Rebecca Chick

For my final rotation of field where I would be working with ADT and interior design. I was put into my final group where I would be with an ADT (Aron), interior (Sophie and myself), maker (Sam) and ceramist (Ben). We as a group were set the task to produce two A2 collages with the two key words we had been given, this of which my group have been given the words ‘ordered’ and ‘chaotic’ by being given these two words as a group we then would have to produce a collage on photoshop to recreate the words into a visual image.

To start of the project together we started to produce mind maps with the two words to gather ideas together to get a head start so that we could quickly get onto photoshop but making sure that our final idea that we would be going for was the best one. Once we had gathered our idea together on what we could produce we then went onto the computers where we started to create the background for ‘chaotic’ this on which we had the idea to put an old abandoned hallway building for the main structure on the design where we then started to put a range on mixed different stuff for example abandoned beds and smashed up objects. We then decided to make a start on the word ‘ordered’ where we struggled for ideas the most as we had all found it challenging on how we would produce a photoshop image for it.

As a group we then had another talk where we thought we needed to have a little break from the screens to clear our heads to re think what else we could use to put into the designs. By this we then moved back onto photoshop where Aron and Sam took control of the photoshop software where they were editing parts slightly to make them look better where myself and Sophie were coming up with ideas and different objects that we could put into the designs. Whilst we were all throwing ideas in to help each other we were still stuck on what we could do for ‘ordered’ this of which I had come up with using letters and numbers as you could also see them in order. Following on with the ideas, as a group we were all back on track and knew what we were doing. From this we decided that the final image for ‘ordered’ should be plain and basic and that using the numbers and letters how we did, done enough for the image due to the background fitting it very well. Although for ‘chaotic’ we had added more images where we had all decided that the final image did look crazy and give you the feeling of chaotic. Overall as a group I believe that we did work very well as a group due to listening to what we all had to say and how we included everyone ideas into our final outcomes.

During our first attempt as a group to create a pin hole camera, we had then decided that we would try doing an exterior view again using the pin hole paper to see if using a different tin would help the final image when it was exposed to light. This of which did help to a certain extend as the image was more clear to know where it had been taken. However, from changing the wooden box with black card that we did have at the start moving to a metal tin sprayed black, where we then used a can to cut out and place onto with a small pin hole on it had made such a difference, however though as a group we were all still not happy with the outcome it had produced. This of which we then decided to have another discussion and just base our outcomes on the interior, this then led us to producing many copies where we were very happy with the outcome. By creating them we had noticed that for the interior lighting the pin hole would need to be exposed for longer than 30 seconds to what we were doing, by this we had found that keeping it exposed for 3 minutes made the image much clearer showing a great contrast of black and white which we were aiming for.

Once our group finally understood the process we had produced many exposures that we would use as our final outcome for our postcards, from this we decided that we would all have a group talk about what image we would all use for the postcards to make sure that none of us would have doubles making them all different this then led to us talking together about the exterior of the tin where we had all decided has a group to produce the tin to look like our art building where Faye had asked if she could design, we the talked about how we would form out postcards and how they would stand. Once we had discussed this Faye had then told us that she produce a pin hole camera using her phone where she had taken photos on the way home from university, where they had worked very well and that we were all very pleased how the outcome looked like.

Throughout the process that we had been doing and having out final outcomes, we then decided that we would print out our images to the place onto out postcards giving them a finishing look where we were then able to function them, from this we decided to keep the structure very basic due to giving the images a clear view to look from and so that the structure would also be bold where we linked it to the interior of the building space we worked with. This of which led us to the structure to look like this:

Overall, I believe that our presentation to the group went well due to explaining what we wanted to produce was achieve, but also noticeable that we were basing the main structure of the design on buildings. I also believe as a group we worked very well due to listening to what we all had to say and giving each other tasks to do helped speed the process up and made the next tasks quicker for the others in our group to do, I think that we were always on track and that everyone in our group all knew what we were doing at every moment and weren’t falling behind. From this process I think the one thing that we could improve on if we had a second chance would be to hold the exposures for longer instead of a set time, so that we  would have more of an image on the paper.

Onto my second rotation of field, I was now on the maker side where I was set the task in our new groups to produce a pin hole camera as shown below:

Where we would have to design the outside of the box but also using the images we have created with pin hole paper to produce post card of them which had to be functional. From this our lecture Pip had split us into groups where mine was made up from all courses such as ADT (Aron and Paul), Maker (Sam), Ceramist (Faye) and Interior (Cristina and myself). Once split into our groups we had set off to think of ideas of what we could do for our final model this of which ranged from having a double exposure to have a night theme which we then all decided as a group to base it on the exterior and interior of buildings.

Before going into the dark room, we all went down to have a talk with Mal who works with photography, this of which he had given us strict rules than when stepping foot into the dark room that we would not be allowed to use out phones or anything that has a white light. By this it was because the pin hole paper that we would be using was very sensitive to white light making that it would be exposed straight away making no image at all or the image to be foggy. However, an orange light would not affect the paper. Mal then talked to us about once we had captured the image we would then put the image into three different trays for 30secs to help develop and set the image and let it run in cold water for 2 minutes and the left to dry on the rack.

