Madeline Jenkins Independent Practice 3A: Articulation (EGRD3014)
My film created using the Dogme 95 rules.link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBb-_ cq2vxg&feature=player_embedded
A place to escape film subject/ content: I wanted to show my surroundings and where I go to clear my mind. This place allows me to think clearly about my practice and also a place to reflect either on the work I produce or in general. I also find this place somewhere to relax and observe the simple things in life. This is where I have grown up and spent my time with family and friend which makes this setting also very personal. I begin my film footage with me walking from my garden to the beach. Whilst I show my feet walking at the beginning I also cut in some other footage of my feet stepping on pebbles. I wanted this to show that I had knowledge of where I was travelling to and my expectations of what was to expect.
I wanted the noise of the ground to be one of the main effects and the noise getting louder of the seas waves as I approached. Although the sound of the wind is quite loud it can still be heard. Looking through the stone and shell like a key hole was an idea I had to show how different people view the seaside. I also think it shows well that restricting the image so only a part of it can be seen is sometimes more interesting and intriguing. I used what objects I could find around me to make the filming standout and unusual to put across this message.
How does this articulate my independent practice: My surroundings really influence me in my way of thinking to then produce work. And in this moving image I also wanted to put across my senses (seeing, hearing, touch, taste and smell) and how these all work together.
What I learnt and gained skill/knowledge in: I gained skills in filming and story boarding. I learned a variety of film techniques and ways of filming and also tested out a variety of cameras to film with. To test the sound and image quality.
Hanging type, My Reflection This was the first piece of work I created to show what I feel are my strengths in my practise. I took these into an environment I enjoy going to and an idea of using the environment to work within. I would like to re-photograph this work with a better camera to pick up some more of the detail. But I was happy with how they looked in the woods and enjoyed using a mixture of material. After Creating this work I then started to look into how stefan sagmeister uses materials from different enviroments to create typography work with which is the photogaphed.
Action Research Planning
The aspect of Investigation:
I thought back to my independent work I had done over the summer to help me with my ideas for this semester.
For this unit I will use the ideas I had from the film brief as my starting off point. I used my film project to document my local environment. I want to explore different environments further and not just ones that I am aware of. I will mainly focus on using Illustration, Photography and Type.
Reflect: review of my current practice: I like to bring Printing, Illustration, Photography, Crafts, Mixed Medium and handmade into my work. I use these processes within my work to inform, direct and communicate. I need to become more confident with the use of typography and develop my skills in this area. I also feel that my digital skills also need developing toward a higher standard.
My way forward and a plan of Action: I will start by researching the theme and then explore a variety of ideas. The best way to start my ideas is to explore my location and surroundings. And what makes these areas so interesting and special. I will need to research into how the work produced connects and interacts with others. I need to think and explore a variety of possibilities about how my work will be externalised and positioned in society.
Photo Negative cut outs After using an old camera to photograph, it was unsuccessful in taking the photos so I was left with all the blank negatives. I wanted to use them as a material to work with. So I experimented with cutting out shapes in them (this instance, a leaf print) and then photographing through them. I also thought about how the negatives could become the image instead of the printed photo. By collecting and using resources/objects around me I find helps me to produce some individual work and ideas which i wouldn’t have thought about before.
Owl Prints The first print I created to represent a small owl. I took these prints into the woodland and photographed them from a distance at first with the idea in mind that animals are normally scarred off when people get to close. But these photos did not compliment the prints in the way in which i had hoped. So I used a different camera instead of my small digital one to take close up shots in trees. I also experimented with editing them on photoshop (colours and brightness).
I was happy with the outcomes, and I experimented with using the whole square print as well as cutting out the owl shape individually. And I experimented to see how they worked in the environment. The whole square print was more visible from a distance, but i felt they both worked well. Owls are known as night/nocturnal animals. So my next stage is to photograph them at night.
Grey Squirrel I choose an animal which is seen almost everywhere in the UK. This animal lives in a variety of tundra. I first photographed it in the woods, but unfortunately this image did not show up the detail of the print. This animal is also known for being very tame and living in urban areas and gardens. So I photographed it on a fence with houses in the background. Its detail showed up a lot better this time and yet the surrounding is still visible.
