Specialising in Mixed Media - Week Three

So, because I am focusing on animation in this project, I did a spider diagram to plan out what I was going to do as well as develop on design ideas. I came across animation because with dance it is difficult to capture movement in one image. For further research, I went to the Visual Resource Centre as it holds forms of animation. There were only a few slides available as it was rare to capture images of dance a few years ago.

Then I began looking at how to make an animation wheel. The correct term for this object is called a Zoetrope. I began making several samples on how I could make the outer part of the Zoetrope by recycling materials like my artist Sayaka Ganz. And I co-operated FKA Twigs technique of simplicity within the Zoetrope by keeping the image to a minimum of movement. I think this was a great outcome as I was exposed to the choices of how big I could make the Zoetrope’s, as well as what other materials I could make the Zoetrope’s from rather than just using paper.

First Zoetrope made from paper.

Zoetrope made from paint splattered on pain. developed from Kinder Egg butterfly templates.

Foam

Table Deco Foam

From the laser cutting experience from the first Mixed Media rotation, I was fascinated by how it works and how the materials alters after the laser cuts through. So, to begin with I drew outlines of the dancers and inserted this onto the laser cutter and these were the outcomes.

I feel that time has not really been my strength since Origins. The laser cutting session seemed to fly by and before I knew it, I had only a few samples that I could work off from. I did plan my time but, with machines delaying the process and other duties bearing in mind did not work out so well as I though it would.

Here I thought about how I could co-operate Wei Wei's technique of installation and 3D sculptors. I recorded videos and sounds onto a DVD and thought about how I could use the CD, as a base of a Zoetrope.

Friday Drawing Day:

We were asked to bring in a pair of shoes? I thought it was odd at first but once I got into the challenge it linked in well with my project. It linked well because, in dance you mostly use your feet to move around there fore, I was able to interpret that as you will see:

I left this on the entrance to the classroom I was working in and people left their shoes mark. This was a really good experiment that I personally think was effective.

After a couple of hours of this challenge, I ran out of ideas.

Specialising in Mixed Media - Week Two

Second week is when I began going out and recording everyday noises such as: busking, stores, cafes etc. I then started asking friends and families where they thought I was when recording these sounds. The responses were amazing. this instantly made sense on how you need music and dance together to show something because without one of them, the concept instantly changes.

I then developed this more and started watching the show The Voice. The programme is about members of the public singing for judges while the judges cannot see them. So, I set myself to be in the judge’s shoes and draw what I thought the person looks like before I saw them. Some outcomes were not as expected.

I did this experiment to show that you need music in dance to complement each other. one with out the together simply does not link or fit well.

On this sample, I looked at a music box with a tiny little ballerina inside. From this, I developed it further by recording just the sound in one. And another clip recording the ballerina dancing without the music. To conclude the sample, I included both of these media; how you usually see it. I asked friends and family what they thought of the recording just with the music, they allegedly thought I was recording something from a scary movie. When I showed them the video with the ballerina dancing without music, they thought it was a bit strange; I toy spinning on the spot. 

At the beginning of this rotation, I targeted myself to plan out day to day work and at what time and for how long I will be working on the project. So, during the first week I called into schools and college arranging when I could come in and take pictures of dance.

The Oldham Academy North

In Mixed Media I found that peer reviews are really helpful. When I was presenting my work, I suggested that I could possibly look at animation because movement is really difficult to capture and to draw. This idea was developed by looking at choreographed dance moves on YouTube. The different dance moves to create a dance was shown there so I immediately thought of animation. So this is how I reflected on my idea.

After a CP lecture, John who was in charge of the resource centre came in to do a talk about slides. This was instantly another sample that I could look at. So I arranged a time to go in and pick some slides out. There were less than few slides available on dance as it was something that would have been difficult to capture in an image.

After further research I found that what my intention was to work on was called Zoetrope.

Friday Drawing Day:

Drawing day was unusual as we were told to bring in Kinder Eggs. After explaining what we were set to do it all made sense. So this is what I did from the toys inside and tried relating it to my project.

Both of my toys were the same so I was stuck. I started playing around with the butterfly wings and created multiple wings from paper and began stacking them on top of each other to create this structure. i found this really interesting and I feel as though this could be developed  using my primary images.

                  

After my tutors review on my work so far, she suggested Eadweard Muybridge who is an animation artist. After research, this artists work is very simplistic which is something that I would definitely want to carry on further.

At this point in time, I am thinking about animation

Specialising in Mixed Media - Artists

Ai Wei Wei - Installation Artist

I looked at several artists for references as well as inspiration. I tried not to look at installation artists because that was my concept, however much I tried to avoid this, I couldn't not use Wei Wei as a reference.

Vladislav Petrovskiy - Photgrapher

Petrovskiy is a photographer I came across when looking at ballet. After thinking abut how I could capture dance movements in an image, I thought about how I could his techniques.

Sayaka Ganz - Installation Artist

Ganz is an artist that works with found objects. Her technique is what really inspires me to actually build something from everyday objects.

FKA Twigs - Singer

Twigs is a singer that was literally chose to use as a reference, just simply because of her style in appearance. As I looked into her work furthermore; her music videos are very unusual to what you usually see. From these videos, I think I would be coperating them in my project somehow.

Eadweard Muybridge - Animation Artist

I began looking at Muybridge when a tutor recommended him while looking at my project that was linked to animation. The simplicity of Muybridge's work is amazing. This technique is definitely what I will be carrying out in this project.

Specialising in Mixed Media - Week One

For the last three weeks I chose to work in Mixed Media because I really enjoyed how I was able to use various materials whereas in the other rotations, I felt very limited to the materials and techniques I was allowed to. 

For my theme I looked at Street Beat and Balance. For my concept I looked at Exhibition/ Installation.

 There are several forms of dance so I chose to work with break dance/ ballet.

 I chose balance because in break dance and ballet, you need music to express yourself as dance and music are part of expression.

 An idea to start where I could base my work was either in the Piccadilly Gardens or the All Saints Campus.

My interpretation of music:

Ballet - Swan Lake

Reggea - Bob Marley One Love

Rap - Eminem No Love

R&B- Drake Hold On

Pop -Meghan Trainor All About That Bass

Rock - Paramore Ignorance

Friday Drawing Day:

The first half on drawing day did not benefit me or my project in any way. The only part that did improve my reflection in my work was when we were set to listen to out favourite music and draw to it using different techniques.apart from that I did not see how this was helpful for me.

Another session was placing paper across the table with object place in the centre. we were then directed to go around and draw the objects in our own way. This was something that I did not enjoy doing.

Second half of drawing day:

Accidental drawing

Draw with scrunched up paper

Fill in 5% of paper

Fill in 25% of paper

Fill in 85% of paper

Draw with dust

Draw with dust

The second half of drawing day was beneficial for me as I was able to interpret more music, as well experiment with different techniques that was read out by tutors, and somehow link them with my project. I find that I actually enjoy drawing days when it comes to focusing on the techniques and how far I can stretch my thought on developing the technique further.