Watercolour and ink experiment continued.

This piece is far from what the image looks like but that was the point wanted to just experiment and loosely base it on a microscopic image. For this piece I started with a light watercolour background wash, which once dry I used more paint and less water on my brush to create these stronger more gestural strokes. Then I added water to sections of the painting and used a dry brush to sprinkle the brusho ink powder to create the sprinkled effect.

 

image off of the internet (human's stomach).

Meeting with Science Department.

Today after emailing one of the professors at Salford University's Life Sciences Department I met up for a meeting about using and lending equipment for the microscopes. The meeting was a huge success as I will be able to use the microscopes (and shown how to since I'm rusty) take photographs using both my camera and the microscope itself. Even more interesting I will be told how to make my own slides and be able to borrow some to use in the dark room!!!

My own blank slides have arrived and I can't wait to start.

Watercolour and ink study.

Here I started doing some watercolour and brusho ink dye studies from microscopic images off of the internet. It was my first time using both watercolour and the inks on watercolour paper, I found it easy to use after getting used to the thickness of the paper. I chose this image for the really abstract shapes, the varied colour scheme and wide range of mark making opportunities.

 

 

 

finished experiment.

image from the internet.

The piece worked well as an experiment and if I were to develop it further I would have explored the use of acrylic paints to create the smudged marks in some of the shapes.

Rob Kesseler.

Rob Kesselers' work inspired me to start exploring the world under a microscope. I loved looking at the organic matter under a microscope as the patterns and shapes were so fascinating. It's amazing that these complex patterns, abstract and geometric shapes are in our everyday life but we never see them. Deciding to do microscopic images has made me really excited to get in touch with Salford University's Science department. I intend to use the microscopes to take pictures of the samples, make my own samples/view them and capture photos of them.

Starch.

Oak Section.

Marigold reflected section.

Sphagnum Palustre.

Zona Pellucida- starts with a dot of ink and dye that moves out across the paper surface until its stained cellular form is revealed by the action of water.

 

Kesselers' work is both beautiful and informative, the way he captures these minute organisms and presents them in ways that transforms them from just being scientific research but also artwork. His ink works are so delicate and I really like the contrast of this pastel colour scheme compared to the bright garish colour scheme of the microscope images.

Ernst Haeckel.

Ernst Haeckel first inspired me in college with his intricate prints. The detail he put into each living organism made them have a 3D effect on the page. I find the colour scheme he uses really striking and love the circular drawings as I always imagine them being what the organism looks like on the inside and Haeckel has opened it up for us to see.

 

Looking Back.

Here is some of my college work I found whilst looking back over my past project. These were my favourite pieces for the range of styles I used and the amazing structures shapes and patterns.

 

Microscopic!

At the start of college I did a project on microscopic images and I loved it as it linked with my biology course I was doing at the time and I just really find the intricacies of the microscopic samples under the microscope really interesting.

 

So for this being my first project in university I wanted to do something that intrigues me so decided to explore microscopic images further. I can't wait to get stuck in and hopefully get in touch with the university's science department to ask about accessing the microscope and slides.

Our Construction.

The second part of the days workshop involved us splitting into small groups each group was given 3 items at random and asked to create something by joining them in different ways. Personally I didn't like this part of the workshop as I found the final piece wasn't as good as I had hoped. Still the workshop helped me in looking at objects in a different way and trying to think of inventive ways of putting a range of them together.

Struggling to figure out how we could get the structure to stand without being through the hole in the chair.

So we marked the size of the pipe on the floor in the studio and then drilled 3 big screws into the floor and then just fit the pipe over the top of them.

We found the metal ring wouldn't balance on the top of the pipe on its own so using a saw we made a groove for the wire to sit in.

Next we were trying to decide how to add the deflated globe football. In the end we decided to cut it in half and weaving the pieces through the metal.

 

I think the workshop was hard because of the three items we were given. We felt limited especially with the deflated football but I still found the workshop helpful.



Construction Workshop.

Construction- the action of building something, typically a large structure. This is precisely what the workshop was about we were being asked to look at the materials and experiment with how you can attach them together in different ways. The workshop was good as you had to keep thinking as the materials had their limits of how they could be attached to others for example due to their weight, thickness, and if they were solid or soft. In the morning we were asked to make notes on what the tutors were doing almost so that someone could read it through later and make the same thing (like a set of instructions). They started with a pile of materials and asked a student each time to pick a material that they were to use.

 

 

 

These are my notes.

 Here is the final product produced...

 



Shoot!

Today we had an introduction to the photography studios. There is so much equipment we can use it was exciting to find out what we could do with it all. After the run through of the studios we were given a thorough induction on how to use the digital SLR cameras I have been using them since college and couldn't believe how much I didn't know. I can't wait to test my new found knowledge on how to set the camera up properly and how to get the best results by altering the settings to suit your surroundings.

James McNeill Whistler- The Bluecoat.

 

By far the best part of the day although I don't think it links to my current project. The top drawing was in a separate room and I hadn't thought much of this gestural sketch until I continued looking around the gallery and stumbled across the magnificent replica of Whistler's 'Peacock Room'. This simple design was transformed into this decadent piece all for the redesigning of one of F R Leyland's rooms. The mark making in the piece is brilliant for the difference in brush strokes and appliance of the marks. Learning about the story behind the piece was really interesting as well as Leyland had only imagined small changes and refused to pay Whistler in full due to the artist changing too much. Later, 1879, Whistler blamed Leyland for his bankruptcy.

Liverpool World Museum.

 

I love having a good nosey around this museum it has so much to offer. Starting in the aquarium I found the coral, sea enemy, and shells shapes really intriguing. Then we looked through the mass of specimens they have on display in huge draws. These natural forms are beautiful with their repeating patterns and intricate designs. I plan to use this as my starting point and drawing from them.