Birds of Boredom

Some days are really frustrating, when you work really hard and get nowhere.

I've now made no less than seven bird maquettes. (Perhaps, if I was better at maths, I'd have needed to make fewer.) It's mainly because I've crossed my fingers each time and hoped they'll work. And they haven't. So I've had to recut pattern pieces.

However, despite my rather random approach, I'm still impressed that I've sort of invented a pattern and I've learnt lots in the process (just not how to actually do it!)

 two of my attempts at patterns

These might seem the same. But on the first, the head is pinned down, 

making a subtle but important difference.

I hope I'm nearly there. Although I fear that my fourth bird (above) was the best so far, and I don't have the pattern pieces any more.

I also smoothed out the tops of my bowls, which was fun. Denise accused me of just wanting to make nice kitchen items, and not experiment in the name of Foundation. I said I was a practical girl and wanted to actually use them. I've promised to do a bit of experimenting to my rather samey bowls - as long as they still look nice!

Finally, whilst nervously watching the weather, I spent an enjoyable hour learning about the lazer cutter with Martin (such a nice man). I'm trying to create the computer screen like lazer cut section of  an on-line paper (Guardian) to fit in the top of my mug. Unfortunately it didn't cut quite deep enough and I'll have to do it again. Which takes about 40 minutes. Grrrr. (But it was only a test piece anyway).

So, overall, as I said, a frustrating day. Also involving me eating way too much Parmesan cheese this evening.

And who knows what tomorrow will bring as we seem to have entered the age of the Ark.

News Project

Finally, I feel I'm beginning to get my mojo back where college is concerned. Annie and I were discussing it recently and saying that we think we slightly burnt out last term as we worked so hard. It's felt really difficult getting back into things, but today was a good day.

For 'News' I'm going to be looking at how news is delivered. The cup and paper above represent the old news style of delivery: printing presses, the red ink of the sub-editor's pen, the very physical nature of newspapers themselves.

Really, to be correct, I should have made the cup in papier mache newspaper, but I wanted it to be quite durable (and I wanted to make it quickly) so I used mud rok instead. Martin was horrified, apparently one doesn't 'model' in mud rok, but I think the results are ok. And it's certainly durable.

Then today, I machine embroidered over newspaper columns. That was a job in itself. I wondered whether I'd be able to do it as the paper kept tearing, the thread jammed and you could only machine embroider on the third inside column on every page - don't ask why, but that's what worked best!

However, I'm really pleased with the results. The 'pattern' is meant to represent the original print rollers, the red the editors pen and the printed letters how they used to print newspapers (thanks for the idea, Pete. See, I was listening!)

I have previously wanted to juxtapose old with new, and I decided today I'm going to do that. So I'm going to lazer cut some plastic with type (to represent a computer screen) then fit it into the top of the cup. With a light underneath it should make both an interesting piece and something that's also quite aesthetic. (Let's hope!)

For my other two pieces I'm going to make a malevolent Twitter bird out of leather and wool (oh yes!) and I'm going to lazer cut into leather to represent how newspapers will one day become luxury items afforded only by the elite few.

I have to say that, as I was embroidering the paper, it made me feel quite nostalgic for newsprint, and I thought how sorry I would be to see it go. (Apart from the fact that I was using the Daily Mail at the time...)

Not only is there the lovely tangible experience of reading the morning papers with a cup of coffee (hence the cup above) but newspapers are actually used for a lot as well. You can't wrap fish and chips in a computer screen; homeless people can't cover themselves in them at night; you can't play games like chase the fish with a rolled up one; you can't light fires with one and there's absolutely no chance of a computer screen ever being made into something as fabulous as this...

or this...

or even this:

Ok, this one's actually made from a telephone directory. But they'll soon be obsolete as well.

NB: the three artists are, in order of appearance: Nick Georgiou, Jennifer Collier and Jolis Paons.

Pastry Making

Well ok, using clay, but it feels surprisingly similar - and I was never very good at rolling out pastry. Oh dear.

However, I managed to roll out and press two big bowls into moulds yesterday, so let's see how they turn out. I'm being more functional than inspired in ceramics. I love big, simple things, so am trying to replicate a bowl I've had for years. (As I said, not a lot of design inspiration going on there!)

The tools of the trade - rolling pin, sticks and some material

 All that fine rolling and you end up with this mess!

However, it's very satisfying to smooth it all out again

An example of slip casting with porcelain and slab building. Apparently I put too much green on - with is why it's gone a rather nasty grey. Mum, another Christmas present for you!!

Test tiles. I really love this last one and will attempt to make one of the bowls look the same.

Finally Beginning to Figure it Out

Success at last. My teacher actually asked for my latest drawing to put up on the wall. I assumed he didn't mean me when he was asking and left the room. So it made my day when he came after me! I've found that I much prefer working in mediums like pen, or rubbing back charcoal already laid down in order to make the drawing. I think it's more freeing. With pen you know you can't rub it out. And with charcoal it's less pressurised as there's already something on the paper.

And the previous week's effort:

 
 Quite pleased with his hand. Tricky things, hands.

Still finding it hard. But at least I am beginning to feel I can note some improvement.