Day Seventeen

My stomach was doing cartwheels. I have been dreading today as it's my 3D pre-assessment. She came over and sat with me and looked through my scrapbook, which didn't take long because I hadn't done any of it. We talked about the project a little and she gave me a suggestion which I am more than happy to be getting on with. My stomach has calmed down and I'm feeling reasonably confident again, still a little worried...

Again, it's my own fault. I have not been putting in the hours, and now I see how badly that can affect me. If I had done the work when I was supposed to most of this would be done and I wouldn't be lacking a half term off. I really hope I learn from this exercise.

In the afternoon we had life drawing again. I really wasn't looking forward to this after the cock up of last time. I just couldn't draw to save my life and I felt like a right prat, but today was different. Today I was permitted to use charcoal! I much prefer to do life drawing with charcoal. It's forgiving and makes every line better. So I came away with some really good work and our tutor even pointed out my work for the others to note. I do not feel like a prat anymore.

Day Eleven

Had a chat with my tutor about my 3D project and we have agreed that it would probably be best to go a different route. So now I have a lot of catch-up work to do, but at least I'm a little happier about being able to finish it.

Then came life drawing. I had mentioned that I had taken life drawing classes before, and although I'm not the best at life drawing, I still know the basics. Gavin said I could just get on with it then while he taught the rest of the class who had never been to a life drawing class. So the lesson started and he was showing us how to measure the body using the end of a pencil, and how to map out the drawing, and I jumped straight in and started drawing, and got it very very wrong. I feel like an idiot. I haven't done any life drawing since the Burlesque class in August, but that is no excuse for the crap I produced today. Back to the drawing board and learning how to draw from scratch.

All in all, not the best day.

Day Ten

More Historical Arts, and a half hour video to boot. We had to make notes on what was being said and about what paintings, etc. Actually very interesting and I'd like to find the video so I can watch the whole thing, as it was about 3 hours long in total.
Then back to our self portraits. I left the fiery one alone and went a little crazy on the other, horrid, floating green head in the middle of icky brown, one. It looks much better now...

Not brilliant, in my opinion, but better.
I then had to do a few more as we need to have 4 or 5 of these done.

I let one dry while I started on the other, then when that was done went back to the first and working into it, etc, etc.

They still need a bit more work. I also discovered something today, if you should happen to use a wax based crayon to work into your picture, make sure you are completely done with the painting 'cos there is no way it's going on after... Luckily, this is the kind of course where mistakes can still be used in the scrapbooks as we can learn from them.
Now comes the hard part. The browny/red one with the green background, Rachel has recommended to put writing in the empty space and it was also pointed out that I'm looking down and a little sad, so I think I know what needs to be written and it's going to be hard to write. Vincent Van Gogh put his feelings onto canvas, as did Edvard Munch, I'm simply following in the footsteps of the great's, and the mentally deranged, let's face it Van Gogh cut his ear off and I'm not at that stage yet.

Oh crap, we have 3D tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm doing. Every time I sit down to think it out I get sidetracked. I think all I need to do is design a vehicle's function and not worry about what it looks like. Maybe focus on an integral part of the vehicle, like the engine, rather than the whole vehicle. Or scrap the whole idea and with just two weeks left come up with a whole new idea. I quite like Emma's idea of boxes.

I reasonable confident I can, at the very least, pass the 2D and photography modules, but the 3D one is going to be a thorn in my portfolio.

Day Eight

Today I got in early again and so thought I would ask for my tutor's opinion on my new concept car... Well, at least I asked her advice before getting it halfway done only for her to tell me it wasn't quite right. It seems my idea is still too Fine Art and not enough Design. Back to the drawing board.

We began talking about fantasy and sci-fi, so I'm going back to one of my original ideas of looking at Syd Meads work and doing a futuristic car. Have to keep reminding myself to just stick with the design and we can maybe work on the aesthetics later. What it looks like is not so important right now, the design of the product is.