My next idea is to place all my prints in the woods and create a short film of me walking through the woods and finding these animals on my journey. On the top left shows my progress and my ideas I was having whilst working on this print. I first photographed the images with a small digital camera like with the owl (which did not show any detail on the print) so used another camera to re-shoot the images to get a better effect.
Ivy Prints I applied different pressures and ink coverage onto the lino so that each print is unique like a leaf in nature. I have learnt a lot from lino printing and different skills such as varied effects when changing ink coverage, pressure when printing, material/texture of paper. My first lino test is in its natural environment in the woods. My next idea is to think about how ivy as a plant can grow in a variety of places and is an evergreen plant that grows
and takes over areas. I wanted to explore urban areas as well as forests. I used my garden as the the next stage of my idea. I found an old and dead climbing plant like ivy in the garden to use as a prop. I stuck on the ivy prints onto this, to represent the leaves that had died off for the winter. From this I thought of the absence of plants (where one might have died or once existed) So I used an empty wall to create a plant out of my prints (to represent one that had once been there and the emptiness created).
Work by - Amanda Jane Jones I was really inspired by the idea to share the seasons, and to make people aware of natural changes around the world. So I decided to base my next idea on using the current season Autumn.
Research
Further Research can be found at: http://issuu.com/madelinejenkins/docs/research_to_go_with_the_presentation
Work by- Andy Goldsworthy A artist who I have admired for many years. He grew up in the north of England and we can see how his surroundings have really influenced his design. For example dry stone walls which are seen everywhere in the north. He creates land art using this skill. This work really made me look at my surroundings and what i can take and use around me. (why the area I live in is so interesting to me).
Autumn Leaves- Absence and Order in Nature I wanted to show the absence of plants in nature. My idea was to create Lino prints of a Sycamore leaf and to place it around a tree stump. As it is autumn I got this idea by observing nature and how leaves fall around the tree, but trees which had been cut or died where not surrounded by leaves and the floor remained visible. I wanted to try and show this idea of absence by using my prints. Unfortunately the outcomes on the left where unsuccessful, but I
did revisit this. I decided to try this idea again and revisit it, as at the moment to much of the ground is showing and not enough leaves to make this effective. I collected real leaves as well as prints and covered the ground again. And decided to photograph closer than from a Distance. So the leaves would show up clearly. I was really happy with the outcome and the colours of the autumn leaves and prints together worked well to show the theme of seasons. Which then lead to me thinking about order in nature.
Autumn Leaves- Absence and Order in Nature I also got to thinking about how things in nature are not always ordered. I thought of the way in which leaves fall to the ground, and how their position is random (how it can be affected by wind/rain/sun/obstacles) but still remains random. So I used my prints to create a type of order in nature which is never seen. I was influence by Richard long and Andy Goldsworthy and how they often use order in nature to make their work stand out and create a new message/meaning.
Type cut into Nature I felt I needed to bring type into my work, so I started to experiment handmade type with natural objects. I decided to cut letters with a scalpel out of the leaves, I really liked the outcome and felt the hand type and leaf worked well together. I wanted to use the natural light from the window to show up the veins in the leaves. I used the window to express that things outside really interested and influenced me. And I wanted to show the relationship with
the leaves coming from outside in an urban environment. From this I started to think about other ways I could use objects to create type.
Photographs taken of Markings and trails I took a camera out on a walk with me, and photographed things I could find which indicated what types of animals where or had been living here. Animals leaving trails and markings behind can indicated what animal has been here without actually seeing the animal. I think the idea of not actually seeing the physical animal but just seeing the things it has left behind is sometimes just as interesting and reveals to us how they live and travel. An acorn I found under a pile of leaves indicates that squirrels are around this area because they buried them for spring after hibernation. And leave which have been half eaten indicate types of insect or slug and snails.
From this, I am thinking of documenting a walk in the style of a map and showing my findings which indicate the nature around but without showing the animal. • • •
After finding the acorn, I started think ing about layers in nature Objects which are not visible unless you know where to look Explore places which have to be un covered (underground and high in trees).
