Friday 28th November
For our photoshoot we decided we needed to practise both working together, getting to know how each other worked as well as deciding on the type of lighting we needed/ wanted to use. Because we didn’t have access to the studio we had to make do with my bedroom and a spot light or two. Overall it think the shoot went well and that we produced images that helped us to develop our thinking.
Sunday 26th November
After brain storming the other day, myself and Phoebe decided to simply our thoughts and start making some mood board to help us develop our project further.
Thought process simplified:
Moodboards for our overall concept, the type of photography we would like to use, and the styling that we think we accompany the images well.
Concept:
Photography:
Styling:
Monday 24th November
For our second brief we are being put into pairs; myself and Phoebe Collins will work on a project with content of our choice. One of us will take responsibility of being the photographer and the other, is the stylist. We both decided we wanted to create a thought provoking and a project with depth however we are not entirely sure what we want to research. Thus today started our to brain storm and put our initial ideas down on to paper.
Monday 17th November
Today we were introduced to Sorla Houston, Photography Editor and Producer from Dazed and Confused. She told us all about how things work in the magazine and in particular, her job.
Initially the editorial team look at everything from pop culture, to the politics to editorial images, current affairs.. Basically everything! From this information they all formulate ideas and the update the ‘list’. The list is a collaborative space where by all have access to it. Sorla has to keep an eye on this as it is only when it goes bold that she can start her job.
Her job involves a lot of organising, contacting people and arranging call sheets so make sure things so everything is in place for the shoot. She also has to liaison with the creative director to make sure they are happy with the chosen photographers. She also is in control of the budget and thus how much gets allocated to where, in addition to making sure everyone is paid on time.
We then had the pleasure of being able to see her sketchbooks from degree level and get some inspiration for our current and future projects. I really like the look of a grey background with a colour layered on top. I also really like the idea of looking into using different mediums and have been inspire to go home and experiment printing onto different types of paper and materials, for example, tissue paper, acetate and tin foil. I also want to experiment with cling film and the idea of tinting photos.
Thursday 13th November
Today’s lecture was all based on Fashion; who creates it and who takes responsibility for it. Dr Marie McLouglin used the film Devil Wears Prada (the lumpy blue sweater in particular) to give an example how fashion, is an unavoidable, ever changing concept.
I found it really interesting to consider how when people (such as the character Andy in Devil Wears Prada) think they are going against society and what it considers its norms in terms of fashion, they are actually caught up in it, just as much as those who are trying to be. The tone of colour, the shape and the print of a garment has to come from somewhere and thus eventually it gets sent through the system ending up to the consumer.
We looked at Karl Lagerfeld’s quote “Fashion is a language that creates itself in clothes to interpret reality”. I really like this quote and feel it is such a lovely way tot think of fashion, because I agree, it really does have it’s own language.
Further more we looked at Nick Knight and his Show Studio platform, which I have to be honest and say I did not know about but will be definitely taking a good look at ASAP.
Finally we looked at the idea of the recent exhibition, ‘Women, Fashion, Power. Not a multiple choice .’
Within this exhibition influential people such as Camila Batmanghelidjh, Dame Sandra Rhodes and Samantha Cameron.
Samantha Cameron’s M&S dress report I found particularly interesting because we think she is trying to say she shops like everyday people- so to connect with the public, when in fact when she wanted this dress there weren’t any available at any store. Due to her status they found that they had a sample dress in a factory in a size 14 which they then made to measure her size 10 figure. Therefore demonstrating the power behind certain individuals and exposing the innocent minded pubic, such as myself although I am slowly learning to question everything around me.
Seminar Session:
Within our seminar we refined the knowledge covered within the lecture and also discussed how the system of producing fashion has changed over time. From once being in a state where by the designers opinion was extremely respected and the considered at the top of the chain, to the current industry in which people are brave enough to be individual and are deciding fashion for themselves. Thus the designers now take our opinions and voices more seriously and as a result has meant the system has been reversed and we are in fact at the top.
Overall I’ve had a really interesting and thought provoking afternoon and now can’t wait to watch Devils Wears Prada again- for a second I almost forgot what a good film it is!
Thursday 6th of November
Todays lecture, lead by Matt Smith consisted of the introduction to this idea of craft in opposition, followed by case studies of craft in industry and then finally how artists explore craft and mass production. I found this lecture particularly interesting because it made you think about/ question what craft really is. Can something machine made be considered craft? Is craft fine art? Can you give one definitive answer to the definition of what is craft?
To cut a long story short, the answer to whether there is one definitive answer is no, there isn’t. The definition (in Matt Smith’s opinion) is summed up best by David McFadden who states that;
“No single definition of the word [craft] satisfies the range of activities- mental and manual- that craft comprises..Craft is a flexible term, shifting in its common usage from verb that describes conscious action to, modify or transform a material to a noun that describes a class of objects.”
(David McFadden, Curator of the American Craft Museum, M. Anna Fariello, and Paula Owen (eds) Objects and Meaning, New Perspectives on Art and Craft, The Scarecrow Press, 2005, p24)
Matt then went on to refer to William Morris who proposed that we should be asking, who made it? He covered the romantic nationalism and also looked at the Names Quilt; a response to the aids crisis.
