Foundation Work 2012-2013

The following is a collection of work from my Foundation Course. I could not show every piece of work but I selected a few of my favourites for you. Enjoy!

 Here is a a selection of prints from the Print Making diagnostic that we did. The theme was 'environment' so from that I looked through National Geographic Magazines and found some very interesting images. -Frozen Starfish Icicles, Tornadoes, Lightening strikes, and Animal bone Structures. The print on the left is of an Elephant foot. I thought that it was an interesting image as you don't normally get to see inside an Elephants foot. 

 These selection of images are from the 3-D diagnostic and were part of a  piercing exercise. We had to make an interesting shape uses a specific number of cuts. In the images you can see what 1 simple cut can look like, or if you are feeling adventurous, you an make a cut out pattern (the hand). Out of these three pieces I like the single cut as I think that they are the most refined. I think that this exercise ultimately came in handy with the rest of my projects as they were predominately three dimensional.

During Block A I learnt how to use the vacuum former in the workshop. I could have easily vacuum formed everything I could get my hands on! I really liked the idea of using a new technique as not even the tutors or Technition knew how to use it correctly so it was a new experience of trial and error for all of us. We tried out Pink flocked plastic and it was weird having furry plastic spoons after! 

A collection of quick 5 minute charcoal drawings during a life drawings class.
Not all of them were as successful as the others but I like a few. I think that my life drawing has come along way since I started as I feel more confident in my drawing style and ability.

After a trip to Barcelona, we had to come up with a page layout design using photographs as well as images out of our sketchbooks as part of it. I used panoramic images that I had taken using my phone. I looked through my sketchbook and photocopied sketches and pages that I found interesting and visual. I then mixed and matched parts of these photocopies by cutting them out and scanning them in. I was then able to build up panoramic images of my sketches. They then tied in with the panoramic images. I then overlayed an outline of my eyes as this page was about how I saw Barcelona as my perspective is completely different to other peoples'.

These little pots have been sawdust fired! I made a load of pots in this style as part of a project to make a candelabra. They were inspired by an Ceramist called Emogayu. They have since been an unbelievable inspiration to me. I like how the pieces were made in Stoneware clay and have fired black. The only problem with wood firing is that it does not fire the pieces fully so they are still quite fragile despite being fired.

These series of photographs show my Block B work. This project was about Spoons. We had to design the spoon so I altered their shapes by Cold Forging, Drilling, Piercing, and Annealing. Theses spoons were Stainless steel which made them hard to work compared to using copper. I then had to look at Welsh love spoons and Santes Dwynwen and design spoons around that theme. I then constructed a series of spoons out of Copper sheet and used a variety of techniques to bend and form them into shape. I also started a Cold Forging spoon but this technique takes a lot of time and effort as you have to keep annealing the copper to keep working it.

These pots are also from Block C but I feel that they have a different aesthetic to the other pots as I glazes these pots in a White tin glaze- and Cobalt oxide on one of them- but during this firing the glaze fired off slightly so the clay can be seen underneath which is what is giving it the speckled colour. I actually quite like this effect as it gives the whole pot a rustic feel. I also experimented with oxides on the one pot so add a splash of colour. I think that using a wax resist next time will really make the edges between the glaze and the oxides crisp. 

This little fella was part of the Fine Art diagnostic entitled 'Play'. In this diagnostic we played with different materials. This was how my playing with a piece of a foam cylinder and a wooden skewer ended up. I cut the foam into very thin segments. Not all of them cut evenly so some are thicker than others. I then layered them up and used the skewer to keep them in place. I think that the orange of the Foam reminds me of segmented fruit.   

And last by no means least, this little guy. This little piece was made completely by mistake when I was using the extruder in the Ceramics workshop. I liked the shape of it so much that I carefully removed it and let it dry with the rest of my work. I just love the sinuous lines of the curves and the way that it stands. Although this was made completely accidentally I would really like to reproduce this as a larger sculpture or use it as a basis for a future collection. I decorated it with Ash glaze which has a green tinge to it. Like the other glazes pots, the glaze fired off slightly leaving the clay to show through. 

