Multimedia - PhotoShop

In the multimedia class we were shown basic functions of PhotoShop. We had to download images from Google images and combine them into an image. I chose dogs. We were then to make a repeated pattern with our image and make a wallpaper. This first image just looks like a nice pattern. The second image is a larger, upclose view of the image. You can see they are dogs.

Next, once we got used to using PhotoShop, we then had to use our own images. I used my photos of the Confessional and the 'Buddy Christ'! Again, the first image looks like a repeated pattern. You can't make out what it is. The second image is a closer look.

Here are the photos I was using:

Here I played with filters and colours etc. I used the theme from my silkscreens.

I used a comination of my own photo, below left, with downloaded images from Google images.

I had been playing with the idea of like a childcatcher capturing children's innocence, dreams and innocence. Just worked on this in Photoshop.

Exhibition by Una Spain

 

There was an exhibition held in the LSAD by MA student in Contemporary Art Practice & Media, Una Spain, November 2012. This exhibition struck a cord with me. It was based on the de-commissioned psychiatric hospital, St. Brigid's, in Ballinasloe. Before I came to LSAD I worked in St. Joseph's Psychiatric Hospital in Limerick - a very similar structure to St. Brigid's. The images in the exhibition are amazing! While I walked around I felt so emotional as the objects documented represented past lives.

 

Here are a few images I took. It was really hard not to put every photo up!!

 

 

 

This image is particularly amazing! Wedding rings -  It speaks volumes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a link to her website, enjoy it!! Well worth checking out! Please look at the video piece.

http://www.unaspain.com/

All I can say is Wow!

Drawing Project

For our Drawing Project we had to pick 2 artists' work which was nothing like we had worked with before. One artist was to be a currently living artist, while the other was to be a dead artist.

The first artist I picked was Jackson Pollock. I came across a book on his 'Psychoanalytic Drawings' in the library and was really shocked. When I thought of Pollock I only thought of his 'Drip Paintings'. I really liked his drawings! The one image that really stood out for me was the one below. Strong colours are something I wouldn't normally go for, but I knew we had to challenge ourselves, so I embraced it!!

 

I worked on my sketchbook and played around with different combinations. This was my own interpretation of Pollock's work:

 

I had a great time working with this.

 

The next artist I came across was Sky Pape. Here is a link to her website: Sky Pape Artist. She's incredible. "Reaching beyond brushes, pens, and typical tools, my methods include drawing with mist, ice, rain, and palm fronds, allowing the materials themselves to convey something of natures intensity."

 

"Working on the floor, blowing ink through tubes and funnels, she uses the air in her lungs to propel the ink and "breathe" the drawings to life. The ink drawings, abstract by nature, manage to strongly elicit elements and forces in the natural world."

 

 This is one of her images that I love! She cuts out pieces of her work which creates a 3D effect. Great!

 

This is what I worked on and came up with. It was great fun!

 

 

 

 Finally, we had to work on something 'Blue'!

 

For me, blue is my favourite colour. I know that blue is known to be a cold colour, but for me, nah!!!!! It's a warm colour. It's comforting, reassuring, calming, and I feel at peace when I see blue. I always like to have something blue with me, either in clothing or jewellery. It's like a lucky charm!! This is what picture I worked with:

 

 

I've used circles of blue as they represent complete circles of warmth to me.

Here was my work ready for mid-way review:

 I later played with coloured inks and cut out sections:

Reduction Woodblock

 

We next moved on to trying reduction woodblock. I stuck with the same theme of children.

 

During further research I came across the UN's Secretary General's report on Violence Against Children which was compiled in 2006. Here is a link to the report in case you want to have a read of it: http://www.unviolencestudy.org/

 

One part that struck me was that in 2006 it was reported that there were 8 million children placed into residential care! 8 MILLION!! "Most are in care because of disability, family disintegration, violence in the home and social and economic conditions such as poverty". Children in these 'caring' environments often have to face violence from their care-givers and other children. 'Discipline' if often dished out with beatings, restraints, or by being locked up. More outrageously shock treatment is inflicted, in the guise of treatment, on children with disabilities. The 'reason' / EXCUSE is to "control their behaviour". Also medication is used to make them more 'compliant'.

 

"In at least 77 countries, corporal and other violent forms of punishment are accepted as legal in penal institutions."

 

I decided to work with the numbers from the report and use them in the form of children's building blocks.

 

 

I drew out the above image, reversed it and transferred it onto a wood block. I printed the background cream. I then cut away the background on the woodblock and left just the shape of the blocks. I printed the blocks in pink. I then cut out the detail of the blocks '2', '7' and '6' and printed yellow.

 

 
Next I carved out the detail of '0' and '7' and printed in green.

 

Finally I carved out the detail of '8' and '0' and printed in light blue.

 

 

Here are a few different variations I tried. I don't think the dark blue and red version worked!! I liked the final one which is all higgledy piggledy.

 

Silk Screen

Next brief was either 'Protest' or 'Humour'. I decided to go with protest. I wanted to stick with a similar theme from when I was working on photography. I wanted to look further in to the topic of abuse and violence against children.

From my research on protest against clerical abuse, I came across a protest where people tied babies shoes to a railing. I felt that working with clothes would be very effective in making an impact.

I started working with various compositions - some were more complicated than necessary!!

Here is a collage I made to imply a washing line. I put in a priest's rope and daises (symbol of innocence).


Here is the final image I decided to work with. I wanted the clothes to appear ragged and torn to imply the abuse that occurred. I read various survivors' personal experiences and thoughts and used their names and ages of when the abuse occurred, and put these on the items of clothing.

On the top right hand side I wrote the name 'Brendan Age 46' - to imply Fr. Brendan Smith who committed awful acts of abuse for a long period while in a position of trust and authority.

I drew the images onto MRPVC with a light fast marker, and exposed the images onto a screen for printing.

I printed various layers, light blue background, pink for the top and dress, green for the babygrow and a section of the dress, darker blue for the dungarees and yellow for the pegs and design on the top.

 

Finally I again exposed the outline onto a screen for printing. I printed this in black on top of the image.

 

 

 

I printed a repeated pattern on newsprint. I thought the dungarees were really cute