Arts and Crafts Evaluation
For our research we split the categories into two, Primary
and secondary research. We were unable to collect any primary research on our
chosen artists due to no art shows broadcasting their work were close/ in
region.
For my secondary research I used most the internet scanning
blogs, images, websites and biography’s to create an image of my chosen artists.
I also referred to books to find images and more factual information
surrounding my chosen artist giving me a better understanding of their work.
We were given two artists to study during this project, deciding
to study one or both; I chose to study William Morris over Charles Renie Mackintosh
due to the style expressed by his work, using more floral detail with dark
colours against Mackintosh whose work was more abstract light and modern in
design. Though both artists argued formidability in my decision, I felt that
Morris held a higher rank in his choice of design and fame with in the artist’s
community.
For my mood boards I studied Morris’s work and collected a
range of images drawn by my chosen artist and applied them to a sheet, then by
following the design cycle of using only my chosen images, I managed to create
a mood board consisting of extended images that are reproducible and consistent
in patterns whilst still retaining an Morision Style (Morris style) this
example of detailed styles is what influenced me most in my final piece.
For my decision of my contemporary artist I looked for someone
modern whose work was very exuberant and out there , combining Macintoshes
style of abstract with the complete counter part of Morris. I eventually decided
on Grayson Perry because his modern work combined abstract art with human
integer and design whilst still keeping the raw example of emotion empowered by
his unique style and persona. I found that by combining counter parts together
you can create unique high quality pieces that still incorporate mackintosh and
Morris, though this style and claim is shown through Grayson Perry’s work I believe
it’s a fine example of artist combination
For my experimentation we were taught 5 different
techniques, each paragraph will explain what I did during these tutorials.
Puff binder: Puff binder is a produced applied to paper that
expands when heat is applied (heat is created by a heat gun) we were taught to
apply to colour to the puff binder via colour dyes the less that was put in
the, lighter the colour of the puff binder, talking advantage of this allowed
for different colour tones to be applied to the final pieces (as shown with my
Morris style flower) there are visible changes in the shade of my pieces. Though
plain puff binder is white it is still visible when heat is applied this is
shown in my sample pieces there is no colour shown in the piece.
Health and safety of puff binder: ensure that the puff
binder doesn’t get in eyes or body, not for consumption may be fatal if
consumed. Keep away from hot areas to prevent puff binder from expanding,
ensure heat gun is fully functional, asses for any damaged before use (report
if damaged to prevent potential accidents) keep body away from heat gun exit
and tie long hair back to prevent fire hazards and potential accident (injury’s/fatal
injury’s) ensure gun is held at distance and no objects or people are in the
way (apart from object being dried) ensure object doesn’t burn to prevent fire
hazards.
Weaving: for our weaving tutorial we were shown how to
create a fabric piece made form thick yarn, this consisted of 7 strands of equal
length (30cm) threaded through small holes drilled though poles, all the strand
then are pushed through the front to create 14 threads which are tied in
3,2,2,2,2 3 tying to the next strand to create an interlocking system of
connected thread this is to prevent the weaving from collapsing when the poles
are removed, thick yarn is waved between all the poles in a figure of eight
motion till the yarn is at a high point of the poles (not breaching the poles
thresh hold) the poles are then pulled through doing each alternate pol from
the middle avoiding the end poles till
the end . When all the pole are pulled through then need to be snipped and
removed, the threads are tied in the same frequency of 3,2,2,2,2,3 then pulled
to neaten any areas .
Health and safety for weaving: ensure all equipment is fully
functional ( if broken report to prevent potential accidents e.g impalement causing
injury/ fatal injury ) ensure risk of chocking from yarn is covered and student
are away of implications of violence towards other via strangulation from the thick
yarn.
Batik: To start we had to melt the wax in the form of wax
beads these were placed in the wax pots and melted down to liquid consistency
of water, we then used to tganting tools inserting the melted wax into to the
pool/ oasisies displayed as holes in the tools. We then drew with the tganting
tools basic shapes related to our artists and the styles that they would use.
We then drew designs with brusho inks to colour areas we needed. The idea
behind it is the wax doesn't absorb the ink leaving the space under the wax the
same colour. Layers can be applied to
keep the previous colour. Once the wax has cooled it needs to be ironed of to
stop the wax from chipping and marking, the art work is place between two
sheets of news print and the wax is melted and absorbed by the newsprint. Once
all the wax has been removed the peace is left to cool/dry.
Health and safety for batik: ensure all equipment is fully
functional ( no breaches in the wax pots, tganting tools have not breaches in
the oasis area of the tools, wooden handles have no splinters to prevent injury
/ fatal injury’s) student are shown the correct way to use the wax beads ( not
overloading the pot to prevent splash back against the student not over loading
the tganting tools, to prevent burning injury/ fatal injury) ensuring allergies
are clarified before usage so special glove can be provided (not plastic as it
may melt causing burning injuries.
Sewing: for this part we were given the choice between hand
sewing and machine sewing, I chose to do hand sewing as it gave my work a more
vintage edge and I felt was a lot more to my taste than using a machine. We had
to thread cotton though the needles and sew around the lines of our image in allocated
colours, for mine I sewed blue leaf in detail into my drawing to give it a more
intricate look and appeal.
Health and safety for sewing: ensure students are away of
how to use equipment, tie long hair back to prevent injuries (mangling of hair
in machines) ensure student doesn’t have allergies to the materials being used
(skin conditions cause skin irritations and rashes) ensure hands don’t go close
to moving needles (causing injury/fatal injury) hand stitching are aware of
hand positioning during the needles decent back though the material.
Mark making: we used pigment ink we then used a range of
textured equipment to create patters on our images these added edge and diversity
giving a unique look in design and vintage style of workings. This method of
creating texture is effective as it just uses standard house hold objects to
create the piece.
Health and safety of mark making: ensure student don’t consume
pigment ink as it may be fatal if consumed< ask for allergies and provide
gloves to student (plastic as they area water proof and can’t be penetrated by
liquids.
For my peer assessment I was given good reviews all round
and so I didn’t have to improve my work dramatically, though this did encourage
me to keep producing work of a high quality and aim for higher marks.
My strengths with in the design are that my artists are
similar in the way that there styles were easily reproducible and I was able to
create pieces that I knew would exceed expectation looking into depth of my
images and designing a final piece that is easily relatable to my artist
sheets.
If I was to do the project again I would change anything as I
feel that my work was of a high standard and I was able to create the piece
time efficiently with quality as my main priority, I felt that the artist were
chosen with deep meaning and showed deep thought towards all my art pieces.
During my project I felt that I created good quality work
with in the set time limit, personally I felt my final piece was the best part,
more in depth I thought my puff binding was my best work throughout the entire
project. I didn’t feel anything went wrong as I was careful with what I did I wouldn’t
change anything.
I felt that I managed my time exceptionally completing all pieces
on time and to a high quality
Personal comment: thoroughly enjoyed the project as it covered
everything I like, felt more encouraged to use different techniques and will
use these for future projects.
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