Life drawings of dear After creating work based on animals (which I had mostly created by looking at photos in books and online sources) I thought it would be helpful to gain skills in life drawings. I took a sketch pad to Richmond Park and quickly sketched out the dear. I gave myself set times to focus on areas of the dears body then trying to sketch it as a whole as they would often move further
away and change position. I gained an idea of how to sketch quickly and how to still show shape and shadows. I was happy with the outcomes and feel this is a way I would like to work again (time restrictions created a different style of working).
Layers in nature The layers in nature, I explored the layers under autumn leaves and the layers above and below the ground. The first layer is the most recent fallen leaves, secondly was twigs and decaying leaves which have been slowly decomposing. Thirdly the first glimpse of soil with a few insects which have been remaining warm under leaves. Finally softer soil which is dry because of the layers above protecting it from the rain.
I am interested in layers in many other areas as well, such as trees, leaves, under the soil and roots. A topic I plan to think about further as an idea. I decided to revisit this recently and create a piece of work to show/separate the layers.
Environmental Layers I took the layers idea further as it really interested me and sparked ideas. I thought about an idea of creating a type of sculptural piece to show the layers of autumn. I loved the idea of the plants decomposing slowly through the weeks. I revisited a similar spot as before and collected objects for each of the layers. I decided to use fishing wire so that it would be seen as invisible. I wanted to show the layers in stages from the ground layer to the recent fallen leaves.
I have always been intrigued and interested in instillation work/sculpture, I like how a piece of work can be admired and interacted with in a public space. How something out of the ordinary can catch the attention of people and engage with them. It allows people to view your work in its setting of context.
Cardboard Illustrations in nature My original idea for this was to do with using a household object which had a type of relationship to nature. Cardboard is created like paper, from trees/bark so I though it would be an interesting idea to take this object which has been created from these natural materials back to where it originated from. The shape is also a natural shape, like branches or a stem so to me it instantly became an idea to use this and photograph it. I started to think about how this could become a canvas to work on.
Thinking back to how originally this cardboard was a living plant (tree) I thought about the animals that live in forests and survive because of trees. So I decided to illustrate British insects that could have possibly lived on this tree before it was used to create cardboard. After illustrating I then took the cardboard to a wood to experiment with how it conveyed the message I wanted it to. A message about recycling and being considerate to the things we use and throw away.
The Season I decided to create some lino prints which would fit in with the season of autumn and reflect the plants and animals found at this time of year. I then experimented with type to inform people what type of mushroom they are and where they can be found. I thought of this from looking through mini booklets and natural books and how I could present my prints in this way.
Shells and stones lino printing After creating a lot of prints of the woodlands, I decided to use another local surrounding/area, the beach. I created two different prints of shells and then used the shingle and other shells and seaweed to place them around on location. The outcome was really effective and although can be seen clearly they also seem to blend in with the surroundings well, because of the mixture of colours and the shapes.
Shells and stones lino printing After using the paper/print idea I then thought of the idea to use an actual stone from the beach to print onto. So the print would appear even more natural when placed in the environment. Unfortunately it was hard to print onto the object because it was not a perfectly flat canvas, but they are clear enough to know what the image is meant to be. Experimenting with objects in the natural environment has really made me think about others I could use in different areas.
Shells and Collections I decided to create another piece on using shells I had found on the beach. Some people take the beach and natural areas for granted and although they may visit the area, they may not explore. Living close to a beach allowed me to see how people interact with the beach and the seaside. Children are often a lot more inquisitive with picking up stones and shells and digging in the sand. Adults are the same and still often pick up stones and shells to take back home with them. The beach is one of those places which people can spend a lot of time in and revisit many times.
After thinking about how people enjoy the beach and picking up/collecting objects from it. I thought of how to use the objects to promote my work and ideas, to encourage people to explore the surroundings and the objects. Shells are left behind and washed up often by creatures which have lived in them and either died or transferred to another shell. The idea that shells are around for years just like stones fascinated me. Also depending on what beach/region/ country will vary the types of shells which are found and discovered.
