Taking Stock
14th May 2013

Today we went to Oxford on the coach, the first years and other classes joined us on the visit. The first place we went to was the Ashmolean museum, I found the museum very intresting and reminded me of the British museum in London. There was a very great deal to see so I began exploring straight away.

 

 

The first items I saw were from acient Egypt, they had quite a stock of Egyption items. There was a lot of statues and figures and other items, Mummys being the most intresting. After that we went on to see objects from acient Greece, I do like Greek history so I found this part of the musuem taking up alot of my time.

 

The description to this statue was 'Zeus or an elderly athlete', I'm going with Zeus. I did find this statue intresting and I did wonder what he would have been holding, obiviously it must have been a javerlin.

The next item that took my immediate intrest was this etching of Sir Roger Trumpington, the reason being I am creating a knight for my FMP so this etching is perfect research. Another object I saw was a huge painting on the wall of a massive Medieval battle, I didn't get the Artist's name but the painting was very similar to a painter I am aware of called Albrecht Altdorfer.

I couldn't fit the whole picture in but this is just a small part of it, but as I said very similar to Altdorfer's Battle Of Issues.

After the Ashmolean museum we went to Pitts River which was a great place. There was a lot of weired and wonderful stuff packed in there, the one room was just full of items like african masks and totem poles. 

The visit to Oxford was a good day out and I would like to go back and spend more time in the museums especially the Ashmolean as I didn't feel like I spent enough time in there.



Taking Stock
30th April 2013

Today we all presented our pieces of artwork. Neil showed one of his pieces as an example and explained why he did it and what he liked about it, he showed a brozne figure which I thought was quite good. 

I presented someting I had created in a program called Autodesk Mudbox, It is a Sculpting program where you can create digital 3D models. I had made a wolf's head, the reason why I created it was because I wanted to create a few stronge pieces of work for my portfolio and I think I achived that aim with the wolf. The rest of the class did like and could easily recognise it as a wolf.

All of the class had something intresting to show, everybody in the group who presented their work all seem to be talented in their chosen field, everybody had something strong to show.  

Neil also told us that we are going to Oxford which I look forward to. Next week there is no lesson and the week after we go to Oxford. The Pitts River and the Ashmolean Museum look th most intresting museums to go to, I will be taking pictures.

Taking Stock
23th April 2013

Today we went through what we needed to with our blogs, Neil showed us som techniques to help the group.

8 elements of R.W

1. Describe - Give an Account
2. Contextualsie - Stating social conditions
3. Analyse - Breaking it down
4. Critique - Judgement
5. Evaluate - Assessing its value, strengths and weaknesses
6. Theorise - Concept, speculation
7. Synthesise - Looking at the whole
8. Action - What to do next to improve or develop

I will try and use these points when writing up my blog and when I annotate the whole of my learning journal .  

Neil talked to us about a trip that he is planning to help with our learning journals and for our specialist pathway projects, he told us we could go to Liverpool or Oxford. He got us to vote on which place we would like to visit and nearly everybody including myself voted for Oxford, I have been told it is a really nice place and has some good museums. 

For next week we have to present one piece of our own artwork, I already have in mind what I want to show. We also have to look up what there is in Oxford so we have some idea of what to do when we are there.

Professional & Contextual studies 2
22nd April 2013  

In my project for Specialist Pathway I'm using software that isn't available in college, Autodesk Mudbox. I use this software to texture my 3D models that I do at college and at home instead of using Adobe Photoshop. You can import your 3D model into Mudbox and paint straight onto the model which is a lot easier than using Photoshop.   

I also find that my workflow is a lot faster, texturing the model only takes a few minutes whereas it could take up to an hour in Photoshop. The model I am creating is a knight based off the Knights from the medieval period, the first part I textured was the Knight's tunic. I created a brush in Mudbox using a fabric image off the internet, then painted it on to the model in blue, and I put a underlay of black to give the blue a darker colour.     

I still have a lot more to texture on the model, I need to texture the arms and legs in chain mail and the shield. The helmet is already complete. The base mesh for the helmet was done in Maya and the rest of it was completed in Mudbox. 

 

Professional & Contextual studies 2
20th April 2013 

I have entered a contest on Facebook which actually relates to the field I wish to work in. The contest is for a game, Dark Souls 2 (Yet to be realeased). To participate you have to create a orginal shield design, there are templates on the contest which you have to use.

Thousands of people have already entered their own designs, there are up to 8 winners, the first 6 winners get their designs included in the game, get their names in the credits and also get a sign copy of the game from the developers. The other 2 winners just get a signed copy of the game.

