Perspectives on Practice by kate foster

Initial Intentions

katefoster2 — 2022-02-08 18:30:41 UTC

During the module launch, the idea that stood out to me the most was making a video. I think this will allow me to be more creative in my response to the brief, as I won’t have to limit my presentation to just being me talking in the studio space. I was initially quite apprehensive at the thought of speaking about myself for quite a long period of time, but I intend to use this module as a positive reflection on everything I have learnt so far, and how it can help me going forward.

katefoster2 — 2022-02-08 18:31:00 UTC

BA Fine Art Talk and Workshop

katefoster2 — 2022-02-08 18:34:14 UTC

Something that stood out to me from the Fine Art talk was how we would be equipped with skill that would transfer into the world of employment, that cannot be replicated by A.I. or non-creative people. I was also quite surprised about how the element of performance can help to make your work public, which will then help us to find out place in the creative industry.

Practical Task - 8/2/22

katefoster2 — 2022-02-08 18:41:31 UTC

Our task was to make a sculptural piece that could be worn on our head. Our constraints included time and materials: scissors, masking tape and a limited amount of paper. I really enjoyed this task and immediately had some kind of a plan of what I wanted to do, although I altered my plan as I went as I worked out what I could realistically get done within the time frame. I had been looking at windmills for my practical work for VIS3003, so I decided to use this as inspiration for my creation, by making paper pinwheels. I intended to make them able to spin, but practically I didn’t have the resources I needed to make them all spin freely. However, I did make paper pins that I was able to connect to two of the pinwheels that made them able to rotate if you pushed them.

katefoster2 — 2022-02-08 18:46:37 UTC

Digital Practice Talk

katefoster2 — 2022-02-10 10:17:53 UTC

Although I am not experienced in using digital programs in my work, there have been times when I know it would help me achieve something quicker or make something look more realistic. In the talk I learnt about an application called Blender, a free app that I had never heard of before. I now know I have this as an option if I need to incorporate something digital into my work.

Art and Design BA Talk

katefoster2 — 2022-02-15 10:20:24 UTC

core values: social skills, collaboration, hybrid outlook, confidence, creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, complex problem solving, audience/user/planet focus, risk-taking, resilience, ethics, verbal and visual communication skills and working fluidly.

art and design are 2 ends of the same line - expression and purpose
there is the option to transfer to creative technologies - creative tech pathway means your outcomes will be technology-based - not for me
it is a course for people who have studied art by have not identified a pathway to industry and want to explore multiple options
limited courses like this in the uk - lots globally but uk is behind the curve
lots of collaboration
3 labs - thought labs, material labs and digital labs - do I have to do digital work ? - testing and embracing new technology - does it matter that I have no prior experience / software / tablets
studio - in Margaret Street - one incubator space with making at its heart - a place of doing - I really love this building so I am excited to have the opportunity to do my BA here as well as my Foundation
the example brief of facial recognition - a bit intimidating - is this the right course for me ?
graduates will be ready for immediate employment AND for future evolutions in the creative industry

‘these interdisciplinary skills will open doors to lots of different careers’ - alumnus

Kate Brinkworth Oil Paint Techniques Talk

katefoster2 — 2022-02-17 14:39:39 UTC

I have never worked with oil paints before, so I found Kate Brinkworth’s talk very enlightening, and I learnt a lot about the medium. Even though I don’t plan to use oil paint in my project for VIS3003, I now have some background information which will make me a bit more knowledgeable if I find myself wanting to work with it in the future.

What did I learn?

oil paint can be made thick or thin, and matte or gloss

made from oil and pigment; pigments can be made organically or synthetically
different white paints create different effects, e.g. titanium white is more opaque than zinc white
different oils have different properties - the binders to make oils come from plant sources: poppy, linseed, safflower etc
the slow-drying colours should be on top when working in layers - high oil content colours usually dry more slowly
you can create depth in a painting just by choosing the right pigments and oils
you should wait at least 6 months before varnishing - protects the painting - you can use matte, satin or gloss

BA (Hons) Art Business Level 6 talk

katefoster2 — 2022-02-22 10:35:55 UTC

- an alternative for the final stage of your degree - can take 1 year full time or 2 years part time - could be an option if you have a job already

- focus on employability and how creative people can benefit from understanding business practices, systems and structures

- not just for BCU students

- ethically and sustainability focused as well as student focused

- an additional title - not just an art business student - still can use previous course title on CV

- direct entry for BCU students - no UCAS deadline

- possible outcomes : write an essay, make a case study, organise an event or series of workshops, pitch a business plan, shadow a new event and see how it runs etc

- collaboration is at the centre of the course

- there are optional modules so you can personalise the course slightly

I found it really interesting to see a different type of course - it seems like a very forward-thinking, modern pathway that could be an option for me to keep in mind, depending on how my studies progress.

