materials-

-camera

-printer

-glue stick

-scissors

-masking tape

-scissors

In todays session I made a mural on the window outside. I did this by using masking tape to create a picture of the college building. I created some different textures in this way by cutting out little shapes and sticking theme together in different patterns this is how I showed the texture for the trees and the brick pattern on the pavements.

-paper

-craft knife

-cutting mat

-ruler

In todays session I have made paper sculptures inspired by the architecture of Birmingham. I did this by cutting out a stencil with an image on the back and folding it to create shapes. I did this because having something physical is a good way to start the project as I have something to develop my ideas from. This also helps my understanding in space and shape and get me to think about how I can develop this further.

I like that I fit to photograph thins as I could play around with lighting and see how I could created shadows to add more depth to the image.

Next time I would make more and maybe stack them instead of making just one sculpture. I think this would be interesting as I could experiment with composition and see how the shadows for one sculpture could look falling onto another.

-paper

-masking tape

-charcoal

-ink

-chalk

In todays session I created an abstract piece of the sculpture I created the other day. I did this by using charcoal and ink to draw the sculpture taped on the wall. I then flipped the sculpture around and drew that in the spare space around it. I created this piece to experiment with what I could do with this paper sculpture as I have already photographed it. This links to the theme of architectural space as this task was meant to help me create as sense of space within a piece of work.

I like how this turned out as I think I brought it together at the end with a simple line drawing in white chalk. This ended up giving the image more sense of space.

I think I made it too dark in the beginning as I used a lot of charcoal trying to create a surface to work with however I just ended up making the piece look flat. I fixed this issue by painting the background darker as it actually made my sculpture stand out much more. I don't do this type o9f abstract work very often as I don't really enjoy the freedom of it and would rather have a specific idea to stick to instead of going through the whole process of creating and abstract piece where you end up creating multiple different layers and painting in one piece.

From this I have learnt that with abstract work you can really do whatever you want as it doesn't have to be an exact copy of whatever you are drawing from. I am used to drawing an exact copy of the object from life so I stepped out of my comfort zone with this task.

I liked how this project made me reflect about what I had done and hadn't done and it gave me time to think about what new materials and techniques I could try.

I also really struggled with coming up with so many ideas in such little time as because I had so little time to do this task that some of the ideas where not the best and I don't think I would ever consider actually doing them. Many of my class mate ideas where also similar as we had all thought about what we had done previously so even though we had to come up with thirty ideas most people had a very similar thirty.

From this I leant it is important to create time for thinking in a project even if it is only thirty minutes as it gives you a moment to reflect and improve.

-camera

Here I have taken pictures around the college campus. I did this so I could work from these pictures and look at the positive and negative space.

This task also gave me chance to use photography. I took these photos and edited them that that the lines were parallel as sometime when taking photos up close the buildings can become slightly distorted as the camera is facing an upwards angle.

From this learnt that lighting is also important as it can really make an image stand out. For example the fifth photo I took really stands out as the sunlight is hitting one half of the building creating an orange glow his really contrasts with the rest of the picture as the sky is blue.

-book

-photocopier

Here I had to make the idea I wanted to do the least this was a zine. I did this by taking a book about architecture and photocopying it multiple times on the same page.

I have done this many time before this was the reason it was my least favourite idea. However this time I left the text on this made the zine look much more interesting than my previous ones as the font lay on op of the photo making it look easy on the eye as sometimes when two images overlap the ink can mix and go very dark dull colours.

-red ink

-cartridge paper

-dip pen

I have drawn this picture as my most favourite idea. I have used red ink and a reference photo I took in the Cotswolds.

I chose this idea because I really enjoy drawing and think it’s one of my strongest skills.

I like how the image looks like I am facing up at it instead of just a straight forward angle.

I didn’t get to finish this drawing but if I did I would have added more natural features such as the grass and flower beds I think this would balance out the drawing. If I were to develop this further I would try and incorporate a different colour into the drawing as at the moment it’s a solid red which stands out but I feel as if I could experiment with this more.

