#sculpture

Week 4

| harussell1

This week I started to create the wig for the character as well as creating the character herself. I also came to the decision that as the character develops so will the wig.

After some quick development sketches, I got to work creating the wig. The initial starting point was to use a mop-head but the one I had was too small for my head, so I decided to use sheep’s wool and stretched it out and attached it to the scrap material I had used to cover the top of the foam headband. The sheep’s wool didn’t give the desired effect as ‘bus shit crazy old lady’ has really big, almost foam like hair; so I decided to use some wadding mixed in with the sheep’s wool and super-glued it together which was very effective in giving the exaggerated look I wanted. I then took a pair of old glasses and decided to cover them with red collage and the word ‘bus’ at the top; I wanted the character to look like she had walked straight out of a story book with parts of it still attached to her.

  • Altho i liked the effect of the sheeps wool it wasn't the effect i was looking for and reminded me more of the character 'Jaquerline MCcafferty' from the Limmy show
    Altho i liked the effect of the sheeps wool it wasn’t the effect i was looking for and reminded me more of the character ‘Jaquerline MCcafferty’ from the Limmy show
  • I wanted to give the impression that her glasses were part bus too
    I wanted to give the impression that her glasses were part bus too
  • I wanted the glasses to look like they still partially belonged in a storybook and to be completely surreal yet comical.
    I wanted the glasses to look like they still partially belonged in a storybook and to be completely surreal yet comical.
  • The glasses had a much better effect once the eyebrows were added to them.I was inspired by a devil mask which I felt fitted in well with her character.
    The glasses had a much better effect once the eyebrows were added to them.I was inspired by a devil mask which I felt fitted in well with her character.
  • sculpture become really eerie and took on a life of it's own after adding a mouth to it.Considering adding more human elements
    sculpture become really eerie and took on a life of it’s own after adding a mouth to it.Considering adding more human elements
  • Wig and cross crutch.Becoming a warning flag of it's own
    Wig and cross crutch.Becoming a warning flag of it’s own
The wig had started to become a free forming sculpture/character of it’s own. It amused me to think of her wig crawling off her head at night and going on adventures of it’s own. This is something I hope to work on in the near future. I was also lucky enough to acquire a pair of crutches from Tayside re-users which is perfect as the character uses these.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fgmtv8k9MhXCOrxnlCxPODYscCiBIG5z/view?usp=sharing

Some quick sketches/scribberlings on how I was planning to develop the wig further/eyes crutches etc.

  • Decided to put lace on top of the image to see if it encouraged the 'malificent spirit' image I so desired.
    Decided to put lace on top of the image to see if it encouraged the ‘malificent spirit’ image I so desired.
  • The character frightening small children in their beds.(inspiration taken from the Babadook)
    The character frightening small children in their beds.(inspiration taken from the Babadook)
  • Quite liking the effect of the watercolour pen with the fine liner on brown parcel paper.It makes the colour more vibrant and noticable then if it was on white paper.
    Quite liking the effect of the watercolour pen with the fine liner on brown parcel paper.It makes the colour more vibrant and noticable then if it was on white paper.
Some illustrations with character scenarios/descriptions/dialogue.

https://images.app.goo.gl/UK8FjggNLorZhA3C6

https://images.app.goo.gl/mENtGa1UMJpnu6xEA

https://images.app.goo.gl/P8QADcV9GrT5LLCG9

https://images.app.goo.gl/EuHvASDRkW6Wvsp38

https://images.app.goo.gl/6cWAeLTgLtTFQ7zP7

https://images.app.goo.gl/N65CiYmH6sDAqoxA8

https://images.app.goo.gl/Lhz24SHW9o7xvMUW7

https://images.app.goo.gl/3UAjyD9DdZyJJs8a9

I also decided to change the name of the character to ‘bus shit crazy old lady’ in order to stray away from any kind of connection with poor mental health and the from the person that she is based on.

Bibliography

BBC. (2005). BBC 2 Limmy show.. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640×360/p01h0dpg.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z1jhd&tbnid=J1gp-oPjjxQDVM&vet=1&docid=RqAgySpN3GORRM&w=640&h. Last accessed 16th Nov 2020.

