I finished another design set for Christmas cards, these are a unique idea I haven't really seen before. They're recipe cards so the actual Christmas card has a bit more use to it rather than just being recycled after Christmas!
My self directed project for my final third year is The Renaissance. It started off with Rome as a general focus and slowly I decided I love the architecture and artists of the Renaissance period. I create this image based on work by Cameron Moll who creates images of structures in type. I chose St Peter's because of how impressive the architecture is not just inside but outside too. I used Times New Roman because that's the type face that can be seen on the outside of the building, I only used numerals and letters to create the shape of the building.
I then took the image and created it into a silk screen, I tried two toned layers as well as including colour to certain parts of the building. I worked at an A3 scale on Photoshop and printed onto A2. You can see the whole collection of prints on my website or by clicking one of the images.
I have gotten around to producing a design for a Christmas card. After finishing up this idea I thought I'll also try one without Santa and perhaps another with either a cat or dog in front of the fire. Then I could sell a set of 3 and they'd all be different. I bought a few doll house Christmas items and arranged them in my doll house (while giving the back wall new wallpaper) and set up this shot. This was a lot of fun both to set up, shoot and edit. Hopefully I get some custom once the cards arrive and I can get printing!
In a workshop by one of our lecture's, Lorna, I looked at using cut and paste methods from pre-exisiting materials to create a new illustration. I had to choose a type of machine/appliance and create a super hero that held the qualities of that machine. We had to consider costume, accessories and a name. I wanted my super hero to be themed around my current subject, The Renaissance, so I chose the pasta making machine. Using some books I had of Michelangelo's paintings I cut out one that featured Christ and chose him to be the 'Perfect Pasta Painter'; his power of being able to paint pasta perfectly and it comes to live. How does this save the world?.. By providing delicious perfect pasta whenever my super hero paints! He holds his best paint brushes and his staff of pasta to provide those who need a bite to eat.
I saw this in a window of a charity shop and I knew I instantly had to buy it because all the furniture alone in the house would be worth way more than the charity shop were charging. I got the whole lot for £20 and I know after previous projects that some of the items would cost a lot of eBay. Just the bed side lamp alone would range between £3-£5. Finding a china bath like that would also be an expensive buy, a pretty lucky sighting! All of this will work in future photo shoots!
Over the summer I bought got two new books that I really liked. One was bought as a gift for me and the other I bought myself because I wanted to add it to my collection.
The first book is by Lauren Child. It's retelling the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears but done with photographs and 3D sets. Similar to the photos I like to do, I thought having this book would tie in well with my own work as well as Lauren being one of my inspirations. The book is also interesting because at the back it has a "behind the scenes" section in which you can see how the sets and shoot was done. It is also a collaborative book with a photographer and set designer.
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The second book was bought as a gift from Rome, although it can be bought anywhere, it is the story of Alice in Wonderland. This book is an advanced pop up book, the time and effort put into this book is amazing. Every element of the book is different to the last and it features a wide range of mechanics in paper craft. It is created by Robert Sabuda with the original text from Lewis Carroll.
I wanted to create a range of possible birthday/occasion cards that could be given to family members or friends. I took my old favourite 90's toy 'Betty Spaghetti' and arranged them in situations that could be featured on the front of the card. Most of the scenes are brothers and sisters helping each other out. I did a few other scenes but the lighting wasn't that great once I reviewed the photos.
