Show nearly finished!

Got assigned my space for the show today, It's about 12-16ft long!?

I don't have to use it all but I could potentially do my screen print for a long stretch of the wall.
Heres a mock up of how my final piece will look <<

After experimenting with several different ways that I could display the screen printed words I decided that the method bellow achieved the best looking result. Others that over lapped were difficult to read and i think the mix of words creates a fun confusion when reading the text.

Yesterday evening, as a small side project I decided to take my letters on a tour of extravagant and exciting places. I used photoshop to distort perspective and size to allow the letters to sit well within their new settings.

final drawing before repeat...

I'm so terrible at keeping up to date with this blog! So I put together the digital mock ups of the display and I'm thinking the repeated pattern looks more impressive (and sticks with the maximalism theme even more) So i'm going down that route...

Last minute issuesss.....

Having last minute issues on what will be displayed for the final piece.... my 3D letters are coming on really well and I only have one left to finish here's a sneak preview:
All the letters have been made from card, this one has been covered with the cuttings from a hole punch (took AGES!) and i think it looks really effective.




So anyway, I'm having a problem with the other two pieces that I was planning to show for the final piece...

As you know I was planning on creating a repeat of the 'Form follows function' phrase onto the wall by screen printing in order to make it difficult to read, similar to this: 

and I was going to display photos of my 'ornament is a crime' font being punished. Yet now when I think of them being displayed together I'm not sure how well they gel...
And I'm also thinking it's a shame to not use the feather pattern in my final piece as I'm really proud of it.
So I'm now considering using 'Less is more' for all the pieces displayed...
Will keep you updated, maybe I should try a digital mock up of the display?

Update...

So i've been working hard at it and have a few things to show..

I took my feather pattern and created a repeat (very time consuming!)
I think it looks really good but I'm not sure I'm going to use it for the final show, having trouble with the whole form follows function thing as using the previous font that I had with the pattern  didn't really play on the phrase (as the function of type is to be able to read it and it was legible). I've been thinking of ways in which I can make text illegible...
I tried a few ways of liquifying a rasterized font in photoshop and making it increasingly illegible as the words fold out. And also played with letter positions and transparencies:

Two weeks to go...

I knew I wouldn't be great at keeping up with this blog!

So I've kept at it and my project has developed quite a lot. I'm sticking with the 3D "Less is More" and have even started making my letters from card-rather difficult! Each letter will be covered in a different
material (lots of multiples) to stick with the 'More is more' aspect of the type.

I also created a font:

I want to use it in my final piece too, After speaking to a tutor I've decided that I should find ways of 'punishing' my font (such as burning at the stake) as although visually it has reference to ornament, it doesn't have one to crime. So thats my plan for that...

I'm also planning to create a repeat pattern using a similar illustrative style to the first piece I uploaded onto this blog using the words 'Form follows function' and covering the wall with it like wallpaper. I think it will be really aesthetically exiting for the viewer.

Only 2 weeks left till half term and then a week after that the show goes up... oh gosh...! 

Weekend Update

Had a few ideas since yesterday, was at work today serving customers when I spotted a tourist with a Louis Vuitton bag, and how did I know it was Louis Vuitton? Cos it was bloody covered with that recognisable print! (Don't get me wrong I Love Louis Vuitton, and i'm thinking of investing in a hand bag myself-ala fake Cyprus :P) It's maximal in many ways-the repetition of the 'LV' logo and the floral symbols, the multitude of items available for purchase (Real and fake) with it printed throughout, and the amount of people that own them! So I took my own take on the print and had a go when I got home:

I created my own brush on photoshop using the letters 'L' and 'M' as well as 'IS' (LESS IS MORE) and just replaced the 'LV' with it. I think it's worked rather well and takes quite a humorous approach to the maximalist idea.

I also was thinking about how people quite regularly are tattooed with lyrics or names in a maximal way and how tattoos can sometimes take over the body. Also researched into the graphic style of making up images of people through text and had a go of my own: 

Hopefully you recognise that as twiggy? Need a bit more practice, but I could potentially do a series of these? 

Green light meeting tomorrow...ahh :O

 

Development update

So I've been developing my ideas and have kept working on a few drawings looking at patterning and embellishment. 

Maxi Afro - Drawing from my journal

I've been experimenting with collage repeated image in a way similar to that of the 'Revenge is Sweet' collaboration of Lee Owens and Angelique Piliene and came up with this piece which I think works really well:

 After a tutorial this week I've decided how I want to display my work for the final piece (private view on the 16th June at Abingdon college) I plan to display the minimalist phrases in about 5 different ways, including patterned and photography. I am particularly interested in creating a 3D piece similar to the way this web advert is created: 

I plan to cover each letter in different materials to create an embellished and highly decorative aesthetic such as mirror mosaic pieces or feathers (like Kate MccGwire).

So have lots of experiments and development to do to get my final piece, also have to present my work to Emma and Paul on Monday for the 'green light' stage which decides whether my idea is going in the right direction, so I better get cracking on some worksheets now!

Back to college

So went back to college on wednesday and have been able to start experimenting a bit more. I've stuck with the feather theme a bit and done some etching, planning on trying some screen printing next week. Had a group critique and the graphics people liked what I had done so far. Coloured in the previous drawing that I uploaded and it looks really cool. They also liked my idea of looking into 3D typography so thats something I'm definitely going to have a go at.
Have also been looking a bit at patterns and I created my own:

Just scanned in a doodle and duplicated it to create a cool pattern :)

Also just created a drawing using mosaic pieces: 

  

Drawing as promised

 

Easter

Okay, so it's been the Easter holidays, lots has gone on (not as much FMP wise as I would have liked!). Had my interview at Chelsea and got in! (WOOO), also have been working...urgh

So FMP... Have been researching and experimenting when I can and have found a few artists that I've been working from.

I created a drawing based around the text 'Less is more' in the style of Cat Sims, I love her work and use of intricate details with black line drawings. Took forever but am pleased with the result, will scan and upload in a tomorrow. Have a look at Cat Sims' blog, especially the work she does for YCN: http://catsimsillustration.blogspot.com

Also have been thinking about using feathers in my work, theres something about their intimate detail that makes me think of maximalism, decoration and embellishment. I discovered an artist called Kate MccGwire, she creates beautiful sculptures using tonnes of feathers and her resulting work is really amazing. Am thinking about experimenting with real feathers for typography. Have a look at her website:
http://www.katemccgwire.com

Kate MccGwire feather sculpture

Maximalism

Okay, so with my lack of success throughout the year at keeping a blog I think when it comes to the FMP (Final Major Project) I should really make the effort to learn how to use this thing!

So, the title of my FMP is Maximalism, a term I first encountered about a month ago when I picked up a book by Charlotte Rivers.

From my statement of intent :- Maximalism is a way of describing excess and embellishment. The need for lavishness and opulence seems to be of increasing popularity in daily life in the modern world and effects all those living in a consumer society. I want to take a look into the classic minimalistic phrases such as ‘Form Follows Function’ and ‘Less is More’ and turn them on their head by using highly a decorative and embellished twist. I aspire to conclude the project with a piece that uses mass amounts of detail and adornment and compels the viewer to have to look hard at the piece to enable them to see and understand everything that is going on.  All areas of design appear to find pros and cons with ‘maximalism’ yet the style seems to successfully run alongside minimalistic ways of working. When considering graphic design maximal layouts and use of colour and repeated image are a very popular way of working and achieve aesthetically gratifying results.

My FMP essay can be read here > http://issuu.com/sdevine/docs/maximalism

So wish me luck at keeping up with the maximalism blog and completing my FMP :)