Sci-fi/ psychedelic artist. Cover art for “Yes”

Dean’s work documents the beginning of a new world. The album art covered three stages for life developing.

Dean’s depictions of a fictional world are interesting because they documents the beginning of a new world sort of like how I as considering for my own fantasy world. they are all done in water colour that gives a tonal pallet. Giving perfect washed out tones for sky and seas while also allowing rich colour that adds the psychedelic fantasy look.

When coming to make my own map I considered a conversation I had with a friend about creating a dream planet for surfing. what would it look like? If we had the opportunity to shape a new inhabitant less planet what would it look like?

Before bringing surfing into it I thought about Tolkine (creator of The Lord of the Rings saga) and the complete fictional universe and its own rich seam. Cultures, languages, histories and Lore. I looked at his own original illustrations.

During my most recent trip to Cornwall over the easter break, after a few days of great conditions the winds changed. The north coast that we had been surfing the first few days had come under fire from Northerly wind with the swell coming in from the west created cross onshore conditions. Onshore conditions means that all of the waves instead of making a wave shape like this (ideal for surfing).

Create a closed out white wave like this (not good for surfing).

So I called a friend who’s a local and asked him where we should go. He dropped a pin on the map and sai here. Today is a south coast day here will be sheltered from the wind. So the next day we drove for a few hours down to the edge of the world then first left then right as instructed. We came across a tiny town in the middle of nowhere with maybe 100 people, a pub and a cafe. So we stopped up, looked over the cliff face onto the beach. The tide was all the way in but the conditions were perfect just as my friend had said they would be. So immediately we jumped into our wetsuits ( still soggy from the day before) had an amazing session. It was on the return journey back to base camp that I realised, I really don’t want to forget about that little gem of a surf spot. Furthermore, that the surf society has no record of surf spots. Most of the time ( when we go as a club) we go to the same old spots as a smaller group we could go wherever. So I endeavored to make our own secret surf map. What better to make it on than my own paper.

Info on the history of cartography

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cartography

While doing my own rough cartography I had a look into some vintage map making.

Making my own MDF billet

lessons learned

So I constructed a box out of painted MDF and drilled small holes in the bottom for the water to drain out of. Then filled the vessel with sawdust. There after I soaked the sawdust in a diluted pva and water solution. Once the sawdust resembled a thick paste I put the lid on and begun to compress out the excess water. once I had drained out as much water as possible I left it in a warm closet to dry. Then it went moldy. Over a period of weeks it has gradually dried and the mould subsided. in my next attempt I will bike the block at a low temperature to dry it out and kill any fungus or bacteria.

William Kentridge South African (b.1955, Johannesburg)

Machines and projections.

http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/william-kentridge/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pc2Yi3SU7k

Thick Time

The Whitechapel Gallery

• Kentridge’s sculptures perform a number of different roles in the show. Sometimes they are the projection surface or sometimes they are the projector or aid/ alter the projection in some way.
• His pieces move in a very smooth mechanical way. This often is necessary for the projection
• I find is aesthetic appealing as it in a way is similar to mine

80 year old japanese toy maker

Masaaki Hiroi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbWeaeyOenY

Old guy with loads of energy, still making wooden mechanical kids toys. His energy and creativity are commendable for someone that old. His energy and excitement for hi craft come across in his designs and his personality

Simone Gertz “The queen of shitty Robots”

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3KEoMzNz8eYnwBC34RaKCQ

Creates comical “labour saving” robots and performs with them for youtube videos. She maintains a perfect, serious deadpan or only reacts to the robot as if it were completely normal which only adds the the humour of her performances. These robots often go hilariously wrong and instead of panicking the straight faced and serious composure of the performer makes it seem as though the mess the robot just caused was almost intentional.  

Machine with oil

This piece interested me because of its mechanical complexity. Which is in juxtaposition to its function which is simple just to keep re oiling itself. I enjoy the aesthetic of the repetitive motion that carries the piece. The mechanics attract the viewer and invite them to pick apart how it works while comparing the repetitive motion to their own lives and their own routines.

Machine with roller chain

Machine with abandoned doll

This machine is intrinsically creepy. Any use of an abandoned children’s’ toy creates a connotation then the way that it’s moved my the machine makes my think about control and our relationship with technology. Makes me think of the matrix as well partially due to the black paint and the long thin wire connecting the machine and the doll.

Max Zorn creates images with parcel tape on a light box creates a sepia photograph look.

Adding multiple layers and removing small areas partially or fully allows for very sharp lines on areas of specific high contrast