buttons and threads to stitch

2010-09-18T03:24:00.001-07:00

Colo Colo, or Coca Cola to the none Northern Frenchies, designed this for "out of the box" advertising. Pretty cool idea if i say so myself.

Summer Project. Done and Dusted.

2010-09-18T03:05:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Aeroplane RA Podcast.

I've been cheating on blogger with tumblr. He's more suited to my needs. And displays things more visually than i think blogger does.

I'm not saying goodbye to blogger, just i'll see you soon.

My tumblr is in the link at the top.

Just a taster

2010-08-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Fenech-Soler Mixtape

Summer project getting underway, if not a little late. But hey, i've been holidaying and romancing.
Totally loving seagulls just now, which is showing. Brave gulls in Dundee beware, i was tempted to pick one up and keep him when i was at the bus station a few weeks ago. Still really want one as a pet.

Life's a Beach

2010-07-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Optimo.

I managed to learn how to use the dreaded Adobe Illustrator. I love technology, especially computers. But Adobe does not love me.

Yes, currently i'm having difficulty in saving it as some sort of file i can then upload it on to here with....
Screen shot anyone?

Click to enlarge. I wish there was a cooler way of saying that...cliquez sur pour agrandir?

To the disco

2010-05-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Brodinski - MADPOD for La Mouv'

We had a print week last year which i really enjoyed, in fact it made me decide to do textiles and to get in to print making.

I took my original picture from a page in a WAD magazine that i have. Then interpreted it on to vinyl then went mad with it basically.

Here are a few tasters.

Then my scanner decided to play up...

Weather permitting

2010-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Brodinski - Planning mix summer edition

Vaseline in my eyes.

2010-04-26T06:11:00.000-07:00

Currently getting deaf to: Toro Y moi - New Loved Ones

2010-04-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

Chilling to - Toro Y Moi - Imprint After

Who Walks Who?

2010-04-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Half an hour of my day spent doing that.

It's not got a point as such.

Ahh the life of an artist.

Little Friends.

2010-04-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Just a taster.

I'm taking a lot of inspiration from Alvaro Barcala just now, as i'm really digging his work after a re-fresh look over.

Thinking about doing some life drawing with him in mind.

Might be in rude taste, but sex sells.

Jack may have killed a lot of them, but the prostitutes were on to something.

Ignore the pun.

With Hockeny in Mind

2010-04-12T08:21:00.001-07:00

I said i would do a portrait of myself taking inspiration from Hockeny, a tribute!

I went for putting in tinfoil as my glasses lens as i always get a shine on them, and thought it might be quite interesting instead of eyes. A little twist on an imitation.

Edit: I really hated my eyes in this, i went over the tinfoil so it doesn't look so vacant and put in "eyes" and i look like a scared cat...Well previous life and all that.
It looked a bit body snatcher esq...

Bugs From School

2010-03-24T16:00:00.001-07:00

Bug project is well underway. Really enjoying it and the floods of ideas coming to me. Just upset it couldn't have been this inspiring with my last two projects. Ah we live and learn.
Anyway, i've been doing some drawing and photo taking of my lovelies.

And that's only a hand full of what's been done! I'm not sure if i should just stick with beetles at the moment, and if we can, pursue more bugs and insects next year. As the tray i was drawing from was only one of at least 20 with different kinds of insects in each! Amazing!

We have a photomontage class tomorrow where i think i will feel the need to channel David Hockney . Hurrah!

Listening to -

2010-02-22T10:12:00.001-08:00

So, I went against all odds and dived in to printing, despite the debacle I had last semester.

Seems I'm slowly but surely learning my lessons. Well I'd forgotten.

Now i can coat and expose a screen (eventually) and mix up dyes. Whoop whoop kapow. I'm not really worried about asking someone what to do, I'm not worried about looking stupid, i want to get it right.

Anyway, my project is on stripes from the sea and i got some really nice line out of the landscape from Broughty Ferry, and put that in to my print.

The bottom one is a pattern i found on an old coconut which i really like. Hmmm seems to be going ok...

2008 projector work

2009-12-07T14:09:00.001-08:00

These are textile samples from a week block we had last year. It was based on projections and the shadows cast from chosen objects that were placed on an over head projector. I got some really nice photos (below) with them and really enjoyed it.It is a really good way of gaining patterns and ideas.
Used a lot of acetate and layering.My main object to project was a load of different shaped sequence and i think it turned out pretty well! Considering it was only a week long and i was only in for about a day and a half.
Obviously i work better and harder when there is less time.

Think i'd quite like to go back to this and do some more.
Christmas presents?!

Currently watching - quantum leap.

Maurizio Anzeri

2009-12-06T16:51:00.001-08:00

I meant to bring up Maurizio Anzeri a while ago but i totally forgot to post about him until now.
A recent visit to my friends house brought back the memories of how much i love him because her flat
mate is doing something similar with her work just now using embroidery.
He has a lot of other work but my favourite is his embroidered vintage photos and how he manipulates
the photographs with stitch,making a seemingly sweet and innocent picture something that can appear
quite creepy!

I actually just LOVE his work. Especially the bottom one, she looks like she has a balaclava on and appears quite threatening but by just seeing the face behind the embroidery you know that she's quite innocent.

I like the initial shock factor of the pieces.

Listening to -

Lace and all things girlie.