Once we had our talk with Mal and our ideas were set we had all decided that instead of designing the outside of the box first which most groups were doing that we would go straight into the dark room due to the fact that it would shortly become very crowed when every group would come in, this allowed us to have practise runs of the process so that we were able to get use to how it all worked but letting each and every one of us in the group to do one too. Luckily from the practise runs we noticed that the images weren’t developing to well as we thought, this then led us to all sit down and talk about how to change what we were doing wrong where Sam went and got us another tin, once this had happened Aron and Sam went to the spray room to paint it all black due to the fact that the silver tone of the tin would reflective on to the paper making it exposed straight away and not work. Whilst myself and the others in my group talked about the postcards and made sure we all knew what we would be doing.

During today’s lesson in Field we had two new members to the group which were Charlie and Cristina. We had been given a lesson about types of clay such as Stoneware and Earthenware which we would be using however, another type of clay could be terracotta which is copper looking in colour. Throughout this lesson as a group we were still thinking what our final model would look like and where we had decided to use stoneware clay. Before starting to make our final design we were also taught about different forms of the clay where there could be leather hard clay where it has been cut and dried out where there is a slight give in the clay making it able to stand up by itself once it has been cut where as if it was plastic clay once you have cut the clay it wouldn’t be able to start up by itself it would just collapse and loose its shape. Furthermore, when Duncan had been talking to us all as groups he had talked about when joining the clays together you would have to score the edge of the clay with a knife where you would then put slip (using a brush or toothbrush you soften the clay using water where it forms a slushy substance) onto it to then attach the pieces together. Duncan had also talked about when wants slabs of clay which is thin sheets you would cut the clay using a cheese wire or a wire harp which would able you to cut the clay into sections. When coming back after given a coffee break myself and my group where then sent downstairs to go into the glaze room where Matt talked to us about what an extruder is and that it can make coils or to make hollow shapes, from this you would be able to choose which shape you would like. From this it was very useful as it can give you very accurate forms but also would save you a lot of time with the process.

To finish of Mondays session, we had then gone back to the ceramic room where we as a group experimented with the clay just to get use to how it all works, from this we had then discussed together what the final model would look like and what all of us would be doing. From that day I was able to work with the clay by producing a little clay bowl.

For yesterday’s session we started off in the ceramic room where as a group we all started to make our parts ready for the final image although we were missing a member to the group. Without Charlie being in we had all decided to start making all types of cylinders using stoneware clay. When I had started making I had started off using a cheese wire to cut a piece of clay out where I then had rolled out into a thin sheet or slab. From doing this I had then picked up a ruler and knife scoring the clay into equal thickness of strips. During doing this process I had scored each edge of the strips using the slip to then attach all my pieces together where it would finally produce my final look of the cylinders that I wanted to create. Once I had finished producing my cylinders for the final design I had then used a heat gun to dry out the clay this of which would slowly make it leather hard so that they are able to stand up by themselves without losing their shape, due to our group not cutting out slabs the day before. Throughout producing the pieces as a group, we were then able to gather all our ideas where we had then merged them all together creating one final model together.

Where we then went for a lecture with Holly Briggs where she talked about her projects that she had done together in her group, which I had found very interesting and unusual. However, overall in the two lessons that I have had this week. I believe that it was very successful and that by the end we had worked quite well as a group to produce our final piece together, however I do think there could be parts that we could change to make the design look better if we had a second chance. By doing this I think we should of sat down more to discuss and draw out some plans rather than just doing it.

During my first field lesson I had been but into groups where I was the place in a ceramic room with a tutor called Duncan from this there where a range of us students from different courses where we were then split into more groups where I had been place into group 5 with Sophie who was also an interior designer, Helen who was a maker and Rhian who was doing ceramic’s. when split into our group we had then gathered lots of different objects such as glass bottles, this of which we had then gathered out our torches from our phones where we aimed at the objects giving off different shadows and reflections which we drew. Once we had done this as a group we then had to produce a paper model of the designs to produce a final image ready to be produced into clay. During the class gathering the objects and drawing their shadows had worked very well as a group as we all put our ideas together. From the lesson I had learnt that you can create a model by just using the shadows from the objects we had drawn from which I had found very interesting as at the start I was very confused on what we were doing, but also how you could make them into a paper model. During the process I had become very inspired by how changing the angles of where the torch was coming from it could give you very unusual designs this of which had made me become more intrigued by what was happening. However, when it came to producing the model out of paper it had become a little challenge due to having a misunderstanding in the group on who was doing which part from this we had then changed that by talking together where we were then able to produce the model having a better understanding with what we were doing. Furthermore, when producing the model and the drawings in the group I believe that the process has widen my knowledge just slightly due to the fact I could use this in future reference if needed to.