30 Seconds of Nonsense

One of the things we had to do this week was make a film of "30 Seconds of Nonsense". This could be anything from weird to boring and that meant we could be as creative as we wanted.

I thought about filming my cat, Smudge, in our garden just chasing dog toys or pinecones or following a stick that we dragged through the grass. Although this was fun to do, it wasn't really nonsense.

So I tried getting my little sister to talk as quickly as she could (when she talks that fast no one can really understand a word she says) but she was talking so quickly that she ran out of things to say.

She also didn't want to be on camera so I spun around while she spoke; but spinning around on the spot for 30 seconds made me so dizzy I couldn't walk in a straight line. I even fell over once after 20 seconds...

Due to the fact that my sister couldn't talk fast for 30 seconds, I tried the same spinning idea but without any talking (or laughing) in the background. I spun one way for 10 seconds, the other direction for the next 10 seconds, and then back the first direction for the last 10 seconds to avoid getting too dizzy again.

I also had the idea of writing nonsense on a bit of paper and filming that and then I thought it would be even more nonsense if it was in a font/typeface that was symbols instead of English. So I typed "Nonsense" then changed the font to Wingdings 3. I then printed it out and filmed it for 30 seconds.

 

 

I really like this idea because I think it is funny as it is literally 30 seconds of "Nonsense".

 

In the Summer Time...

In 2002, Damien Hirst created "In the Summer Time" using household gloss paint on canvas and dead butterflies to create the idea that they simply landed  in the paint and got stuck.

"In the Summer Time"
2002
Butterflies and household gloss canvas
Diameter: 1600mm (63inches)

I really like the colours and the cloud effects in this painting. The colours and patterns on the butterflies wings are also incredible and look very life-like (despite being dead), almost as if they would fly off any minute. I think the round canvas also creates the idea of eternity/infinity with the never-ending skyscape within the never-ending circle of the canvas.

I think the simplicity of this painting is what makes it so eye-catching.

Wire Work

Another one of the things we had to do this week was "draw" a 3D object using wire.

This was an interesting task because we could use the wire to actually make it 3D although we had the option of doing 2D.

I chose to do a paint roller without the sponge part and I made it 3D as well. My favourite part of the roller that I made was the head part because I managed to make it movable - I was so pleased!

I used a couple of small pieces of masking tape to help make the join between the handle and the arm stronger.

I was really pleased with how the "drawing" worked out and I would be interested in working a bit more in wire.

Anna King

On the 20th of May, Anna King came in to talk to us at the college. I found it really interesting because she was talking about how she loved to paint places that had once been taken over by people but were now being taken back by nature - I have to say I agree, as I also think the mix between nature and people is really cool.

She also showed us photos of some of her work. I particularly liked these paintings because of the mysterious atmosphere created by Anna King's technique. I also like the feeling of isolation that these paintings create.




Disused Cinema, Bradford



Madelvic Car Factory



Greenhouse Interior, Marchmont Estate iii



Rusty Tin Roof

I think my favourite painting is "Rusty Tin Roof" because of the colours. I also like the calm but haunting atmosphere within the painting. I think there is something about the dark windows and the texture on the building that makes it slightly spooky.


My mum and I also went to Anna King's open studio at the Haining in Selkirk. I particularly liked "Sheds, Iceland" and "The Old Shed" because I think they have a similar atmosphere to "Rusty Tin Roof".

Sheds, Iceland

The Old Shed

There were also a few paintings that she had done on card from a cardboard box. I really liked this idea because it gives a new use for something that would normally either be thrown out or recycled.

I would really like to try the cardboard box painting idea sometime and I might try using different media as well.





Elaine Johnston

We went to the Peebles Show on Saturday (15th) and saw some of Elaine Johnston's work for sale. She was also doing a painting behind the stall so visitors could see her at work. I was interested by the paintings she had there and when we got home I had a look at her website to see what other animals she had painted. There are a lot of cows and a few horse paintings but I particularly liked her paintings of the dormouse and the stag.

"Jerry, The Uninvited Guest"

I love the details and the texture in the fur and I think it helps create the idea of depth.

"Stag"

I think the fur on the stag is exaggerated but it could suggest that the painting is in winter so the stag's fur is thicker.

Bigger Fish....

During the typography unit, I looked at some cave-paintings and experimented with using a fish shaped sponge to create the idea of a shoal swimming over the canvas/cave wall.

I loved the look of this and wanted to try the same idea but on a larger scale (pardon the pun!).

I decided to use more earthy/neutral colours this time and I think it worked very well...

 

I like the almost monochrome colour range and the peaceful atmosphere created by the simple wave across the canvas.

 

  

A friend of mine gave me the idea to use rope to frame the canvas so that it looked like the fish were swimming into a net. I am still thinking over the different options for attaching it as it is quite a stiff rope. However, I don't know yet whether I should put rope around the edges or just leave it as the canvas.

 

 

Any ideas....

Highland Holiday Artwork

My family and I had a holiday in the highlands of Scotland from 6th-24th July. Although the weather wasn't great we still managed to travel around a bit and I even managed to fit in some artwork.


There were various opportunities for me to get out my sketchbook and draw a few of the amazing scenes up there. Here are some of the drawings I did...

Balnakiel Bay through the ruined church window

 

 

Golspie beach

 

Dornoch beach

 

 

 

 

I then developed these on canvas boards using inktense pencils and oil pastels... 



 

 

 

 

 

I prefer these because they have lots more texture and depth than the drawings I did in my sketchbook.

  

 

I also wanted to draw one of the two churches we go to when we're on holiday because my mum's grandfather was minister there in the late 1920s.

 

The church is called St Callans and I did the drawing from just outside the Rogart primary school playground. 

 

 

 

I am pleased with the perspective in this as I usually struggle with buildings and perspective but I think it turned out well this time.