The contest is up on Facebook, and anybody can enter and also vote for their favourite designs, mine currently has 40 so if anybody is actually reading this go vote for mine here! -  https://apps.facebook.com/darksoulsii/?gallery&action=view&id=2484

'Great Grey Wolf Sif'       


. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: https://apps.facebook.com/darksoulsii/?gallery&action=view&id=2484. [Accessed 30 April 2013].  

This was like a little side project that only took a few hours to complete, the idea for the design actually came from the game itself, I wanted to relate the design to a previous game instead of coming up with a different idea that doesn't really fit with the game. The design was created in Adobe Photoshop. 

Professional & Contextual studies 2
19th March 2013
Today we took our work down, when I arrived some of the group had already begun taking their work down and I was the first to arrive from New Media. It took me seconds to take my work down so I took all the rest of New Media's work down which didn't take me long.

I filled in the holes left by the screws and painted over the marks left from our work, I helped around cleaning up the place it really didn't take that long. We left a lot of time aside to take down the exhibition but most of it was done by lunch time.

Overall I feel that this exhibition could not have gone any better, all we have had is positive remarks from everybody who viewed our work. I think frameing my work was the best decision I made during this module.

Professional & Contextual studies 2
14th March 2013
Today I got feedback on my work from my course tutor, he said my work needs to be presented better which I already knew to be honest, so before the opening evening started I went and bought two frames to mount my work in. I bought two white frames and took them to the venue, as I opened the one frame it fell apart so I had to run back and get another one. Since they had no white frames I had to get a black one, I got back and mounted my work onto the wall.

My work looked 10 times better in frames, and it went with the rest of the groups work thankfully. Once everybody had put up their work the exhibition really did look professional, we went round touching up the walls with paint and sweeping the floors. 

The turnout for the show was relieving, I expected the worst where no one would turn up but the exact opposite happended. The venue was packed full of people and the wine went fast, the group looked like they had a good time and our work attracted alot of interest. Today has been a success.

 

Professional & Contextual studies 2
12th March 2013

Today I got my work ready for the show, I'm using work that I just finished from a previous project. It is a 3D model of a Gladiator, one of my better creations, I most confident using this work for the exhibition. I already have prints of the model so all I had to do was mount it on some foamboard, I got Dan from phorography to do it for me as he is good at doing it.

After I had it mounted I then went over to the venue to put up my work where most of the group were busy doing their own work. Everybody were using frames to present their work which is making me think twice about using foamboard, it actually makes my own work look out of place.  

The exhibition is starting to come together, it will be intresting to see how many people turn up and what their thoughts on the exhibtion will be. Everyones work is looking really good, there is still a few more pieces still to go up but the venue already looks professional.

Professional & Contextual studies 2
5th March 2013

For the final meeting viewed the layout for the venue on where everyone is going to be situated. Most of the group are going to put their group in frames but I am not sure what to do, most of New Meida are going to mount their work on foam board so I may as well do the same so my work won't be out of place. I may change my mind later.

We got the posters and flyers back and the quailty of the are quite poor, a lot of the group are not happy at all but we did get them for printed for free, we can't really complain. Todd was disappointed as it was his work and it didn't do it justice. We then decided on where we were going to place the posters and flyers, we basically just split up into groups and just went around college and town placing them everywhere. Giving them to shops to put up in their staffrooms etc.  

Professional & Contextual studies 2 
26th Feburary 2013
This session started with the logos, Calum, Todd and Jasmine put up ideas for the Logo, they had their own designs, which were well received by the rest of the group. We all voted on which design was best and Todd’s design got the majority of the group's votes. 

The groups focus was shifted towards the venues address, the preferred address of the venue was comfirmed as Unit 3, The Guildhall, St. Marys Grove, Stafford. I did not actually know the address untill it was brought up, this will be used on the posters and flyers.

We then decided on quantities and sizes, Neil said the college would print them for free but they would need information on the sizes. We finalised on-

25 x A2 Posters

20x A3 Posters

50 x A4 Posters

300 x A5 Flyers  

For the private viewing a Facebook event would be made for it and we can all invite our friends and family. We also have printed invitations to give to close friends and family.  

Emily has taken on the task of doing the rota and has published it on Facebook, it is very clear and organised. I may have to swap my day with someone else as I may be working at the time I have been allocated but it shouldn't be a problem.

 Professional & Contextual studies 2 
5th Feburary 2013

During todays meeting we disscused the which Venue we wanted. Karen had given more information on the Guildhall, she had been in contact with the person in charge and there would be no charge on using this Venue. The only requirements would be signing a licence agreement and have public liability insurance. Getting in contact with college about their own insurence was metioned as it has apprently been done before.  

