Imperial War Museum

I visited the Imperial War Museum in Salford today to get some imagery for my Trend Project which is inspired by the anniversary of WW1 in 2014. I got some really great photos of surfaces and texture as well as materials like metal and fabrics.

Tread on a tank

Netted roof of tank

The structure of building

War machinery

Uniform

Tank tread

Documents

War Machinery

Dissertation finished!

Well I did it, over the week I've narrowed the body of my report down putting interviews in the appendix at the back (which don't go in the word count). I managed to finish eveything Wednesday, printed it yesterday and bound it and handed it in today- now I can finally relax...for a while at least :)

Dissertation update

See definately not got it covered quite yet- I've got over 8000 words; and 6000s our limit. I'm going to have to narrow it down- a lot!

Dissertation update

5,500 words and more up to now; I'm starting to feel much happier about this- shall I start to brag and say I've got it covered?.....not just yet I think.

Dissertation update

I've got 4000 words plus more under my belt today, just less than 2000 left; I'm more than half way there- I can see that light at the end of the tunnel- I'm gonna make it whoo!

Project Deadline

Well everything is up in the studio, I had a little trouble finding room for it all but I'm pleased with how it looks; check it out my first presented work as a final year :)

Last things- done

Okay so I got everything printed and bound yesterday and today and tonight I started putting up my boards in the studio; well it's one less thing to worry about tomorrow.

Deadline approaches- last weekend

All boards are mounted up; only had trouble with a few things falling off- calls for stronger glue. Just gotta finish off annotation in tech file then Market research to print and bind during Monday and Tuesday.

Layering Distress

Precious But Worn

Luxurious Metallic

Scale & Repeats

Boards printed!

That's my Inspiration, Theme and Market Boards all done. :)

Inspiration Board

Theme Board

Market Board

Last full week before Deadline!

I've got the laser cutter tomorrow afternoon so made sure all the files were ready today, I borrowed a macro lens camera from uni which is really good; so far I've got some really interesting photos of my printed surfaces really close up.
I need to get all my boards printed this week and as we have no classes on Thursday I'm hopefully going to be in Print giving me more time to get everything done I want.

Foil on textured surface

Engraved design into MDF

Flock on glass with metal printed design behind

Stitch & HobbyCraft show NEC

Went to the NEC in Birmingham for the annual Stitch & Craft show. Great for Christmas prezzies and stocking up on the regulars but also as this show includes Arts Materials Live I was able to get loads of paint mediums I hope to use later in my Final project for surface texture and more.

Open Day Student Helper

I've been helping out with Open Days; showing students around and answering questions. I fit this in between classes on Wednesday & Thursday. It's been interesting finding out about the new course that Surface, Textiles & Craft will become. Check out the 'cool' t-shirt I had to wear :P
 

Am I? :)

Print

I exposed another screen in print today and was able to do loads of samples testing my range of hard surfaces.

I'd say a good days work :)

Laser Cutter

Had the laser cutter all morning and was able to try out a range of my materials :)

Thin sheet plastic

Thin sheet of Polypropylene

Perspex

Elmo again

Was on the Elmo projector again today, as I didn't manage to do as much as I wanted to with it on Thursday due to it breaking.
Collected t-shirt for open day where I'm going to be a student helper.

Exposing screens

I exposed my designs onto screens today and got printing with them straight away :)

My designs ready to be exposed

Washing off the screen once exposed

Washing off my screen to make the exposed image visible.

Final exposed screen

Elmo Projector

I've never used used this before but it's brill; blows imagery up large scale enabling photos or drawings to be taken directly from what is displayed.

Elmo Projector

Pressed leaf

Pressed leaf manipulated on Elmo

Negative of pressed leaf  on Elmo

Pressed flowers enlarged using the Elmo

Print

Stripped screens ready to be exposed next week. Worked on testing heat transfer printing onto hard materials; using some good old mixed media techniques.

Trip to Bradford

Went on a little trip to bradford near the Bronte museum, looking for picturesque views to photograph as well as flowers. Didn't find much of that unfortunately before the rain set in but came across a few other things.

Add caption

Wednesday

Had no classes today so made use of the extra time in CAD trying out techniques and designs for next session on laser cutter.

Laser Cutter session

Was on the laser cutter this afternoon, so tested some of my designs onto paper which cut like a treat but when trying a stencil; it didn't quite cut through so next time need to set the thickness of material higher.

Technical written report module

Just when I think I'm understanding this- I seem to loose it. The more it's explained the less I seem to get it.
I've got the basis of my proposal done for hand in on Fri and the more I write the more it appears- lets hope.

Design Tutorial

Went well; I was actually able to explain my project so that it made sense this time :) and the ideas given are right along the lines of what I plan to do so at least I'm on the right track.

Print workshop

I now know how to strip a screen :)  so I can get round to exposing my design imagery soon.

Trend Project

Okay so I've been struggling with this as we need to predict a trend for spring/summer 2014 but I haven't known where to start as everything that appears to be emerging has been done before so I not really been feeling any of them but after having a chat with our tutor I feel much better about it and plan to link it with the trend I'm creating for my design project, now just to get all the research and hopefully I should have no problems... we'll see.

...placement presentation

Well I didn't manage to do my presentation for the 2nd years as we over ran so there wasn't time for mine; suppose it's a good thing really as I can hardly speak today. I'll be doing mine next Wednesday- lets hope my voice is back by then :)

Tuesday afternoon

Just had a run through of my placement presentation I'm giving the 2nd years in the morning and am pretty sure I know what I'm saying; that is if I don't completely loose my voice by then as I have a cold and my voice has been going since yesterday :(

Concept Boards

Well here's my first colour and mood boards for tutorial tomorrow

Written report module

I think the more this gets explained to us the less I understand it- I've written my proposal though but can decide if its finished or not...and we start presenting them next week :(

First Cut- Paper exhibit

Went to Manchester this afternoon for First Cut which opened today at Manchester Art Gallery and will continue until 27th Jan.
It was really interesting; all exhibits we're from paper and all cut by hand.