I'm more than a little worried. I think I've missed the main point of it all, and also everyone else has an idea of where they are going and are working towards that goal. We have a future fashion designer making an outfit out of cardboard, a future architect attempting to make a structural component, animation students working on models for animation... What the hell am I doing? I really believe I should have figured that out a bit more by now. Yes, I wanted to go into concept art, but what's the point when people just don't get what you're trying to convey? I get more bemused looks than amused looks and I think that's a sign to explore other avenues.

Anyway, back to college and our 3D project. I'm going to be spending the weekend looking at Syd Mead and other sci-fi vehicles, past and present concept cars, the reason for the cars, how much is design and how much is aesthetics, and so on. Maybe I'll even give some deep thought to why I'm here doing this and where I want to be by the end of it.

Day Six

Today we had to be in a little early as we had an Introduction to the Library talk. This took about half an hour, and although completely unnecessary for intelligent people I understand there are some true idiots out there.

Then it was photography, and we were split into four groups, one group learnt how to use a cool programme called Lightroom (?) which you use to enhance your photos. One group did some photography research, one group took photos of each other in front of a white screen using filters and lights to get cool shadows, and one group got to use a cool little lighbox that Gavin made. After half an hour on each we swapped round so we got to do all the activities.
The lightbox was frickin awesome!! It's a square box with slits cut into the sides and top to shine your lights through, then black or white paper is placed in the box to give a smooth surface area, then you put a maquette or other object into the box and photograph it using different light effects. Here are some photos...

The afternoon was filled with designing my 3D project, I think I have my final design now, I just have to make it... The design is currently on paper and hasn't been scanned in, but I have no doubt I'll get it up before long.

Day Three

Today we met in the it department, learnt how to log onto the computers and that if we want to print anything, to not bother, way too much hassle!!
We also began our photography project by going out and taking a few pictures using all the different functions on our individual cameras. I managed to get some interesting blurry effects by taking a photo of a tree a few feet away whilst in macro mode.

We took quite a few photos and now have to take a few more over the weekend. So I am going to be travelling the sights of Bristol, camera in hand, over the next few days. 

In the afternoon we went back to our main studio where we took photos of our maquettes with a brown background and using lights. Here are a few of those beauties...

Once these pictures were taken we painted our maquettes either black or white (I chose white) and have to photograph them against the same colour background (so black on black and white on white). Over the weekend we are to continue improving on our maquettes and also photograph them again, as I didn't get a chance in class.

I may have the rest of the week and the weekend off, but there is so much to do... Now I have to research European art circa 1400-1800... 

Once we were released from college I made my way to the Scrapstore where I purchased some card and a few scrapbooks, as we have to fill a scrapbook for each project, and one for health and safety. Dan, I need more prit-stick...

Day Two

Today we were given a project where we have to design and make an object using cardboard. A number of ideas ran through my head before we were told that it was a DESIGN project, not a FINE ART project, scrap those ideas, start again. I had recently had a conversation about Syd Mead and the F1 was on last weekend and this seemed to manifest in my brain and I began making a futuristic race car. The idea now needs to go along the transportation line and I have to create a number of ideas with this theme. We were also told we need to take photos at every stage and write all our ideas down, do a buck load of research and print it all out. Guess what I'm doing tonight? We also had to look at the work being done by the others in the class and maybe get some ideas from them. So much to think about and do, so little time!!

Today I pre-empted my hunger and bought some tuna past salad with me, so I actually ate today! Yay me! I've bought some sandwich stuff, so I know what I'm having tomorrow. I managed to get a parking space in the student car park, again yay me. Everyone seems really friendly, and helpful, and chatty during breaks or discussions, and quiet during work time, which is perfect for me!

Day Two and I'm really enjoying this, but I am oh so tired! Need sleep...

My first idea was for a futuristic style race car...

A photo of the Race Car, a small box with corrugated wheels, and the road going boat I don't quite like enough to finish.

This is a really weird and wild idea I had for a vehicle that can run on any side. The central feature is a cylindrical seating area which balances out so that whoever is inside is the right way up. 

There will be more ideas flowing once I have done some research on the subject and I will keep you updated.