Top Pieces of Art

Ironwork designed by Gaudi

Gaudi is a major inspiration of mine and this is why he features in my top pieces of art. I love Gaudi’s metalwork. I looked at it when I was completing a previous assignment. I got the privilege of going to Barcelona and experiencing his work first hand- photos just don’t do it justice!

Gaudi managed to make a cold heartless material such as metal and make it into organic shapes with sinuous lines. I really like the curves he creates in the metal as they create interesting shadows. I like how he just used one metal and was true to form, as he didn’t cover it in enamels or decorations. His work was so elaborate it didn’t need decorations.

The photo on the right is of an ironworking on Palau Guell and was created by Joan Oñós in 1889. Gaudi designed the metal work but worked closely with other artists to create the masterpieces. Some pieces, such as the photo on the left, he created himself after learning the various techniques. 

Top Pieces of Art

Joan Miro- Daybreak Tagesanbruch (1968)

I remember looking at Miro’s work while I was in year eight and making a presentation about him and his work. Part of this project was to draw some of his work. I had loads of fun drawing the different shapes and using bright primary colours. I like how he used bright colours, which contrasted with the dark black lines. This piece was the first piece I drew as part of that project.

We visited the Joan Miro Foundation on a trip to Barcelona where I got to see a whole collection on his work from paintings to scultpures outside on the roof terrace. It was a really interesting place to visit. I could have spent hours drawing my favourite pieces.

Top Pieces of Art

The Blues Brothers (1980) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Both films directed by John Landis and written by John Landis and Dan Aykroyd

These are two of my favourite films. I can remember watching The Blues Brothers at an early age with my dad and singing along to the songs (which I still do when I watch it!)

I really like how the film is not the best-made film but focuses on the music and the musicians. How they managed to get so many famous musicians to play and/or sing in it I don’t know.  

As a sequel goes, Blues Brothers 2000 isn’t the best but I think it is successful as a sequel as it carries the musicians through from the first film and places them in context of when the sequel is set. 

Top Pieces of Art

The Lion King- Walt Disney (1994)

 I can remember this being my favourite film growing up. I felt that I could relate to it as I was growing up in Africa and a small part of me thought it was real and that the characters were alive and that I would see them one day.

I think that it is incredible that is a hand drawn animation with the occasional piece of computer animation- mostly in the wildebeest stampede.

Everyone knows the songs in Lion King, as they are timeless pieces of music written by Tim Rice with the music composed by Elton John. I think that out of all the songs my favourite is ‘Hakuna Matata’ as the song is catchy. 

Top Pieces of Art

Arline Fisch- English Garden (1993)

This piece is placed in my top pieces of art because it has been the one piece to completely change my way of thinking and what kind of artist I would end up being. It inspired me to change my plan of becoming a photographer to becoming a 3D artist. This change happened, thankfully, right at the beginning of my college course. It was the main inspiration me to make my first piece of metal body adornment, for which I received my first distinction!

I still look at Arline’s work for inspiration regardless of the project or assignment as she is a major influence on me. Her work is sculptural in both a metalwork and textiles.

Top Pieces of Art

Alexander Calder- Mercury Fountain

I saw this on a recent trip to Barcelona where we visited The Joan Miro Foundation. At first I thought that it was a sculpture by Miro but after doing more research into Miro I found out it was by Alexander Calder.

It looked like water at first glance but looking closely at the ‘water’ you could see it was acting differently to water would act. It behaves like oil on water creating little droplets on the surface of the sculpture. I found out it was actually liquid mercury. The sculpture is now behind a glass wall because of the dangerous vapours from the mercury. I like how the liquid Mercury adds reflection to the sculpture.

I really like how the sculpture has a cycle where the mercury travels down the sculpture into the pool and is sucked back up to the top to start again. This motion also adds movement to the sculpture.