-wood

-pencil

-craft knife

Here I carved and scratched a picture of a lobster into a piece of wood. I did this by making little cuts into the material and then slowly pulling and carving away at the surface.

I really enjoyed this task as it was something I’d never done before. I found this quite therapeutic and it was enjoyable to watch the piece come together. I also blow torched the piece with made the wood a lot darker making the lobster stand out more.

I think we need more safe areas where people can hang out to talk safely.

-fabric

-pins

-needle

-beads

-thread

Here I have made a fabric weave by cutting up fabric scraps and lace and weaving them together. I pinned the strips to a bigger piece of fabric this made the process a lot easier as the strips couldn't move around.

I like how this turned out as the colours came together well in the end as I was conscious that because of the patterns many material wouldn't match well and I wanted to stick to a colour palette. I over came this issue by picking one main fabric and basing the rest of the fabric around the colours in that one.

I also started embroidering onto the weave mainly to hold it together without pins. I decided to embroider a strawberry onto this because there were strawberries on the fabric.

-camera

-printer

Here I took photos and extracted geometric shapes from them by printing them and cutting them out. I then placed them around the pages experimenting with composition and when I was happy with them I took photos.

I like the effect that these collages give as it really breaks down the photo.

If I were to do this again I would develop it further by layering the cut outs so that you could see them peeking through the windows.

-wire

-pliers

-cutters

Here I have created a wire sculpture of a pomegranate. I made this because it helped with creating a 3d form from life that has more complicated shapes as before I have only done architectural sculptures which are very geometric. I did this by cutting strips of wire and bending it and twisting it into the form of a pomegranate. This fits with the idea of architectural space as plants and other objects are also part of architectural space which many people don't realise. I think this material could also be very interesting to use in this project and would like to develop this further. There are many artists which use similar techniques to create one of which I have researched (Masao Seki).

I actually really enjoyed this task as I liked watching the wire slowly form an object and I found this method quite therapeutic. I also think its an interesting way to create a sculpture as you really have to think about the shape of the object.

Next time I do this I would pay more attention to the object I was looking at as I didn't get the shapes perfect which had a big impact on the final outcome as small mistakes affected the shape quite a lot. My pomegranate in person was a lot more square than this one.

From this I have learnt that this is a material I would like to learn more about and see what else I could do with this technique.

-camera

-printer

-paper

Here I have began to create a set of cards using photos that I have taken of the college campus. I have done this replicate the style of new topographics (a photography style which shows the urban world mainly in black and white in a square frame) and show what I see in the architecture around me. I have done this by taking pictures of the college campus editing them to give them a more vintage look and putting them onto the card template before printing them out and putting them into a case that I created.

This work shows the theme of architectural space as it shows how areas of the college have been designed to create a space efficient to learn in and look aesthetically pleasing.

I like how in the making of these card I've gotten to try photography. I actually enjoyed taking these photographs and editing them as I haven't done this in college yet.

I found the printing process hard as we were printing on the front and back of the cards so if I messed up I would have to redo both sides to remake it. However this problem could be solved by doing the sides separately on printer paper before and then once perfected printing on card.

From this activity I have learnt about new topographics and how I could use this further on in the project.

-cardboard

-masking tape

-paint

-hot glue

Here I have made a 3D model of my kitchen. I chose this space because I wanted to make the counter tops and the appliances. I did this by cutting out grey board and creating nets of objects before sticking together with masking tape and painting.

-photocopies of illustrations

-scissors

-glue

I have created these samples of pop up illustrations. I did this to start my pop up journey with figuring out ways that I could make the illustrations stand up from the page. I made this pop up by folding the drawing in half and then creating folds on the bottom of the page before gluing them onto the paper. This works because as you open the page it pulls the paper upright.

I would say this this went successfully as it did work well. I think it pops up so well because I created the fold on an angle which makes the paper lean backwards on an angle giving a clear view.