2009-12-06T16:50:00.003-08:00

I've been having a look at Cal Lane's work which i think goes quite well with my work that I'm doing just now with my project.
I've been looking at the Victorian Era, and English Romanticism and have been doing a lot of the doilies work...shudder. But more really at lace and old patterns and the "textiles" of then.
Cal Lane uses "manly objects" and cuts out patterns of lace in to them, so to say shortly!

"I like to work as a visual devil’s advocate, using contradiction as a vehicle for finding my way to an empathetic image, an image of opposition that creates a balance - as well as a clash - by comparing and contrasting ideas and materials.This manifested in a series of “Industrial Doilies”, pulling together industrial and domestic life as well as relationships of strong and delicate, masculine and feminine, practical and frivolity, ornament and function. There is also a secondary relationship being explored here, of lace used in religious ceremonies as in weddings, christenings and funerals"

A few of my favourite pieces include her shovels and also her "dirt" work.

Absolutely stunning.

Fix up. Look sharp.

Mummy I want to be a picture taker.

2009-12-06T16:50:00.001-08:00

It really upsets me that you can't see this view anymore from where it was taken, because of "new office space" that really isn't needed.

These pictures where taken a while ago from a friends "balcony" with fond memories of fantastic sunsets and sunrises. And mental parties...

Beloved Glasgow Queen Street.

Needle park Baxter Park.

Under The Bridge. "I don't ever wanna feel like i did that day.Take me to the place i love"

Which would be a place i love.

Fix up. Look sharp.

Listening to -

I love this song more than you.

Minimal Time piece.

2009-12-06T16:46:00.003-08:00

I honestly couldn't tell you how i came across the site trend hunter but i seem to spend hours trawling the site looking at the amazing and weird things that go on in the world. I came across a Minimalist Timepiece on the front page that someone had written about and i find it fascinating...

It's called Target Clock and it's been designed by Simon Lumb and uses graphics instead of numbers.

You'd need to watch the video below to understand how to actually tell the time on it! It's still a pretty cool wall piece, even if you do find it difficult to tell the time!

Trends via TrendHunter.com.

Fix up. Look sharp.

Listening to -

Alvaro Barcala

2009-12-06T16:46:00.001-08:00

I've come across Alvaro Barcala's work a few times but i just thought I'd pass it on if you've never heard of him. His stuff has provoked a few "urgh weird" statements from a few friends of mine when I've shown them his work but i really love it.

I like Art that makes your prudish side slightly recoil inside.

I, personally, don't find his stuff shocking, as it's only human genitals after all. Almost childlike illustrations, and even then they are only in some of his drawings.

I am doing well aren't i?!

ANYWAY an great fine artist with amazing detailing. I also really like where he pulls his inspiration from, like his "invisible friend" drawings..."...exposes the innate predisposition children have for being communicated with the invisible and with the magico-religious beliefs. The same predisposition the societies had in Ancient Times."

I love the glowing effect he has produced in these drawings.

Alvaro Barcala has also done some book illustrations which are so so beautifully delicate.

Fix up. Look sharp.

Listening to - peep show in the background

Self portrait.

2009-12-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not the best at drawing and painting so this was probably about a half an hour job, but i feel it is very me and that's all that really matters.
It was for a self portrait exhibition/competition that we had last year. Obviously i didn't win.

Currently getting deaf to: Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A major.

Construction Fun.

2009-12-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

I did this piece last year in my general course, it was a construction week and we could make anything we pleased. I went with taking sayings literally and ended up using the phrase "Three Square Meals".

I used real food that was placed in seaweed jelly that was then placed in ice cube trays to give them the "cube" affect.

I absolutely loved this project, and think it's one of my strongest. Sadly it didn't last the weekend as it rotted *sad*.

I had a lot of ideas with this one, which make me think I'm probably doing the wrong subject...

Currently getting deaf to: bat for lashes - glass

That so called "weave" work.

2009-12-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

I've got more, but i just need to photograph them. I'll pop them up soon.

I've been told my weave was coming out strongly. Which is a shame because i found it the most boring.

Although having said this, i only got that feed back from friends.

I had an awful meeting with a tutor of mine, to get my grade for this semester, who i've only spoken to about once for 5 minutes at the most. It has to be said, it was sheer torture. He had nothing good or constructive to say about my work. Dick.

Currently getting deaf to: the xx - heart skipped a beat

photoshop and sketchbook

2009-12-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

This is work from my sketch book. And the bottom one being a photoshop job slightly combining the two.

It has to be said, this project has been my worst so far. I wanted to do it on gothic horror but was told to do it on English romanticism...different ends of the spectrum but i went along with it to please tutors. And i hated every aspect of it. I'm not very confident at the best of times with my work so it was a horrific ordeal but i feel I've had some good things come out of it. Like the pervious mixed media samples, and my to be posted weave work.

I guess we'll see how next term goes.

Currently getting deaf to: The xx - fantasy

Mixed Media

2009-12-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

These are samples from my mixed media week, using the embroidery technique on the sewing machine. The circles and stitch have taken inspiration from lace and doilies (oh gosh not them) which I have stitched on to aquafilm then melted it off and have placed them on a very fine muslin cloth.

Mounted awfully, which is something i need to get sorted out.

Currently getting deaf to: warrior one - mixed tape.

p.s. it's meant to be scraggy ends with the cloth!

Gulp

2009-12-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

I already have a "blog" of sorts, but this is my secret one, that i doubt anyone will notice and look at. But it's going to be filled with purely "work" and the odd dash of music that I've been listening to at the time of posting.
So here goes...