Pininterest. (2003). Cindy Sherman on photography. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/57/c3/cf57c3a8c975e2ae00ba978fcd42db82.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/383720830743465016/&tbnid=djECbq6PtMhvGM&vet=1. Last accessed 3rd Nov 2020

The Third Eye. (2003). Jack Smith and the destruction of Atlantis. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thethird-eye.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/the_third_eye_jack_smith_destruction_of_atlantis_02.980×0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thethird-eye.co.uk/jack. Last accessed 8th November 2020

Walliams D. (2003). Gangsta Granny in North. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.clipartkey.com/mpngs/m/115-1157304_gangsta-granny-in-north-gangsta-granny-david-walliams.png&imgrefurl=https://www.clipartkey.com/view/ooimRw_gangsta-g. Last accessed 5th Nov 2020

Wikipedia. (2003). Isa Drenann Still Game. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/stillgame/images/c/ca/Isa.jpg/revision/latest?cb%3D20110822195522&imgrefurl=https://stillgame.fandom.com/wiki/Isa_Drennan&tbnid. Last accessed 9th Nov 2020.

Youtube. (1996). Aunt sponge and Aunt Spike scenes:Dinner. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nAiWhT5ysVo/maxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DnAiWhT5ysVo&tbnid=511QepWbgS2ikM&vet=1&docid=ny2r0EdKBPl2TM&w=1280. Last accessed 8th November 2020.

Youtube. (2015). Mrs Doyle’s best bit’s.Father Ted compilation. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RSW6oDckOjo/maxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DRSW6oDckOjo&tbnid=c2aua3LTT2nhtM&vet=1&docid=nG6OdfL8ZLWFUM&w=1280. Last accessed 9th Nov 2020.

Youtube. (2015). The Babadook.A visit from the Babadook. Available: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O4pZH9Miew8/maxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DO4pZH9Miew8&tbnid=40I97q4MFXJk0M&vet=1&docid=eA4RDM1RrtMLgM&w=1280. Last accessed 8th November 2020.

Group Crit for 3D Practice

| harussell1
(Forgot to get a photo of the piece with the projection)

I think the feeback was overall positive for my crit,I had spent almost half a day prior experimenting with the positioning of the projector.Initially I wanted the projection of my video to be above my sculpture.Whenever I tried to angle the projector in order to do this the projection ended up squint.I then wondered what the projection would look like projected onto the sculpture and around it.Altho I was unsure of this to start with this seemed to be a sucess at the crit and recieved positive feedback.At my pervious feeback it was mentioned to me prehaps projecting onto the headpiece.I tried many differents ways of trying to do this from projecting from the other end of the room to trying to bring the size down on the projector itself but this did not seem poisible.I also think (from partially seeing some of the projection on the headpiece) that even if i was able to bring the video down to the size of the headpiece it would be so distorted that I don’t think it would of been visable and it was important to me that the video was fully visable.

Feedback.

  • It was mentioned by tutors and peers that they prehaps would not of dipicted the meaning as being about PTSD.The teacher questioned if this was actually important that the meaning was known and that prehaps it should challenge peoples thinking into making up their own minds about it also that the video had a ‘hook’ which kept the viewer interested in it and as a stand alone piece.
  • Aesthetic experience was a success
  • I should explore the video aspect further prehaps looking into more sensory aspects such as sound.Also how else can I show the mental aspects of weight in a physical sense?
  • I should prehaps of doccumented the making of the headpiece especially the binding of the thread.
  • The tutor also commented that this was a breakthrough project.

3D Practice/Development.

| harussell1

As my ideas have started to progress more I have started to think about different ways I could show how PTSD controls the body in a visual format.I asked a peer to tie voile which I had attached to the headpiece around my body.Looking at the photographic documentation I feel that it looks too sexualised especially where it is tied around the breasts.I feel that it should of just been tied on my arms and legs.Being the model myself it was hard to have the perspective not being able to see it from an outsiders point of view and only being able to give directions.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DpvIL1Wsiwv3WiJRG-N7dkKfugnDVb9u

I started to play about with the movement of bricks with the weight of the bricks within my hands in these shots which I feel worked sucessfully in portraying my message of the heavy weight that PTSD bares especially when avoidance comes into play.