Work by - Jason LaFerrera This gave me an idea of mapping journeys and where i spot animals and wildlife. To map a journey or a place I visit and the objects within the area.
Research
Further Research can be found at: http://issuu.com/madelinejenkins/docs/research_to_go_with_the_presentation
Each visit to the seaside can vary:
Maps and Object
• The tide (from the sea level being very high leaving hardly any beach or the tide being out and reveal a vast strip of sand).
My next idea followed on from the idea of exploring different areas. I decided to think about mapping out where an object had come from and where similar objects could be found. Which then lead to an idea of encouraging adults and children to explore. And so I created a type of game/nature trail and linked in some of my work.
• The seasons and the weather can change the type of animals and objects washed up on the beach. • Movement of the water and the waves vary within just a few hours. • The weather can vary how people use the sea and the beach (surfing, kite surfing, boarding, kayaking, swimming, sailing, walking).
Key ring nature trail I thought about how children at a young age are taught about nature and I had a look through some old art books from my first school, and found some crayon rubbings of objects. This is a technique which a lot of children do and so I decided to revisit this method. Sometimes the images are not always clear from this technique but a choose a few which I felt represented the object enough to be associated with if seen together.
I wanted to create a small object which a child/family could carry on their walk which would encourage them to look at nature and find new objects. I created a map to show the route and journey and where each object rubbing could be found. I would like to develop my idea further and create something more final.
Card board fox After experimenting with lino printing and other materials, I decided to experiment with a sturdier material such as card and something I could layer and create different effects out of. I created a full size fox and owl so they would look right in their environments and also stand up better than if I created it out of paper.
Fox: I have scanned in the cardboard at a closer view so that the detail can be seen and the different layers. I took the fox to different areas and photographed it in a variety of places in the night and day. The night photos I felt worked the best with the street lights giving it an urban feel. I learnt new skills in photographing at night (using a tripod and shooting in more enclosed spaces).
I wanted to create a piece of work which would be seen in an editorial context (magazine or to accompany a article) I wanted to show the cross over’s of animals in the country and urban environments. I gained knowledge in breaking the grid and thinking about image and type positions.
Owl
This was my other card cut out. I created this full scale and then experimented with different areas photographing it. I also wanted to cut out and thinking about the noises they make as animals. The idea of how owls are not always seen, but the noise can be heard which indicates to us there is an animal. I have created a rough draft idea for a children’s book (exploring the journey of the owl. Link: http://issuu.com/madelinejenkins/docs/ mini_owl_book
Conclusion to Presentation and where I will go next. After presenting my portfolio to the class, I have realised that I feel a bit better about presenting compared to when I used to present in my first year. I also felt more confident when explaining my work and hoped that the progress and ideas where put across in a way which made sense. After watching other people’s presentations and reading the criteria again. It is clear I need to have more of an idea of how my work will be used and in what context it will
be viewed, and where this will finalise me for my FMP. I have created a spider diagram to show what I have been thinking about throughout as well as newer ideas and I will then try to narrow down a few possibilities which really interest me and allow me to proceed further.
Handmade and Bound As a way of promoting myself and my work, I took part in Handmade and bound. My work was positioned inside the basket and my lino prints were placed on the wall next to the stand. I created a few small books to sell as well as selling my prints individually. My name was also included on the promotional sign which was handed out with the work.
This book was one which contained a variety of my Lino prints which range from last year to recent. I named this my Printing book. Each page was printed onto with the original lino and ink. I kept in the sketch book paper and where I have pulled it out of a sketch book pad as I felt it worked well with the theme and idea. I Bound this with a brightly coloured thread to make it stand out and give it a touch of colour.
Litter and Nature
do not always mix
Litter and Nature After reading about an article in the independent newspaper, I decided to create a piece of design work which could support the topic/article. A design piece which would look interesting and engage a reader to think about the subject.
I found some litter in my local park and an object and played around with the theme of how they could engage with each other. I decided on the colour pink as its bright, and is not a colour seen often in the environment (especially in autumn). This then lead to further ideas of litter and how I could show its effect in natural environments.
litter
Let’s not allow to ruin & mix with
Nature
Natural Enviroments Turning into Urban Environmentalists consider litter a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. And once trash gets free, wind and weather move it from streets and highways to parks and waterways.
