Odilia Bird FDA

mono printing: We tried out collage mono printing during our Monday workshop. I decided to to for a combination of red and black ink because I believe that they are both bold colours that provide a contrast to each other. To begin with we placed the leaves onto a plate with black ink and put it through the press, this was to ensure that the black ink was on the back of the leaves and then we put them through again with the plate with red ink. I think that the first black and white print has a good contrast and the shapes and forms stand out.the edges are rough and seem almost childlike, but I believe that this gives the image character. However, I do believe that large white gaps that the leaves have left cause the print feel slightly empty and void, as if there should be something else there. Looking at the relate of putting it through with the red ink I can see that the shapes seem almost real, the veins and lines from the original leaves are viable and I believe that the use of blac

The Burrell collection vs The Pitt Rivers: In our lecture we were discussing how spaces are used when displaying art and collections, two examples of contrasting space usage are the Burrell collection opened in Pollock country park in 1983 and the Pitt Rivers, founded in 1884.  The Burrell collection is based in the countryside, surrounded by parkland. The space seems light and open, the large windows allow the landscape and scenery to be seen by the visitors and the light streaming in compliments the white and brown interior. I believe that the brown ceiling makes a connection to the trees and landscape outside, and seems to allow aspects of the outside scenery to bleed into the interior. I think this provides a contrast to the white floor and walls, which on their own create a very minimalistic and clean cut atmosphere, the white makes the space feel free and spacious. However, paired with the brown tones I think that this grounds the space and brings it back down to earth and I beli

 Final Evaluation: Overall, I believe that this project has been a success. I believe that I have shown the use of a variety of different processes and media throughout this project, and I think that there is a clear development and progress to my ideas and work that showcase my thought process and highlights the development of my technique and skills. Two aspects of this projects that have helped me the most have been the artist research and the time that I was given for exploration and experimentation. I was able to work and discover at a comfortable pace and I believe that this really allowed my work to blossom. While searching for artists that connect to my work and used similar media I was inspired and motivated throughout this project. I was able able to see different media used in a variety of different ways and this in turn influenced my own work and inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. I have learnt new processes during this project such a Cyanotypes, and by learning an

 Rene Magritte: Empire of light  While exploring the portrait of light within different work for my artist research I came across a painting by Magritte called 'Empire of light' which encompasses night and day in one image. When looking at this image I can immediately see the contrast between the light and dark areas, the viewers eye is instantly drawn towards the bright sky and the floating clouds provide a sense of depth within the image. I believe that this image invokes a magical atmosphere, as if the viewer is looking into a world where day and night happen all at once. I think that the top half of the painting is bright and fun, the clouds have been painted with soft, weaving lines and I believe that the bright blue combined with the white create a light and free atmosphere and the way that light has been conveyed allows the clouds to have depth and seem as if they are jumping out at you. I believe that the use of light within this painting has allowed the smaller details

 Joseph Wright of Derby: An experiment of a bird in an air pump  This painting by Joseph of Derby is a fascinating display of how light works with its surroundings. When looking at this painting I believe that it feels dark and moody, the crowd is gathered together around the light source and they are illuminated by this light. The way in which the light has been used creates a stark contrast between the light and dark areas of the image, the light dramatically fades out towards the edges of the painting and encompasses those sections in darkness. I believe that this piece is interesting and curious, it depicts a science experiment being conducted and when looking closely, the expressions on each individual face are visible. I think that each expression brings a new feeling to the painting, from intrigued to bored. I believe that the young girl covering her eyes with an older man comforting her invokes an atmosphere of youth and naivety, like a daughter getting her father to scare the

Final exhibition piece: To finish off my final pieces for the Castle Exhibition and Light night I stretched my cyanotype prints over a wooden frame to create a stretched canvas. I really love how these two pieces have turned out and I believe that the choice to turn my prints into stretched canvases has allowed the details, shapes and forms to truly stand out and shine, as the print has been pulled flat not allowing for any wrinkles or creases to obscure the image. I think that my print now has an illusion of being 3d, the patterns wrap around the edges and carry on around the back of the frame, I believe that this causes my piece to jump out at the viewer, and the way the print wraps around the back creates a feeling of curiosity, leading the viewer to want to know what is happening behind the frame as well. When looking at this piece as a whole, I believe that the use of a symmetric shape with straight lines such as a square provides a contrast to the chaotic and busy print. It groun

Cyanotypes and making wooden frames: For my final piece I printed off multiple versions of the three forest photographs onto acetate and cut, cropped and stuck them together to create a large template to work with, I made sure to adjust the highlights and contrast on photoshop so that there would be a stark contrast within the finished print. I measured and cut three sheets of calico and used the older cyanotype mixture combined with a small amount of the new one on one sheet and used a freshly made mixture on the other two. When looking at the painted calico I noticed a large difference in colour between the old and new mixture, the  new was a light yellow and the old was a darker green, and when looking at the results after washing them out there was a clear different between them. After washing the two that were made with the new mixture it resulted in nice blue and white contrast between the lighter and darker areas, the finer details were clear and noticeable and the different lin