I decided to create some video’s showing the bricks appearing one by one weighing down that person physically and mentally.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DubF1LyT6B5V1fhgGUMJrD1PXoawUUMg

I then decided to look at different ways the headpiece could be displayed as a sculpture and coincide with the video’s made which would project in the background.

I decided to choose the first option as I felt that it visually worked the best and turned the headpiece almost into some kind of creature within itself greedy to hold onto the bricks.

3D Practice/Group Crit.

| harussell1

During my group crit it was observed by the tutor and fellow peers that i had some strong ideas,I had mentioned prehaps making some cylinder resin casts and was told that maybe I should just continue to focus on how my film will be viewed and how my sculpture will take part in this.Will the film be projected onto it?Above it?And to prehaps trial using the televisions too.

I decided to try and project onto the head piece itself but the lens was too big.I tried moving the projector as far away as possible from it and scaling the size using the lens (as advised by the technician but still no luck.I liked the look of how the film projected so decided i wanted to keep it that way and display the headpiece somehow with the bricks under/around/infront of it.I have done some experimentation with how to display this but need to experiment further.

I was also asked if I would be adding more to the headpiece so I said yes,as I plan to add safety pins,wire,black elastic and thread and prehaps attach some voile from the head to the arms to show how the brain controls the bodies actions during PTSD.

  • Alien like structure attaching head to arms.
  • Further ideas for headpieces.
  • Tried to create an almost ‘cobweb’ effect with the thread to show how long PTSD can effect someone for.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CuFsv_N5F-AKljr3ciFl4w40YfGxqqrb

Projection projected onto studio wall.Black and white is really effective against the white background.

Installation

| harussell1

In this workshop we viewed many different artist installations in a presentation as inspiration for making our own.

We were asked to spend 10 mins in silence taking in the room we had been working in for the last week,making mental notes about the size,feeling we got from it,structure etc etc.

We were then split into two groups.Our group only consisted of four people in comparison to the other group which was much larger.

I found this task particulary difficult mostly because we had to work as a group and I felt that one half of the group did not take any ideas from myself and another person within the group So I didn’t feel that I had any influence on any of the ideas or that I could identify with any of the final outcomes.

I felt that the other groups ideas were alot more sucessful as they seemed to think on their feet where as our group spent more time thinking then making and would last min throw something together and hope for the best.

Image with the chairs and red board was meant to be about creating a safe space within such a cold clinical room and creating a barrier from the other installation yet inviting people to look at it also.

Other image was about reflecting the slant of the ceiling.

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop.

| harussell1

Today we went for a 15 min walk after watching a presentation about various sculpture artists over the centurys for inspiration. On the walk we were asked to make mental notes of words that related to our surroundings.

My first free formed sculpture.Can’t say I was best pleased with the way it turned out.As I felt that it lacked too much in the way of dimension especially when compared it to fellow classmates.

Once back in the studio we made small free formed paper sculptures based on these mental notes, and then worked within a developmental loop drawing from the sculpture then sculpting from the drawing using select items such as paper,paper straws,cardboard and wire.

Form is starting to come together more.But still doesn’t have enough of a 3D aspect to it.

To start with I really struggled to construct and think in a 3D format but once everybody talked about their work and i got to view other works I felt inspired and my work started to take on a more sculptural form. We were also allowed to refine one of our pieces after talking about it which really helped to see the strengths and weaknesses.We were told to makesure that our sculptures were viewable from every angle.

One challenge I particulary enjoyed was drawing the sculpture using charcoal then trying to fit the sculpture into the drawing.I felt that the composition I choose worked well due to the fact the straws lead your eye around the shape.

Experimenting with the positioning of the sculpture within the picture.https://drive.google.com/file/d/17aDbscJaRQuDwnSotQeUMXuIdJO63_mg/view?usp=sharing

Decided to simplify the shapes that could be found in the diamond structure within the last piece I made and make them into a mobile structure inspired by Alexander Calder’s work seen earlier in the day during the presentation. https://images.app.goo.gl/8rGMk5CYz1gaxLYj7

A video of the mobile in action:https://drive.google.com/file/d/17V6ispmWJtrOGgAPOYmWBrJPsBIIphHi/view?usp=sharing