Natural Enviroments Turning into Urban
Environmentalists consider litter a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. And once trash gets free, wind and weather move it from streets and highways to parks and waterways.
Photos of litter I then decided to take the theme of litter further and create a poster design using edited photographs I had created. I was really happy with how I edited the image to highlight the issue. I learnt skills in editing and photography as well as experimenting with text layouts. I researched into conservation posters and looked and how they were presented (type and image).
Evaluation of my unit so far
Bibliography
Where I am now:
Books
I liked bringing Printing, Illustration, Photography, Crafts, Mixed Medium and handmade into my work. And feel that the work I have been doing so far has confirmed that this is still a process of working that I would like to continue in my final major project. I want to use these processes further within my work to inform, direct and communicate.
Power of making : the importance of being skilled No logo : no space, no choice, no jobs : taking aim at the brand bullies / Klein, Naomi, (1970)
I started by researching the theme and then explored a variety of ideas in nature and the environment. I explored my location and surroundings. And what makes these areas so interesting and special and the animals and plants. I have tested out a variety of ideas and where they have all lead me. And I have explored my illustration and printing skills. I gained more Knowledge and skills in printing techniques as well as exploring and experimenting with other mediums. I also feel more confident in filming and editing from the film we produced as well as learning skills in photography and then editing the outcomes digitally. I have learnt about a variety of different of ways to work and research throughout this unit and I feel it will help me progress into the final major project. Each process and idea has created a new one. Since creating the work and analysing ideas, I have decided I would like to carry on this theme but more in-depth perhaps to tell a story or to inform others about exploring the natural environment and not taking it for granted. I have also started researching into conservation and ways to make people more aware of the animals in our country. Journeys and where they may lead us as an individual in discovery. The final outcome is not definite and I’m not completely sure where my exploration will take me when I carry on through to next semester, but so far my ideas are to create a promotional piece of work (poster, book or magazine form) to address the issues and ideas above. I really enjoyed creating the nature trail keying to encourage children to explore nature, and thinking about having the target audience as younger people/children as a target audience.
London walks! / Badaude, (1970) Reinventing letterpress : inspirational pieces by contemporary practitioners / Rivers, Charlotte I Love Type 01 - Futura Anglais / TwoPoints.net (2011) Earthshock : hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes and other forces of nature / Robinson, Andrew, (1957) Penguin by design : a cover story 1935-2005 / Baines, Phil. For love and money : new illustration / Farrelly, Liz.
Museums and Visits • The V&A – The power of making – Flower Illustrations – Beatrix Potter Illustrations • • • • • •
Whitechapel Book fair Typo London Brighton Pavilion/Museum Handmade and Bound Frieda Kahlo Exhibition Kensington Palace
Websites and Blogs http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitat-explorer http://www.mcsuk.org/ (Marine Conservation Society) http://www.rspb.org.uk http://www.neatorama.com/art/2010/06/11/jason-laferrera/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_wildlife http://www.gardendigest.com/trees4.htm www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/mar/11/art.features3 www.sculpture.org.uk/AndyGoldsworthy/biography http://jimdenevan.com/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8523674/Disparity-by-Christopher-Boffoli-everydayscenes-created-using-food-and-toy-figures.html www.etsy.com/shop/darialvovsky www.danmala.com/about/ shannoneileenblog.typepad.com www.sagmeister.com
Final Major Project Ideas For my Final Major Project, I want to take ideas I have been working on up until now further. I will look and research further into conservation in a variety of areas/environments. I want to educate people about the environment and encourage them to explore. I will need to explore a variety of ways I could communicate with the viewer and what the outcome could be, so that it informs and communicates the issues I want to address and to make people think about the topic further and possibly one which they could interact with. I am not sure what area I want to focus on with the final work I produce. My main Ideas are: • • •
Advertisements/ Promotion Editorial Design A story book of some kind with a narrative
The things I want to do and take further and gain knowledge in: • • • •
Develop Printing skills and techniques Experiment with a variety of materials Try new styles and the differences An understanding of a variety of environments and documenting.