Archive for October, 2011

In the collage Assignment we were faced with the problem of making a composition using repetitive copies of the same image. A minimum of 8 Xerox copies of a single black and white photograph that we’ve either found or taken ourselves.

This was my original image. A picture i took in my 11th Grade photography class with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50:

The picture involves a bridge that actually connects nothing. Its a deserted bridge found in the heart of east end st. Thomas, initially built to create a highway but was abandoned in the middle of its project phase.

I made at eight copies of it with different alterations such as:

- negative image

- bouncing it on the xerox bed

- spining it on the xerox bed

- exact copy of the image

- zoom at 200% to the bottom of the image (grass)

- zoom at 200% into upper half of the image (the tree over the bridge)

- mirror copy of the image

- +2 on contrast

From there, i proceeded to cutting out from each xerox copy to put them together and create the composition. I initially approached this with no preconceived idea in mind. All i really knew was that i wanted something that looked like “organized randomness”. Here is the final piece.

In the repetition grid assignment, The first thing we were asked to do was to find 2 shapes and make one take a bite out of the other. keep in mind the day we were asked to do this we basically had no idea what the assignment was. All we were asked to do was make 50 motifs (2 shapes, one taking a bite out of the other). The next day in class we picked one of our 50 motifs and made a 1” x 1″ and 2″ x 2″ version of it. Each version was photocopied and we were asked to place them in various ways on a 10″ x 10″ grid (we drew in class that same day). This is when things got interesting. my chosen Motif was the outcome of a square biting the top corner of a triangle (as implied by the title). I didn’t not have all 100 1″ x 1″ pieces when i started to arrange them on the grid. so i went to work with my 2″ x 2″ pieces. I initially came up with 2 designs with 2 variations of each.

I found it amazing how with only rotating one tile, you can change a whole section.

The option i chose was the design in the lower right hand corner. It reminds me of flowers falling form a tree and had something about it that interested me. From this step, it was time to move on and start the inking, but before inking the design on the illustration board we had to sketch an inking plan and a re-sketch of the design on tracing paper, to be transfered to the illustration board.

(left: Inking plan, Right: Re-sketch)

With the finished re-sketch, we next had to turn it over onto the illustration board and release the sketch (release the graphite from the pencil  in the lines of the sketch by scribbling on the back of the tracing paper with the design face down on the illustration board) onto the illustration board so that “guidelines” are produced. Once the guidelines are on the illustration board, we traced over them with a technical pen and followed the inking plan on which shapes and spaces to fill with India ink.

(Almost finished inking on the illustration board)

After the inking process, looking at my design i still felt like my design was missing something. I decided then take advantage of the option to make a border around the piece. I wanted something that would enhance the piece without being too busy but still very intricate and creative. I decided to cut into the border, creating shapes that are or could’ve been created in the design.

(finished design with almost finished border)

Now, what i want you to understand is that illustration board is the hardest thing I have ever cut!!! I ran through more than 10 X-Acto knife blades and  had to do 15 or more slices per line just to make the cut outs for this border.

Monday, October 3rd was critique day. we were instructed to make a cover slit to protect our designs before turning them in. Here is the finished product:

(upper: finished product, lower: Finished product with cover slit)

After critique i only find that my biggest issues with my designs are craftsmanship. guidelines that haven’t been erased, overhang on pieces that should’ve been cut off, and slightly rough edges are areas that i have to improve on.