-Pinhole Photography-

 

Using pinhole cameras allows us to manipulate the amount and intensity of light that hits the photosensitive photo paper, we can create a soft, infinitely focused image. With a pinhole camera images often come out as , blurred, and simple this is really effective for emphasisng the shape and form of the subject.

 

-B I C Y C L E S R E S P O N S E-

After looking at the incredibly deatiled line drawings of Michael Craig Martin, It inspired me to attempt a response, Using photoshop I created a simple bike design, whilst thinking about the linear and outlined style common in Michael Craig Martin's work, I used the invaluable stroke tool to give my shapes a subtle definition to emphasise the forms

 
                                                                                        

-TOOLS-

I just love tools, they are simple, functional, to the point, and always help you to get a job done.
They can be used to break things down or build things up. They are invaluable objects.

---INSERT TOOL DRAWINGS HERE--

JIM DINE, MICHAEL CRAIG-MARTIN

---PHOTOSHOP OF METALWORK TOOLS---

-B I C Y C L E I N S P I R A T I O N-

Being a huge of fixed-gear bicycles and their sub-culture I was inspired by the "forever bicycles" installation by Wei Wei. Comprising of thousands of welded together bicycles it is a metaphorical commentary on the rapid and vast expansion of the chinese population. It is inspiring to know that even after being imprisoned by his own government Wei Wei has emerged with yet a new piece of social critiscism.




After looking at Wei Wei's deconstruction, modification, and reformation of the bikes,

(The bicycles have all been simplified by having their chains, cranks, handlebars removed and no individual/unique parts, they all seem to be stock material...)

I have decided that I am going to reconstruct one of my old bike frames by breaking it down and reforming it. The frame of choice was a non-functioning single-speed mongoose racer frame (bottom bracket was no longer functioning and the forks have been bent due to an unfortunate yet hillarious accident involving a foot and some broken spokes)

Here is the photo of the bike in its former glory.



--INSERT INITIAL IDEAS SKETCHES HERE--

-Artist Research- Sean Scully-

Sean Talking About His Work At His Studio

Watched an eye-opening video on abstract art from the artist Sean Scully. He is an irish born american abstract painter. Initially I felt hints of rothko philosophy in his paintings but upon further analysis I was blown away by his ideas behind his process.









Drawing inspiration from the south german winter landscape, Scully interprets the landscape around him as a grid which acts as a stage for interplay between the different natural forms (barren trees, hedges, earth) and the monotonous yet hugely atmospheric colours, tones and shades present in the visual composition of the physical landscape.

It is very interesting to note the process of abstraction from his source of inspiration to the final piece, his paintings often combine themes such as "intimacy" and "monumentalism" personally I find this is best represented in the spaces between the almost gently pulsing blocks of colour. Although being a physically tiny gap it connects the various shapes by interlocking them in a slow,abstract and mysterious vibration.

Sean also works with the theme of breaking things, In his pieces he breaks a conceptual space of a canvas via the use of powerful, emotional colours to create an atmospheric ambience. The various (seemingly broken, divided and seperated) squares all join together in a dynamic visual unison and it becomes a work of an almost perfect imperfection.

One of my initial tasks was to experiment with the use of plaster and the added use of wax afterwards, I found the plaster to be quite a labourious process which often didnt turn out as smoothly or as clean as I would have liked it to be.

(INSERT PLASTER MODELS PICTURE)

Using wax I managed to make a surface pattern copy with 2 different coloured waxes, the result reminds me somewhat of cheese and tomatoes.

Texture by Wax Surface

I decided to develop this a bit by scanning it into photoshop and working with it to produce a more finished surface texture, after a couple of minute of experimenting I came up with:

-B R E A K   I T-

The name of the first assesment unit we were given, I have decided to set this blog up to incorporate any digital media that I find relevant to the themes I am exploring and to comment, respond and expose other works which I have drawn inspiration from.

Also I intend to use this as a platform to showcase my own digital works
:)