Video

Monday 29th October 2012

First Brief

Make 4x 1 minute videos:
Work with the camera in the following ways:
. Still camera filming stillness
. Still camera filming movement
. Moving camera filming stillness
. Moving camera filming movement

Work in small groups, each taking it in turns to make a video.
It can be filmed in the studio or in the local environment.
Avoid narrative, representation and meaning.

Considerations:
. The Camera
. Time and Duration
. Sound/No Sound
. Point of View
. The Body

We started by writing down all our ideas and slowly went through them to eliminate or combine them.
This is what we came up with:

Panic Gardens - Moving camera filming still
We wanted the audience to view the video as if it is them who are walking around so this was filmed with the camera up to our face.
You are walking through the gardens but get lost and start to panic...

Hands - Moving camera filming movement
The camera follows the same up and down movements of a hand. Every few seconds it moves up to another hand and follows its movements, this carries on until all four hands have been seen.

The Stare - Still camera filming stillness

We wanted to create a sense of awkwardness and after some research we came across Andy Warhol's The Kiss video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmzqNUaCGQU

It is almost an hour of footage showing couples engaging in a kiss. After a while we felt awkward. For me it felt like I was intruding on a couples private moment which made me not want to watch.
To make a reaction like this ourselves, we wanted to recreate that moment when someone is staring at you longer than they should. As a group we all stared into the camera for one minute not moving or talking, just sitting.

The Stare - Bloopers

Tree Interaction - Still camera filming movement
After being so serious with the other videos, we decided to make one that was comical. With the little equipment we had, we thought the best way to achieve this would be to make a sped up video. We filmed ourselves for six minutes walking, running, jumping over, and ducking under trees. We sped it up and the out come was quite funny. I was participially pleased with this one because our audience gave the exact reaction that we wanted.

Wednesday 31st Pctober 2012
Brief
Make a 2-4 minute video to present on Thursday 1st November.

Work with found objects or materials
You may want to use existing artworks or workshop examples you have made.
Etc...

I decided to use stop motion animation to create my video. I was introduced to stop motion in college, I enjoyed it a lot. I Love how you are unable to see the final cut until the very end: For me it is the element of surprise, after an extremely time consuming task, that I love most.
I used the objects I made from the mould making and casting workshop I attended in the morning.
I wanted to explore in more depth the feelings that an audience gets after watching something. For me, the most memorable pieces of work or video are the ones that make me feel uneasy, upset or even a little scared. I wanted the audience to remember my video so I have tried to make one that will leave them feeling a little uneasy as they watched it.
To achieve this I used the wax heads I made in the workshop but manipulated them in numerous ways.
I also included found objects from my bedroom as this is where I made the video.

I feel that the video worked well, all the ideas I had turned out good.
I had a few problems with the camera focusing on the heads when they where hanging, this because they kept moving about. If I was to make this video again I would focus on this problem and maybe use manual focus instead of auto.

Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th November 2012
New Brief:
Make 2x 2 minute video works (or 1x 4 minute)

Make one video about an object or objects you have made in the workshops. The object/s you make should involve casting, cardboard and/or foam etc.

Make a video using your own body or work with other bodies.
Chose from two or more of the following:
. Explore and object/body with the camera
. Document the making of an object
. Explore the movement of an object/body
. Explore the de-construction of an object
. Investigate the close observation of an object or body
. Explore the narrative of an object
. Investigate the sound of the body or object
. Video an object or the body over time (avoid time lapse)
. Make an action or actions for the camera

Throughout the project meet up with your groups to discuss:
. Ideas
. Thinking
. Making
. Research
. Findings of the day

Artist Research
I looked at a few animators during this project but one that stands out most is Jan Svankmajer.
Jan Svankmajer is a Czech film maker, animator and artist who works in many different media.
His works, in my eyes, are often eerie or disturbing and in some cases quite sinister.
The theme/narrative of the films and the way they have been created/captured are in compete contrast. In one hand you have the spooky and eerie themes that leave you feeling uncomfortable at times: in the other, delicate and beautiful techniques/skills are used in creating the final piece.

