a photographer. And this is the point that thousands of people are trying to make at the moment. iPhones could easily act as professional cameras. Kids using Deviant Art and making a name for themselves are using basic point and shoot cameras. Anyone could be a good photographer. It takes knowledge, skill and a creative eye to actually be able to be that great photographer. Not a fantastic camera.
Abiento x
Friday, 4 November 2011
Friday Fun
I can't decide if I would have liked to have this while me and the mr where doing long distance, or if it would make it hurt a little but more, as a reminder of the fact that you are far apart?
Abiento x
Thursday, 3 November 2011
My Week in Photos (365 Project)
28/10/11
29/10/11
30/10/11
31/10/11
01/11/11
02/11/11
03/11/11
Abiento x
29/10/11
30/10/11
31/10/11
01/11/11
02/11/11
03/11/11
Abiento x
A day in my mind
A day in my mind at the moment is pretty hectic with thoughts on figuring out myself and what I want to do with my life. Who am I? What do I like the most? What do I want to do?
So just to give you a little insight, here are some things I am considering for the year (or so) ahead.
In England I have (very recently) been looking at a selection of short courses offered by Central Saint Martins in London;
including this Interior Styling course,
this Graphic Design for beginners course,
as well as this packaging design course.
They also have these very expensive, yet exciting dual country short courses, where you start in London, and then finish at a twin school in either Paris, Milan or Barcelona! I have been looking at these architectural courses linked with Barcelona.
Also in London, I have briefly looked at this private school, instructing in Interior and garden design.
Focusing on slightly more normal degree courses, this visual communications foundation degree in Bournemouth has caught my eye.
Plus, back over in Vancouver a few graphic design courses are taking my interest; here at The Vancouver Art Institute, The Lasalle College and The Vancouver Art and Design School.
The Lasalle College also has this interiors course, same as the Vancouver Art Institute, which is a nice option.
So the plan is to continue my education. In either Art history, Graphics or Interiors. What I do in that field I'm not really sure of quite yet. So next Autumn me and mum plan to take a trip around Europe, and then I will try to find an internship and or some work experience before selecting a field to do some (more) training and education in! So many years of experimenting.... but what ever course I choose- I plan for it to be a year or two at most!
Any thoughts or suggestions for me? I kinda need them right now, as I am clueless! haha
Abiento x
So just to give you a little insight, here are some things I am considering for the year (or so) ahead.
In England I have (very recently) been looking at a selection of short courses offered by Central Saint Martins in London;
including this Interior Styling course,
this Graphic Design for beginners course,
as well as this packaging design course.
They also have these very expensive, yet exciting dual country short courses, where you start in London, and then finish at a twin school in either Paris, Milan or Barcelona! I have been looking at these architectural courses linked with Barcelona.
Also in London, I have briefly looked at this private school, instructing in Interior and garden design.
Focusing on slightly more normal degree courses, this visual communications foundation degree in Bournemouth has caught my eye.
Plus, back over in Vancouver a few graphic design courses are taking my interest; here at The Vancouver Art Institute, The Lasalle College and The Vancouver Art and Design School.
The Lasalle College also has this interiors course, same as the Vancouver Art Institute, which is a nice option.
So the plan is to continue my education. In either Art history, Graphics or Interiors. What I do in that field I'm not really sure of quite yet. So next Autumn me and mum plan to take a trip around Europe, and then I will try to find an internship and or some work experience before selecting a field to do some (more) training and education in! So many years of experimenting.... but what ever course I choose- I plan for it to be a year or two at most!
Any thoughts or suggestions for me? I kinda need them right now, as I am clueless! haha
Abiento x
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Feature in Cornish Brides Magazine
Do you remember a while back that I briefly mentioned the fascinator workshop I photographed for Holly Young? Well, Cornish Bride's came out this weekend, and it has a lovely feature of the workshop, including some of my images! Yay!
Go here to have a read and check out the rest of the magazine :)
Thanks again girls for letting me be part of this!
Abiento x
Go here to have a read and check out the rest of the magazine :)
Thanks again girls for letting me be part of this!