We have finalised on dates for the exhibition -

Thursday 6.00pm – 9.30pm

Friday 10.00am – 6.00pm

Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm

Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm

Monday 10.00am – 6.00pm

The Thursday would be the opening evening for invited guests only, wine would be available for the guests on the opening evening.

For the costs we debated on what we would need to spend money on, we all agreed on putting £10 each in which would be spent on the essentials and refreshments.

This is a list from the minutes from the meeting about expenditure -

Expenditure:

-Wine
-Juice
-Cups
-Cakes
–Ingredients
-Napkins
-Plates
-Screws + mirror plates
-Paint
-Rollers/ Brushes
-Broom/mop
-Window Cleaner
-Sandpaper
-Bin Bags

Here is the list in which we hope to get funding for:

-Foam Board
-Spray Mount
-Sticky Fixers
-Potential glasses

A dress code was also discussed, most of the group felt that smart dress code was needed as this is a professional exhibition, however in my own opinion I am not too fussed by it, although if everyone is dressing smart I had too!

Professional & Contextual studies 2  
29th January 2013  

The Posthouse was a venue a lot of people in the group had enthusiasm, people who had never been there before went to go and have a look, I and a few others had already been in there before so we stayed and waited for the group to return. When they returned some of the group had mixed feelings about the venue, it was a bit dark and it would cost £200 to have our exhibition there.  

Chasewater Park had also been researched into, Vicky and Katy went to visit the venue and said the facilities were quite good. It would cost nothing to set up here.  

I did get in touch with my friend who works at the council but she is yet to contact me back with information, I may have to remind her about it.

A Facebook page has been set up for the group, the name of the group was discussed at length, we listed down ideas and voted on what names were best to fit the group. Obviously this was easier said that done, it proved hard to put all our specialisms under one name. Everybody contributed names and we came down to Twenty - 20 Artists 20 visions.
   

These names got the most votes before being narrowed down to Twenty - 20 Artists 20 visions.

‘Impact’ – Naomi
‘Studio 302’ – Katy
‘The Collaboration’ – Karen
‘Made’ – Becky
‘The Collection’ – Alice
‘Twenty shades of Red’ – Mandy
‘Binding Art’ – Andra
‘Student Collective’ – Me
‘Wonderful Things’ – Vicky
‘Make Art Not War – Jade
‘Subtle Vibrations’ – Tom


Mark made a table of Con's and Pro's for the popular venues in his minutes - 


CON’S                                                           PRO’S
POST HOUSE: Location, Prestige,                 Size, Cost, Lighting
Audience, Footfall.

WESTON HALL: Posh, Status                       No details as yet.


CHASEWATER: Dedicated exhibition space   Distance for some,
Light and airy, FREE!                                      No Public transport if on weekend  

We didn't actually agree on a venue this session as we couldn't agree.

Professional & Contextual studies 2
22nd January 2013

The first subject on the agenda was choosing a venue, we listed down venues on the board. Emails have already been sent by the two students chairing the meeting asking for the rest of us to think of venues, keeping in Stafford will be more convenient for everyone but it may be that we find a good venue out of Stafford.  

In the agenda it covers a lot of points like costing, duration, logistics, health and safety etc, all very important things to cover.  

We listed many venues but narrowed it down to by voting which venues most of the group favored  Venues we listed were -

Bridgetown
Council Building
The Swan
Posthouse
Village Halls
Old Library
Gatehouse
GuildHall
Chasewater
Western Hall

Professional & Contextual studies 2

Today the whole group has been set two tasks, the first being we are all to work together to participate in an event that relates back to our specialist areas. The second being a written response into a individual project like planning out a portfolio.

Our lecturer handed out the brief and explained all we needed to do to meet the requirements of the brief, and I had a clear understanding of what we had to do.

The group project is mainly handled by us students, the lessons will be treated as meetings and each we week we move forward on the event on the planning side and practical. I will find it interesting in how we will handle this project, I have worked in a group project before and it didn't go as predicted. Since this group is made up of different courses it could go the other way but Neil did warn that previous year groups have fallen out with each other.

Each week 2 students have to chair the meetings and write an agenda for the group and make decisions on what to do next, our lecturer will only advise us on what to do.

We listed down what kind of event we could possibly do that could show all our work and we all agreed on doing an exhibition there was a strong opposition for an online presence because some people were uncomfortable with their work being associated with the rest of the group which was a little odd. Workshops and demonstrations were also suggested but could put a strain on the logistics from New Media's point of view, acquiring and moving equipment to the Venue would be difficult. Magazine/Zine was also suggested and I did like the idea of it but the majority of the group was not in favor of the idea.  

We came down to what Tom suggested, an exhibition coffee shop to generate more interest in the exhibition. I and the majority of the group liked the idea and it could really work but I can see it not being easy to find a venue that can cater to our needs.