The film that captured my attention most was his ''Darkness Light Darkness'' piece created in 1989.
It is a short animated film where a human body gradually reconstructs itself as its various component parts crowd themselves into a small room and eventually, after much experimentation, sort out which part goes where.
Darkness Light Darkness (Jan Svankmajer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFUwX4-nsQU

Another: Alice is a 1988 Czechoslovak film directed by Jan Svankmajer. Its original Czech title is 'Neco z Alenky', which means ''Something from Alice''.
Neco z Alenky (Jan Svankmajer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=bosvfUoO0DU&NR=1

I love how his short films are so captivating but at the same time made me feel uneasy, this is the exactly reaction I want from my video.

I really liked the idea of creating a film with objects I made in the workshops but I have already done that with the video above, so I have decided to use a mould I made in my second year of college. I cast a pig heart in plaster and made a three part mould. I then fill it with liquid latex and coloured Brusho inks. Once set, I get an exact replica of a pig heart.
This alone is an object that could make my audience feel uneasy but I wanted to take it to the next level and add some fake blood.
I made my animation my using stop motion techniques (individual photographs with slight changes in each, put together to create movement).
Once I had made the film I then went back and added sound. Each sound has been recorded by myself individually. I found it much easier to control when I wanted the sounds to be played this way.
Narrative
. Box with lid taped down/shut *A heart beat sounds in the background all the way through the film*
. Tape starts to unravel itself *sticky tape sounds*
. Stillness *just heat beat*
. Lid starts to move *rattling*
. Mould opens to reveal heart inside *concrete blocks sliding*
. Heart starts to beat (move) and then falls out *light Thud*
. Empty glass bottle slides in cork pops open, fills up with blood *cork pop and trickling*
. Bottle and heart move around each other, bottle moves out of shot
. String wraps around heart, pulls over
. Blood comes out of heart
. Bottle comes back, falls over, blood pours out
. The End

I am extremely happy with this video!
I love how it looks and the sounds are perfect.
The reaction from my audience was brilliant, I was told that they felt uncomfortable because the objects are moving on their own with out any help, also the subject of the film.
After showing the video I handed round the latex pig heart which also received a good reaction.

Thursday 8th November 2012
We had a review day with our tutor were we viewed everyone's videos. At the end of each video we wrote feed back to give to the artists.
For each video we wrote down our:
. Thoughts
. Likes
. Dislikes
. Constructive Criticism
. Etc...
The response I received was very good!
I am extremely happy with the results of my short film and I wish to carry on using animation in future projects.
My Responses

Stretching Paper Workshop

Stretching paper is a vital skill to know when painting, the main reason for stretching paper is to stop it from warping or waving when it gets wet.

Step One:
Find a flat surface to work on. Preferably a wooden board. This is in case you want to move, but a table would work just fine.

Step Two:

Get your piece of paper and with a damp cloth wet both sides.

Step Three:

Get some gum tape (brown paper strip with an adhesive on one side)

Cut up into four strips, about four inches longer than your paper.

One at a time, quickly place a strip of gum tape into a pot of water. Pull it out and place it in between your index and middle finger. Pull the strip through your fingers to squeeze off the excess water.

Step Four:

Place the wet gum tape along the edge of your paper about one centimetre in.
Carry on steps three and four until all the sides are done.

Press down and rub each side to make sure it is all secure (the gum tape has a tendency to peel back if it is too wet or not pressed down correctly)
Leave the paper to air dry (do not speed up the drying time with a hair dryer, for example, as this will also cause the paper to warp)
Once dry the paper will be flat/stretched and ready to paint on.
(When your painting is complete do NOT cut it off the board until it is completely dry as all your preparation with stretching the paper will be a waste and the paper will warp)

Painting Project

Monday 15th October 2012

We had a presentation that our tutor put together looking at many different paintings and artists. We discussed our thoughts,ideas and opinions about the paintings. We later had a paper stretching workshop which was extremely good to know because throughout this project we will be painting on flat, stretched ''bread and butter'' paper. 

The Brief

I have chosen to focus on the face.
I took images from my phone that I had previously taken and I worked off of them.

Tuesday 16th October 2012 - Study 1
I used acrylics and tried to focus mainly on mark-making and tone.

I thought the hair needed more tone so I painted a thin flat layer of paint all over the hair and scratched into it (whilst wet) to give the impression of hair. This worked well I thought as as more detail, tone and shadow was added .

It still didn't feel finished so I added a faint white wash to create a border/frame this was to create a new depth.

Stepping back to look at the piece I was very disappointed! It really didn't turn out the way I'd hoped. I thought it would be a good idea to move onto the next painting and come back to this one.

