Drawing and Film Week 4.

Contextual Reference Idris Kahn.

Photographer Idris Kahn's work appeals to me due to the technique of layering which he uses. Despite the difference in overall look and colour between mine and Kahn's pieces, I am still very inspired by the way his imagery is distorted and layered as it relates to my idea behind this unit of work in terms of fading and distorted memories.

Adding Colour.

As suggested in a tutorial before the end of term, I have been playing around with adding colour into my drawings to add more of a sense of Blackpool into them, and to stop them looking a bit dull. This has been a success. 

Photoshop examples.

Layering my photographs from the visit to Blackpool at the start of Unit X on Photoshop and using the different layering tools to blend them together has helped me to introduce some colour into my drawings, by creating a colour palette from the photographs. It has also created some really nice marks and lines and negative qualities which remind me of some of Idris Kahn's imagery without the colour. I will definitely be putting these different qualities of lines into my drawings. 

Drawing Development.

As shown in these images, I really like the colours I have developed into my drawings on top of layered masking tape and I think the consideration of lines and negative space is working much better now than my original black and white drawings. I would like to try different techniques and compositions with my drawings now, making use of different papers, sizes, layering and cut work to create more interesting drawings. Although I like the concept of the masking tape, I think that the lines created by this technique in my drawings could work better if they where more sensitive and considered.

Drawing and Film Week 3.

Projection Workshop.

Having the chance again to collaborate with other students in this workshop again was very beneficial, along with experimenting with different types of projection. Manual projection rather than digital is what I found most interesting, especially the use of an overhead projector due to the effect of drawing and enlarging it onto a surface.


  Projection workshop video edit.

Development of workspace.

This week I have been spending my time developing both my drawings and sketchbook and showing this development on my wall space- which helps me to distinguish links and points of development between my research, photographs, drawings and film making.

A group tutorial has given me lots of ideas of where to go next. I'm going to continue with my drawing ideas, and develop further with layering and cutting/slicing. I'm going to focus much more on different line qualities and the composition of my drawing- for example having a drawing that doesn't fill the paper completely and is much more considered. I'm also going to experiment with bringing colour into the drawings to see if this works or not. I think I'll do this by using Photoshop and overlaying my drawings with my photographs and bringing some colour through sensitively.

I think by overlaying this imagery I'll be able to push my drawings much further and again focus on this idea of memories of Blackpool fading.
In terms of film, I'm going to continue with the documentation of my drawings, as this is working well for me.

David Ogle talk.

Today I got the opportunity to go to a talk from artist/architect David Ogle.

This was a great experience and really inspiring, due to his really interesting drawings and installation work.  Ogles drawing technique was the thing I found most inspiring and is something I'd like to reference in my own drawing work as he uses repetitive processes such as drawing around an object for a length of time to produce these works on quite a large scale. He then takes these lines/colours and compositions into his installations in interesting venues, which is a way of working that really appeals too me.

Drawing and Film Week 2.

After a group tutorial, I have realised that my drawings are working well, and there are many options of developing them. The concept of revealing, layering, masking and distorting is what interests me in these drawings and I think this is influenced by my inspiration from the impact of time on memory.

Drawing Movie: Masking tape and white ink. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Stop motion drawing.

The documentation of my drawings in both live film and stop motion being produced is the way I would like to continue to use film for this project. I think the films will be alongside the pieces being made as a support rather than the films being the finished product.


Sachin Tekade's architectural paper models.

HACKENBROICHARCHITEKTEN

In terms of development, I can see my drawings and films progressing into larger scale, much more detailed pieces. I have always been inspired by paper installation pieces such as the two pictured above, as I am fascinated at the way such an everyday material can be used too create beautiful pieces of art.

Drawing and Film Week 1

This first week of my new project area has been really exciting and inspiring, and unlike anything I've done before.  It has also expanded my mind too think of textiles in a much broader context, rather than simply fabric and techniques.

A group meeting too look at the flip books and initial research other students had done was really inspirational and exciting too look at how other people approach a set task.

Drawing to sound.

This idea of the fragility of marks and surface, and the technique of masking and revealing relates too the idea of memories and the past which I have been thinking about in relation to the archive visits last week, so I think this is something I'll be exploring further into the unit.

my studio space.

Having the chance to use an area of the studio to display work and ideas on for this unit is definitely going to benefit me. Not only will it allow my tutors to get a feel of what I'm doing and what my work is about, but will also help me to make links within my work and create new ideas for development. 

Drawing on/over film.

plain 16mm film.

drawings on the plain 16mm film.

Already shot film before drawing/scratching/painting.

Hole punching the film.

Scratching away the emulsion.

I think that I liked both the drawing and painting onto plain film and the drawing/scratching/editing of the already shot film equally for different reasons. I loved the imagery and marks produced when the drawn on plain film went through the projector, but I really like the concept and action of scratching away and revealing or hiding parts of the already shot film so I think that I will take inspiration in my further work from both of these ideas.

Manipulated Film- plain film drawn/painted onto. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Manipulated film- editing of already shot film by scratching/painting/hole punching. from Katie Simms on Vimeo.

Chethams Library Visit.

Chethams Library

Scrapbook Page

Scrapbook page

Belle Vue Guides

Another archive visit I have been too this week was the collection of Belle Vue pieces held at Chethams Library in Manchester. This was really interesting as I've been really intrigued by Belle Vue after finding out about it in this weeks lectures- so getting the chance too see some original photos and guides was a great experience. I particular like the huge scrapbook of images and pieces of paper with writing on etc. made by the original owners of Belle Vue - the Jennisons.  I'm really interested in the memories people have of Belle View, both positive and negative so i think that this is what I will be focussing on through unit x, but in a broader context of memories and time. 

Belle Vue

We have also been focussing on the history of Belle View Zoological Gardens. After a couple of lectures focussing on Belle view this week I have become really interested in it and the way it holds both positive and negative memories/feelings towards it and the way some people never even knew it existed, due to a lack of history. The way that such a huge gardens can be demolished leaving no trace and not be spoke about much at all in Manchester’s history is unusual. 

Open from the 1820's up to the 1930's, Belle Vue was a huge attraction, filled with thousands of people each day from all over the country, made possible by the 4 train stations situated on the grounds. With everything from a circus and fairground too a ballroom and even a speedway track, there was something for everybody.

Belle Vue holds great family memories for people. When I questioned my Gran and Granddad about it, they spoke of how if they went their they felt like the where going on holiday, and although they can't remember it in detail they remember the scale of it and the different things available. This idea of it being like a holiday too people was very true, as back in the 1800's people would have 2 weeks holiday a year known as "whit week", the owner of Belle View at the time - Jennison, used this too his advantage and ensured Belle View was advertised in the right areas at the right time too increase popularity and custom. 

Although there is a lot of positivity when looking back on Belle Vue, there is also some negativity in terms of its collapse in the 1900's and its treatment of animals. Animals are said to have lived in very small cages for their size, including lions, giraffes, bears etc and many where made too perform/dress up. They were nervous animals due to the firework shows at the gardens each night, and only had about a 6 week life span which is disgusting in comparison to what their expected life span should have been.