BA Hons Graphic Communication Talk: Copy-based advertising

katefoster2 — 2022-02-26 14:58:41 UTC

know your audience
advertising : tell stories, appeal to emotions, appeal to ego, use triggers, use humour to aid memory
Boddingtons beer - creamy - that’s it’s USP so that’s what the advertising conveys
keep it simple, do your research
copywriters work closely with artistic directors
focus on brand identity - signature colours, etc
Bill Bernbach - DDB - they asked the writers to work side by side with the art directors
maximise ‘you’ minimise ‘we’ - focus on the benefit for the consumer - using the word ‘you’ makes it immediately relevant to the reader
the slogan of Stella Artois is ‘reassuringly expensive’ - their advertising campaign showed bottles being opened using a Vesper, a Porsche etc
emotion stimulates the mind 3,000 times faster than rational thought
only 17% of people read adverts past the headline
the AIDA model : awareness, interest, desire, action
“all creatures are insecure, praise-driven and full of self-doubt”
the chip shop awards - banned adverts - very controversial but very creative
you can’t afford to play safe

BA (Hons) Design for Performance talk

katefoster2 — 2022-03-01 13:01:50 UTC

Paul Barrett

Theatre design is no longer strictly traditional - the boundaries have changed - Punchdrunk is an immersive experience where you are in the setting - no edge to the stage
Design for performance can relate to theatre, film, costume design etc
Boomtown festival - each zone has different theatrics, different worlds, different performances
Learn lots of different techniques - lots of possible outcomes
Website - bcudesignforperformance.com - you never know who you might need or want to collaborate with
Graduates go on to access a large variety of jobs
Cosmopoiesis - world-building

Design for Performance workshop

katefoster2 — 2022-03-01 13:02:44 UTC

describe task

Photographic outcomes from the Design for Performance workshop

katefoster2 — 2022-03-01 13:05:17 UTC

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katefoster2 — 2022-03-01 13:07:43 UTC

BA (Hons) Photography talk

katefoster2 — 2022-03-01 13:10:09 UTC

Photography is everywhere - as a visual artists, you need to know about it
95 million photos are shared on Instagram every day, and a quarter of a million are posted every minute on Facebook
You cannot remove photos - it is the most important piece of media in the world - it influences everyone
Photography changes the way you act - you see a famous person then you turn your back on them to take a selfie - changes your body language/ how you present yourself - selfie pout / filters
The photo of the Napalm girl changed American policy during the Vietnam war - not the tv footage, the photo, because photography freezes time
Still images are more memorable / powerful than moving images
Photography sells, photography teaches, photography informs, it shows us our world and beyond, photography is diverse
Bill Viola - moving image
Like all the courses at BCU, there is not a house style
You can learn the technical details, it’s the ideas that you can’t learn
Lots of creative freedom
You can link anything with photography

katefoster2 — 2022-03-07 16:05:37 UTC

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BA Illustration Talk

katefoster2 — 2022-04-24 17:41:22 UTC

course values: community, experimentation, exploration, student centred, industry driven, network building, connection making, opportunity minded.

clubs and activities: monthly exhibition space, sticker wall, badge making, wet printing area, Potato Press (in-house publishing press), Illustration of the Month (fundraising for local charities), Boom Birms Market, weekly life drawing.

Previous briefs from the Royal Mail, The Emma Press, live advertising projects.

Alumni have gone on to work as book illustrators, game designers etc - wide range of employment routes

More drawing focused but can incorporate 3D - close links with digital students - lots of collaboration

Preparing for the Exhibition

katefoster2 — 2022-04-28 20:48:25 UTC

Designing signs for the Exhibition

katefoster2 — 2022-04-28 20:48:49 UTC

Foundation Exhibition

katefoster2 — 2022-05-08 17:37:42 UTC

One of my sign designs

katefoster2 — 2022-05-08 17:38:01 UTC

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