Wednesday 17th October 2012 - Study 2
I stayed with the same theme but took it in a completely different direction. I am quite fond of Marlene Dumas' work. I love how simple and delicate they are. Also her colour choices are interesting.

 I feel my work has an element of Marlene Dumas' with the faded and blurred features.

 

If I were to do this again or work into it more I would maybe consider a different colour palette.

Thursday 18th October 2012 - Study 3
I started off with a cream/off-white wash all over my page.I then made thick tonal marks with a brush.
I painted a pair of lips on the page with masking solution
Finally, I painted over the top of it all and then pealed off the masking solution (which acts like a stencil) It reviled the patterns/paint underneath.

Once again I wasn't very pleased with the out come.

I feel this is due to the lack of example/experimental pieces. I didn't finish the other three paintings as I felt quite down heartened about the whole thing. I will keep this in mind for the next brief in week two of the painting project...

Week 2
Monday 22nd October 2012

Like last Monday, we started off in the seminar room, we looked at and discussed artists and paintings related to our new brief. I found this much more interesting and I became much happier and enthusiastic about the project.
For this brief, we have to create 2D drawings and paintings of an object, scene, landscape, person etc. of our choice. From these 2D studies we will make a 3D sculpture and then finally from the sculpture, another painting or 2D image. I feel like I will do much better in this brief.

I started off by picking my subject. After a lot of thought I chose to base my work upon rock/crystal formations. I will focus on the basic shapes and structures created when crystals grow.
My first thought was to move straight into my sketchbook and make studies and drawings of crystals.

I carved into the side of my pencil to make a long flat edge. I tried to recreate similar shapes that I could see. 

 I liked this technique and continued with this by adding black Biro pen, Tipp-ex pen and liquid ink. I am quite pleased with the out come!

I liked using the Tipp-ex pen so I made another study just using this. From the image I was working from, some other colours were introduced so I added a similar gold colour that I cloud see. It gives a really nice effect.

 

I wanted to make some crystals: I made some salt solution (water and salt) and heated it up. As the water evaporated, the salt started to dry up and form small crystals. I will try and keep these and incorporate them into one of my paintings.

 

Tuesday 23rd October 2012
I like working on a big scale so I decided to make my own canvas'.
I wanted something a little different so I made wooden canvases.

 I painted them black. (Altogether I made two)

Artist Research
With the new brief I am mainly interested in the language of paint, how it works with different or the same colours, textures, surfaces etc, so I thought it would be good to find other artists who do the same.
I am extremely interested in how paint works when it's all one colour. I chose the colour black.
I came across Pierre Soulages, he too works only in black and explores how the paint works.

'The Painter Of Black' as he is known,said  'I chose black because its both a colour and a non-colour' I really like this quote and I have decided to create my pieces with this in mind.

Wednesday 24th October 2012
I started off by painting some samples;

For these examples added other colours to them.
I instantly chose white as this too is a colour but a non-colour, and after looking at crystals I found that in most of them there is either a silver or gold.

I used different types of paint to finish these paintings including:
. Acrylic
. Doorstep Paint
. Clear & Black Gloss
. PVA
I also used some of the salt crystals I made earlier in the week.
I felt these paintings worked out okay but I wasn't happy with the big contrast between the white and black so I decided to go back a step and just use black.
Also I don't think the PVA glue worked very well so in my next piece I will only use paint to attach materials.

Thursday 25th October 2012
Painting ONE

I used found objects/materials:
Images below shows a net bag from a pack of oranges, I painted it black and stuck it on using the black acrylic paint. (no glue) I Liked working with the black varnish because it can be used in so many different ways. Applied thinly, It dried as a glaze over the canvas. Applied thickly, It has a shinier surface and you can manipulate it more. 

Thick acrylic paint/brush mark-making and clear varnish.

Painting TWO:

It is an abstract piece similar to painting one but once I finished and stood back it reminded me of a beach/sea landscape. I like the contrast between the two, painting two seems to be a little more subtle and easier to look at where as painting one is very abstract and harder to find something to relate it to. 

Thick paint and black varnish/gloss

 I really loved the net bag I added so I used it in both paintings.

I am much happy with these paintings. It was interesting working with just one colour as I have never done this before. In future projects I will concentrate more on what it happening with the paint and it's language rather than the subject. I think this is where I went wrong in week one of painting.