Lives of People with Depression

I have decided to explore the area of people living with depression, as part of our theme The Lives of Others. I have been looking at symptoms and possible causes of depression, as well as some online personal diaries written anonymously by sufferers. I explored working onto different types of paper, before finally deciding to draw onto tissues. The fragile nature of the tissues really seems to highlight the fragility of the human condition when it is being weighed down heavily by depression. I also see  tissues as having an obvious association with crying so I think it is appropriate material for this task.

 

Here is a sample of my work on tissue. I took a quote from a depresssion diary I had researched, and tried to depict the self consciousness and paranoia reflected on in the quote. I use the eyes to create pattern to emphasise the intensity of the paranoia, and how the feeling of paranoia can make you believe that everyone is watching you. I used a fine liner pen, a red marker and I applied diluted black ink to give a watery delicate effect which I think contrasts well with my graphic style of drawing, and also suggests the falling of tears onto the tissue.

Typography Art

I am very interested in graphic design and typography, so I think my book will definitely have a graphic element to it. I will probably create any lettering by hand, and maybe somehow incorporate text into my images. I started looking at typography art because I really enjoy looking at graphic art, and I figured it might inspire me a bit!

 

 This is a lino print of places in London which are organised in a map format.

 

I really love how the lettering has been organised to create perspective in the drawing.

 I think the combination of motifs, lettering and negative space letters is very visually effective.

Contextual Studies Book Project

For second semester, our Learning to Learn module has been replaced by Contextual Studies. We have been given a 6 week project in which we have to produce an artist's book based on the theme The Lives Of Others. The brief states that the incorporation of text, image and form are vital in the production of this book. The 'book' is not excluded to the standard format of a book, but can be anything from a sculpture to an installation to a handmade notebook.
Here are some images of artist's books that I have found-

Finished Animation

Finally, I have finished my animation! At 30 seconds, it is quite short as animations go, but I am happy with it as this is my first experience of creating a stop motion animation. I drew all the frames by hand in quite a limited space of time so I think I completed the task successfully. By doing this project I have gained a greater appreciation and insight into how an animation is made, and have acquired a new skill which I will probably use again in the future. It took about 30 hours to make this 30 seconds of animation, so it really is a very time-consuming process! I found it to be rewarding, if a little testing and difficult at times. I hope you like it!

Animation

I am now nearing the stage in my animation where it is time to photograph the frames! All I need is some sort of tripod to keep the camera steady, as this is vital to ensure that the animation will run smoothly when I upload the photos onto Moviemaker. I am pleased with the frames, and I think the paper cutouts of the moving figure will fairly accurately depict movement. I also need to consider what sound track will be effective for about 20 seconds of animation, some uplifting music definitely, possibly The Who, not just because I really like their music, but I also think it would be appropriate to use a band who made music in the 1960's and 1970's, as it is around the same period when Roy Lichtenstein started to make waves in the art world with his now iconic pop art.

 

 

The Knitting and Stitching Show, Dublin

 

 

 

On Saturday 3rd November, I went to the RDS in Dublin to see the annual Knitting and Stitching Show. It was my first experience of the show and I must say it didn't disappoint. I have a keen interest in textiles, and have a deep love for anything ranging from knitting to patchwork to embroidery, so I have to confess I was like an excited child at Christmas when I strolled into the RDS and saw the huge array of stalls full of textile-y things! Shelf after shelf of coloured wools, packets of buttons, rolls and rolls of printed fabrics with any motif you could dream of, my eyes feasted on this wonderful celebration of craft and design. The sheer vibrancy of the colours and the vast quantity of stuff really was an eye-opening experience.

 

 

 

One of the many stalls selling haberdashery, with a beautiful patchwork display as a backdrop

 

 

Far from being a mundane setting with only a scattering of elderly women clutching their knitting, the RDS was heaving with a great variety of people, both young and old. The crowds on Saturday were large for most of the day, and showed little sign of easing until about 5 o' clock. There was an enthusiasm and energy throughout the building which was palpable and infectious, and it left me with little doubt that I am quite passionate about textiles. There were some Textiles students from NCAD with stalls showing their work and notebooks which was quite interesting, as well as traditional lace makers, and patchwork displays. I also was talking to Roscommon tapestry weaver Frances Crowe, who I have worked with in the past as part of a collaborative school project. She showed me some of her weaving which was great, as this is something I really enjoy when I have the time.

 

 

 



Frances Crowe, Roscommon tapestry weaver

 

 

I was also talking to several textile designers and artists who been working on a project based on a mill, since April this year. Unfortunately I can't remember their names, but they were very helpful and they let me look at their notebooks which was brilliant! As a student, it was beneficial for me to see the work process involved, and to observe how ideas formed and developed. It was very encouraging to see so many people who are working in an area that I aspire to work in, with a passion and vigour that really shines through in their work. It definitely has given me a boost to keep working hard and to experiment with my creativity. All in all, it was a fantastic show, and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in textiles, but also for anyone who enjoys viewing hand-made crafts. I look forward to next year's show!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Animation-Making Frames

With this animation project I have gained a new appreciation of how much time and effort is really required to enliven a figure and make it move. I will never look at a Disney film the same way! Even the simplest of movements such as drinking tea, must be accurately constructed to work properly. For this project I am aiming to create a short animation, approximately only 20 seconds, based on the Lichtenstein painting of a living room. I have drawn my own sitting room in Lichtenstein style, complete with the Ben-Day dots, and am planning to integrate a figure into the piece, sitting on the couch performing simple tasks such as drinking tea, reading and talking on the phone. While in theory this seems to offer little range in movement, it is still proving to be quite a challenge for me, especially where patience is concerned! On average, each frame takes me about 30 minutes to complete, even though it is only a cut out of the moving figure and not the whole room each time, as the background stays the same for the duration of the animation. It is both an enjoyable and tedious process, which requires a lot of precision and concentration. I think once I really start to see the figure come alive, I will be pleased with my progress! I will post up some photos soon. Meanwhile, time is ticking!