Cyanotypes: I inverted my original photos on photoshop and adjusted the contrast and highlights using curves, I then printed these images out onto acetate to turn them into cyanotypes. When looking at the final piece I can see that there is a strange ribbed effect that seems to take over and obscure the whole image. I believe that this is because I had laid the sheets of calico on a grooved surface while painting the chemical on, and the mixture seems to have seeped into those areas creating these stripes across the image. Both of these cyanotypes were first practices using my own images and using calico for the material and I believe that the final product reflects this, they seem amateur and messy. In both of these images I can see a small amount of contrast between the light and dark areas and streaks of light that highlight certain areas such as the leaves, however, I don't think that there is enough contrast within these images. They feel washed out and the colours are muted,

Transgression and taste: I have chose two pieces to talk about, one by Jake and Dinos Chapman and one by Hermann Nitsch. The first piece by Jake and Dinos Chapman is called 'Hell', and is a depiction of nazi soldiers trapped in a hell of their own design. When looking at this image there seems to be a multitude of corpses and severed head spread across the image, bodies missing limbs and skulls covered in blood. I believe that this is quite a shocking and gruesome image it conveys an atmosphere of suffering and pain and I think that the colour pallet that has been used within this piece adds to this. The lighting of this piece appears to be a darker yellow, this, paired with what seems to be a dry and barren ground creates the illusion of scorching, unbearable heat, these are souls that are being tortured not only by there physical surroundings but also by the climate. I believe that the dark and muted greys that have been used for the clothing and machinery allow the use of re

Politics and identity: The first image I have chosen is a political piece by Barbara Kruger called 'We don't need another hero' created in 1987. This piece is about the gender roles and stereotypes that are put onto children at a young age and I believe that this piece as a whole is a criticism of our society. The image is black and white which I think causes there to be a strong contrast between the light and dark colours and tones, this also allows the red and white border and banner to stand out against the black and white background, the red pops out at the viewer and draws the eye to the message that has been written. This piece features a small boy flexing his arm with a small girl leaning over and poking it with text running through the middle of the image stating 'We don't need another hero'. When looking at the boys face, I can see that it is scrunched up with the effort of flexing his arm as if the action itself is taxing for him and taking a lot of ef

Forest photos and using a canon camera: I decided to go to a near by nature reserve to take pictures for my portrait project, while using a canon camera I set the exposure to 1/250 and the f-stop to 6 and then adjusted them accordingly as I went forward.  For the first 3 photos I decided to pose underneath a tree in various positions within frame, two times standing up and once crouching down. I was wearing a dark navy coat which I believe allowed me to blend in well to my surroundings and I was stood with my back towards the camera as I wanted to be in the photographs to create a semi self portrait but stay anonymous which I believe I have achieved, and I think that by doing this I have not only created a sense of anonymity but by facing away from the camera I believe that this draws attention towards the tree, as if I am worshiping it or making an offering to an ancient diety. When looking at my final images I think that I have created something mysterious and intriguing, the viewer

  Artist research: William Henry Fox Talbot  William Henry Fox Talbot, born in 1800, was an English scientist and photographer known for inventing the salt paper and calotype processes, I have chosen two of his photographs to evaluate The first photo features an open doorway with a broom leaning against the wall, when looking at this photo I believe that black and white colours provide a contrast to each other and allows the light in the image to be portrayed subtly, instead of harsh and bright rays of light the light seems to softly illuminate the image and slowly disappear into the darkness throughout the doorway. I think that the lone broom in the middle of the photo creates an atmosphere of loneliness and solitude within the image as if it had been abandoned, and I believe that this feeling is enhanced by the winding branches making their way up the front of the building as if the person sweeping had been fighting against the natural surroundings and finally gave up. I believe that

 Artist research: Richard Roberts  I have chosen two images taken by a photographer named Richard Roberts that works with and portrays light. When looking at the first image I believe that there is an open and light atmosphere, the building is placed in the middle of a wide and open field and the clear sky seems to expand on beyond the confines of the photograph which I think not only adds to the open atmosphere but also adds an element of of freedom to the image, like you could take off and fly away. I think that the building in the middle of the field is the main subject of the image with the reflection of light being the focal point, the light immediately draws the eye, like a beacon that is attracting the viewer and I believe that this light source elevates the image and invokes a feeling of peace and serenity and by providing a focal point such as the light reflection I believe that this also brings attention to the bare surroundings and landscape which provides a contrast between