However on the next sample I make I wouldn't stick the folds on the paper in a triangular way as the picture doesn't fully stretch out when opened this makes the illustration look compressed and distorted.

From this I learnt how to cut the bottom of the pop up structure and how to angle it correctly for the easiest pop up action.

Illustration is a great way to story tell as it’s gives a way to express your ideas and emotions. Illustration can resonate with audiences, creating an emotional bond hooking the audience.

Audience

The target audience of my project are children as they are the primary audience for interactive books and storytelling. Pop up books engage their imagination and enhance their reading experiences.

Where would this be displayed?

Considering my final outcome is a book it would be displayed in libraries, homes, bookstores or museums as a installation.

-ink

-cartridge paper

-scissors

-glue stick

-dip pen

This week I have created a sample book this is a book of many different techniques to of pop up using previous illustrations. I did this by reading about different pop up techniques online and than recreating and developing the skills I learnt. I did this because I wanted my book to be interactive to engage with a younger audience as they have a short attention span.

From this I learnt that some pop up techniques work better for me than others because some need more force to pop up and don’t pop up as sharply. I didn’t want this as if my project is for younger people and I want it to be easily accessible. I fixed this problem by cutting the bottom as the pop up piece at an angle this makes the paper lean at an angle when it pops up making the view more clear for the reader and a better pop up action.

-scissors

-glue

-paper

-ink

-dip pen

Here I have created a pop up page of a church near my house. I did this because it’s a special place to me and I went there often when I was little. I did this by creating a template from my previous sample and taking pictures of all angles of the church before drawing on each side.

I like how this takes a 2D illustration and makes it into a 3D structure. I would consider using this in my final book if it fits the atmosphere and theme.

-ink

-dip pen

I also wanted to experiment with the theme of architectural space as there are many different types like interior, exterior and landscape. I was looking for which best suited my book and pop up as I was aware interior may be hard to do because a room has walls and making this pop up could potentially mess with the depth of the picture and make the objects inside look odd and out of place.

-ink

-dip pen

I also decided to draw some landscapes as I don't think I've ever drawn a landscape before at all. I drew pictures that I had taken in Cornwall in the summer as these illustrations were only for samples it didn't really matter that they weren't in my local area and didn't totally suit my project.

I like how these illustrations turned out as I added a lot of texture to the ground and I think this made them look very detailed. I would definitely draw a landscape again as I thought they were quick and easy to draw as because there isn't any structures in the image the drawing process isn't as precise as with some architectural drawings its hard to get the proportions correct. If you get them wrong then the image becomes distorted.

Next time I do these illustrations I wouldn't black out whole areas of the picture but as this was only intended to experiment with using samples it doesn't really matter.

Next I am going to create pop up pages from these to work out different ways I could make these drawings stand up using paper engineering.

-paper

-glue

-scissors

Here I made a sample to see if I could incorporate two pop up techniques into the same page. I did this by creating a pop up house and then using a different pop up technique off of this.

This was very successful as the layering still allowed the page to lay flat when folded. I could use this to develop my techniques and make the pages more complex.

If I were to do this again I would make the paper that attaches the layers shorter as it pushed the paper a little to far out making it lean forward.

-paper

-ink

-dip pen

These are my illustrations for my final book. I decided to make this about places that are familiar and nostalgic to me as I have lived in the same house/ are for my whole life. I decided to make this book document a walk around the area highlighting specific places which hold memories. I have started doing this by drawing the places I put on my story board and taking photos breaking them down into layers and making them into little set like structures. Many of these involve a main layer which displays the subject of the page, then other layers to frame this and a background / flooring sheet.

I like these as they are very detailed and don't really even need colour to make them interesting even though I am still planning to experiment with this further on in the development process.

From this I have learnt that its easier to analyse the photo and separate the layers before drawing so you don't have to draw the same things multiple times on different layers.