Abiento x
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Journal Day 29
Fabric printing for textiles workshop was yesterday- a busy and fun packed day! We worked as a group, with stencils to create screen prints with fabric. Using coloured inks we hand-mixed, we would apply our print over and around another persons, moving it down the fabric to create a length of repeated pattern.
We then made larger stencils and experimented with flour and other materials to create textures in the colour of the ink.
I loved it! As expected after the last print workshop, and am really enjoying the idea of working further with print- in fabrics or wallpapers or the like. And will definitely be continuing to work in this way, especially with the second format of my multi choice project.
As I'm sure I have already mentioned, I am most enjoying and attracted to the colours,patterns, textures and shapes. Something which I further explored today in the packaging workshop. We were to create packaging that represented our identity. And after much brainstorming about myself; jotting down things that I like as well as certain personality traits I posses, I developed an idea that really could be anything.
It could be used for packaging a product, or it could be used for a piece of art. Or it could even be used to make a doll house.
Essentially, I have always loved quirky illustrations of buildings; their bright colours and varied details with beautiful, old fashioned architecture. And I found that many of their qualities could represent my own, and so would work well as a representation of my identity, especially when designed with some of my own traits and quirks in mind. At present I have begun the drawing and designing stage and will develop it further to add in my own details. I will then make it into a 2d fabric version of the houses, either as a print or as the beginning stage of a doll house. The doll house (if ever made) could then be used to further showcase my personality through the interiors of the house- with my favourite foods in the fridge, and my favourite books on the shelves for example. Photos of this work to come over the next week or so as I develop it! But for now this was the initial inspiration, an illustration by Julia Rothman in this 'book'.
Abiento x
We then made larger stencils and experimented with flour and other materials to create textures in the colour of the ink.
I loved it! As expected after the last print workshop, and am really enjoying the idea of working further with print- in fabrics or wallpapers or the like. And will definitely be continuing to work in this way, especially with the second format of my multi choice project.
As I'm sure I have already mentioned, I am most enjoying and attracted to the colours,patterns, textures and shapes. Something which I further explored today in the packaging workshop. We were to create packaging that represented our identity. And after much brainstorming about myself; jotting down things that I like as well as certain personality traits I posses, I developed an idea that really could be anything.
It could be used for packaging a product, or it could be used for a piece of art. Or it could even be used to make a doll house.
Essentially, I have always loved quirky illustrations of buildings; their bright colours and varied details with beautiful, old fashioned architecture. And I found that many of their qualities could represent my own, and so would work well as a representation of my identity, especially when designed with some of my own traits and quirks in mind. At present I have begun the drawing and designing stage and will develop it further to add in my own details. I will then make it into a 2d fabric version of the houses, either as a print or as the beginning stage of a doll house. The doll house (if ever made) could then be used to further showcase my personality through the interiors of the house- with my favourite foods in the fridge, and my favourite books on the shelves for example. Photos of this work to come over the next week or so as I develop it! But for now this was the initial inspiration, an illustration by Julia Rothman in this 'book'.
Abiento x
Illustration
Just thinking and brainstorming in preparation for my illustration workshop next week, and quite appropriately this popped up on my blogger feed-
Thanks Miss Moss for being so timely!
Thanks Miss Moss for being so timely!
Sketchy, but colourful, like fashion illustrations.
(French Women by Isaac Bonan)
Particularly love the skin tones- blues and purples all merging together with the hazy white background :)
Such great, popping colours! Very simplistic but delicate
Delicate, rustic, careful language. Sweet and deliberately simplistic.
(Merci by Emma Block)
Great use of darker colours, reminiscent of print work. Love the yellow lines of interest leading to the subtler sky.
Merged and hidden, subtle and beautiful. Less is more. Blurry and hazy, yet clear as to what is being expressed.
Delicate, light colours of pencil sketching. Layers of translucent. Similar to a photo from fashion week, but so much more intimate as a sketch.
Just love the concept of this to be honest. Tugging on her jumper to reveal her tattoo. Tugging at her heart sleeve!
Abiento x
Busy and Hungover
How do you write a journal post and show photos of your Halloween costume when your so hung-over you can't sit up properly? You don't..... I'll be back later for some show and tell :)
Abiento x
Abiento x
Friday, 28 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Friday Fun
If you go see it let me know!
Abiento x
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