Furthermore a case study that we looked at that really grabbed my attention was one on Linnet Hanan and how she contributes to Quivenchy through her knitting and croquets, so much, yet gets no recognition. This really got me thinking about this idea of being given credit for your work and the possible rules that could be in place, and maybe should be in place to make sure that those individuals that contribute to a piece of work (whether it be a clothing design, 3D model design or drawing etc) get recognised for that work.
Finally we looked at some artists that explore craft and mass production. Individuals such as Edmund de wall, Geoffrey Mann and Grayson Perry were a few, among the list.
Overall I feel this lecture was extremely beneficial even if only to remind me that it is important to question and look further into what it is you initially see.
Monday 3rd November
Today we were briefed with our new project on photography and styling; although slightly daunting it sounds very exciting! I think that looking into photography will be really useful for me as I would consider myself a novice in that particular area at the moment! In addition to this i’m really looking forward to the hands on side of styling, i’ve always loved putting outfits together and can’t wait to experiment; especially as i will have the chance to collaborate with others, which will give me some really good experience.
After this we then had our second brief consisting of a trend project which will run along side our photography and styling brief. We had the pleasure of meeting Ruth Greany who works for WGSN, thus has industry experience, who presented the brief in a lecture format whilst engaging us through question and short activity to start of with. For the activity she asked us to consider, in groups, what it is we thought trends were, where they come from and then give examples of some current trends. This is what we came up with:
What are trends:
-Something followed in fashion
-Styles that change from season to season
-World styles influenced by catwalk and fashion weeks
Where do they come from:
-Current trend-Films
-Blogs
-Catwalk
-Designers
-Economics
-News
Current trends:
-Vintage
-Capes
-60’s
-Sport Luxe
-Distressed denim
-Long sleeves
Following this she then ran through how the company WGSN works and gave us some background information to her job role and how it is trend forecasting is conducted. I found this really insightful and am looking forward to getting ‘stuck in’, as they say!
Friday 31st October
This morning we had our reflective session where by we discussed our projects in detail, in groups of four, first together and then with our teacher. We considered what it is we thought went well, maybe didn’t go so well, what we thought we could improve on and would change given the chance.
For me I feel that overall my sketchbook went well although I feel that I could have included and linked my work with more artists research. I feel this would have given my project some further support and substance. In addition I really enjoyed the digital work we conducted over the course of this project and am pleased with the outcomes i’ve created so far.
However I think I have produced a better, more grammatical essay, that had a better flow throughout it. I feel that my quotes and referring were fairly strong but that the presentation of it could be improved through increasing my spacing to a 1.5 line point, as well as giving the quotes their own space in order to improve the read over all.
Finally I could have put more sketches into my sketchbook to even out the digital pieces I have produced combined with some more experimental pieces that display different medias.
Overall I think my project went smoothly and although it took a little while to get myself sorted and comfortable within the project I am pleased with the outcomes to the briefs I have produced.
Thursday 30th October
Our lecture today, led by Jane Hattrick was one that focused on this idea that an object / artifact can possess a meaning; one that is not necessarily the same to all those that come into contact with it. We looked at Norman Hartnell, in particular we looked at his regency chaise longue that went from being once an amazing piece of furniture to now being situated in a house in cornwall, covered in manufactured teddy bears.
Further more Matt Smith also spoke to use about his work and how he creates new objects out of already made pieces of art work. On his website, (http://www.mattjsmith.com/one-off-pieces.html) it is stated that:
“Through repurposing and reinterpretation, the work aims to question the stories we are told, explore those we are not told and allow a space for the viewer to reach their own conclusions.”
Hide and Seek, Matt Smith.
For the seminar this week we were asked to bring in an object we felt had some meaning or a story to it, for mine I chose my treasured teddy bear, Money bags. I suddenly went totally blank when asked why he was called that and so asked my dad to text me the reason and this is the message I received:
“His name comes from a time I left Cyprus. I was 10 and leaving Cyprus and I saw him in a shop. According to Grandma I had never asked for anything but asked her if she liked him? She said yes she did and asked me if I would like him. As I recall I said well I thought he looked at me! She persuaded Papa to buy him and he said he was the most expensive Bear in the shop. I was struggling for a name so Papa said call him “Money Bags” as he is the most expensive Bear in the airport! I then had to walk across the Tarmac to the plane and Grandma said it was the only time she saw my Dad with a tear in his eye as I walked to the plane. Hence why he is so precious! Does that help? Sx”
The whole class including myself got teary eyed and felt an emotional response to the meaning behind this object- a very unexpected outcome to my afternoon I must admit!
Money bags.
Tuesday 28th October 2014
Since looking at the Renegade collection, (situated within the Pavilion museum) in particular the Teddy boy outfit, I have been thinking about how I could move this project forward and develop it into one of substance.
In addition to reflecting on how the little necktie caught my attention from the outfit, in class we started discussing this idea of stain and how there is a double meaning to it. We considered how the literal meaning of spilling some dye on a bit of cloth is not the only definition of stain; there is such thing as an emotional stain.
Thus I am going to look into the concept of attachment and how we grow fond of the items we possess and in particular why not all of them.
To start off initially I have just been experimenting with illustrator both to give me practice using the software and also portray a couple of items important to me.