I think these are successful as they add so much more to the page it makes it look less empty and make it look more like a set which I realized was my aim as the structures on their own didn't reach their full potential as I think sometimes the area around a building can frame it and make certain features stick out.

This illustration is very successful as it shows what's inside the book but looks different as its been shrunk and manipulated. I think this gives a very warm and cosy atmosphere. I also added lampposts to make it seem like it was a dainty, little village this was inspired by the way Alice Pattulo set out her work. This cover also links to the theme as it shows the range in architectural structures from my street alone which architecture from different periods of time in different styles and even different functions (housing, places of worship and even shops).

I am going to develop this by adding a title and colour to match the theme. I also has to match the atmosphere as the rest of my book so I have to act like all of my pages and covers are part of a collection as otherwise the book won't make much sense.

-coloured paper

-scissors

-Glue

I have created this front cover from a collage and illustrations. I did this because I wanted to make the front cover very bright and stand out as that’s what grabs the readers attention. I did this by cutting out shapes of coloured paper and aligning them with my illustrations.

I liked how I lined the pattern paper up with the lamppost so it looked as if the light was shining on the buildings.

However I didn’t like the actual colours I selected as a get didn’t really go that Goethe as visioned and the red didn’t fit the atmosphere of the book as it gave it a horror kind of feel. I also didn’t like how the colour made the illustration get lost in the piece as it was too bright.

I am going to develop this by trying different colours which are more fitting to the theme and don’t hide the details within my illustrations.

-coloured paper

-craft knife

-cutting mat

-scissors

I have now created collages to colour my book. I have decided to go with a mix of bright and pastel colours as I think limiting myself to a small colour pallet would make to illustrations look too similar. Even though they are all in the same book sticking to the same theme I want to be able to tell that they are all different locations.

These collages are very simplistic because I didn't want them to distract from the details in my illustrations or for the page to come across as too busy. But I think they actually look quite aesthetically pleasing on their own as I have tried to put certain colour combinations together to make them stand out.

If I were to do this again I would have used some of the patterned paper in my pages as I have used it on my front cover. I think this also would add some more texture to the book which would be great as it is aimed towards children so the more interesting the better.

-paper

-wax thread

-needle

I then started to make to book that I was going to stick my illustrations into. I decided this was the best way to make the book as if I were to print the pages first it would make lining them up a hard task and I was running short of time. I did this by folding 6 A3 sheets in half and poking holes along the fold before seeing the pages together with wax thread.

I was very happy with this outcome as it came out very secure and neat. I think if I had done this any other way it would have messed with the mobility of the pages. I also picked a purple thread to match the front and back cover which even though it was a small detail really tied the final finish together.

From this I learned if I were to ever make anything similar to this in the future I would use this technique.

I think this one is a lot more successful as I get colours give a calm atmosphere which doesn’t clash with the illustrations inside. I also like how the purple doesn’t distract from the details in the illustrations.

From this I learnt that it is best to try out different combinations and colours before making a start to final resolutions straight away as some times i doesn’t map out the way you visioned in your mind.

I think this has been a very successful experience as i think it’s very aesthetically pleasing and detailed. I have achieved the atmosphere I wanted through colour palettes and illustration. The pop up was successful as the structures all pop up all the way making this book accessible for all which was important to me as it need to be simple to access for children’s specifically and anyone with certain needs. I think this book of perfect for the audience as it very interactive, colourful and there are no words which leaves people to use there imagination and take themselves on their own journey through my personal perspectives. I think this book reflects the theme of architecture well as the illustrations show how architecture has been involved in my childhood memories. It also show’s different styles of architecture as I have drawn the church that was built in the 1800s to Modern built houses and landscape.

If I were to do this project again I would extend this book and add more pages as it is quite short but it’s all I had time to do after creating all the samples and working out the paper engineering behind pop up.

From this I have learnt a whole different way to showcase my illustrations through paper engineering and I would like to develop on this further in future projects to use this technique to its full potential.