Pin Pricking

I was looking at the photos that I had taken of my paper cutting and was really interested in the negative spaces. I decided to try doing a pin pricking picture.

I chose the photo I was going to use and stuck it to a sheet of black paper with blue tak. I got a cushion and placed the photo and paper on it, both on my lap, and started sticking the pin in the paper around the outlines that I saw.

Once I was finished I then stuck it on a window to show daylight shining through the holes. I really like how it turned out.

Dry Point Print

I got some acetate and a steel nail and started drawing out some leaves of various sizes on the acetate. Once done I took it down to the print room and started to work on it.

I first applied ink with a piece of rubber, then wiped off the excess.

I then wiped it with scrim (a losely woven material) to make sure that I didn't wipe too much of the ink off.

Next I rubbed it over with a piece of paper from an old phone book.

I then wiped the area around the markings with a soft blue cloth to clean it up.

I prepared a piece of paper by dipping it into a sink of water and laid it on an upright board. Here I used a roller to flatten it to ensure to air bubbles were evident. I then placed the paper inbetween two pieces of newsprint to get rid of the excess water. Next I placed my dry point acetate on the printing press and put the dampened paper on top of it. I then placed a sheet of newsprint on top then two blankets. I started rolling the machine (as seen above).

Once I rolled it all the way through I lifted up the blankets and newsprint and was left with my print.

I did a few more prints and decided to try it on the reverese of the acetate too. It wasn't as clear as the previous prints, but I was glad I tried it to see the effect.

As Monty Python would say.... And now for something completely different.........

At the end of November all 1st years went to a Sound Sculpture workshop with Sean Taylor. I really didn't know what to expect. It was really interesting.

As part of the workshop we all had to go out into the city and record a 30 second clip of a sound that we like / interested us. So between all of us we recorded a range of sounds varying from pedestrian crossings, traffic, coffee machines to humming. We were then all assigned into our various groups and placed around a recorder. It was recorded and put up on the internet. I've attached the link to it. It was great crack.

http://vimeo.com/33163217

Enjoy!!

Lino Print

I wanted to do something in print and went back to my paper cutting. I took some close up photos and printed out one in particular.

I put some tracing paper over it and drew an outline of the image. I then rubbed charcoal on the back and place it on a piece of lino. I drew over the outline again and this left the imprint on the lino.

I blacked out the positive space that I wanted and then started cutting out the negative space on the lino.

I then went down to the Print Room and rolled some ink on the lino cut.

I put it in the roller and paper on top. This is what came out.

I was delighted with it! Loved working in the Print Room. Hope to get there again to try some monoprinting.

This is the final piece mounted.

Cone shaped swirl & Ceramic piece

I went to the exhibition Transform and really loved the work by Nuala O'Donovan and Jennifer Hickey. I looked at the movement of the leaves - swirling, and also at what happened to the leaves over time. They dried out and curled inwards. From there I started working on some paper rolling.

I took some pictures of some leaves

I rolled some paper into cone shapes (replicating the shape of dried leaves)

I started attaching them together

 

I wanted them to be in the shape of a swirl, like what leaves do in the wind

I hung it up on the window beside my studio space. I love the way it looks. It was very delicate as it was made of paper. I wanted to explore this further with ceramics.

I went to a ceramics workshop and for the first time ever used clay!! It was great!! I rolled out some clay and cut out squares. I then coned them and started joining them together.

It then went in to be fired

After that it had to be glazed. I used a Red Iron Oxide glaze. This colour leaves a brown rusty colour. This was to imply dried leaves. This glaze was painted on with a brush and sponge. At different stages of the painting, I ran it under the tap and this gave it various shades.

Final step, it had to be fired again.

I really loved working with this. Hope to get to the Ceramics Dept. again before Christmas break!

Finally!! An update!! 3D Wire and Knit piece

I've been off the radar for a while getting 2 essays out of the way. Finally they're done! No point thinking about them now. Been working on a few things. I tried experimenting with dying cotton and muslin with various berries, spices, vegetables and food dye. It didn't work out quite like I wanted, but I'll get back to it.

I wanted to look at making a leaf in 3D format. I started with a photo of a leaf and then sketched it. I worked with wire and made the shape of the leaf. I knitted a piece which would cover the wire frame. This piece was knitted with video cassette tape. It was a tricky medium to use to knit with but once knitted it gives the texture and rustling sound of dried leaves. It was great to experiment with.

Car Cemetery

I know this is a little off the track of my project but I came across this link and am blown away. It is kinda linked to my project as it shows the strength of trees and the power of nature. Also I love Sigur Ros! Enjoy it!

http://vimeo.com/30963002

Self Portrait

Well, here's something a little different. We were to do a self portrait photograph that was best to describe ourselves. I couldn't think of what to do but eventually went with a game theme. I love Resident Evil, a playstation game. I decided to try and incorporate a photo of myself in with the background of the Umbrella Corporation, the corrupt organisation that devise biohazard weaponary and ultimately turns people into zombies!!!

I took some photos of myself in zombie mode (as you do...) and went with this one. Very attractive eh???

I then got the background I was looking for.

I then changed the image of myself to black and white and combined the two together using 'Serif Photo Plus'. This is my final self portrait............

 This was great craic! I loved playing with it!
So this will be part of 179 other photos and be on display soon. It'll be great seeing it up.