Project Statement
Ideas and Intentions
When I first
learnt that the brief was to do with ‘a sense of place’ I wasn’t sure what I
could do. I started by creating a mind map on the first page of my sketch book
to lay out my ideas clearly so that I could see the different avenues I could
explore. I narrowed it down in my mind to two different ideas, either to base
my project on different religions, mainly Buddhism or to work around the idea
of water and the beach. I was going to explore Buddhism because it is a
religion I have always found interesting and have always felt that I connected
with. However, I did not think that I felt strongly enough about it for it to
give me a sense of place. I chose to do water because I have always loved being
in the water. I started swimming lessons when I was two years old and since
then have always loved swimming. When I am in the water, I feel a sense of
place like I belong. It makes me feel calm, relaxed and comfortable. Swimming
is a sport which to me is peaceful. Each weekend as a child, I would go to the
beach on a Sunday with my parents, brother and sister to go swimming in the
sea. My dad is a keen surfer so would try to teach us and I would take my
boogie board along to play with. This led me to develop a sense of belonging
and family when I was at the beach. I have many fond memories of being at the
beach with my family, laughing and playing.
Subject matter/reference material/sources
I decided to
base my project around the beach and explore different aspects that came to
mind when I thought of the beach. I started by looking at different shells and
drawing them and sticking them into my sketch book using different paper and
materials to explore different colours and textures. I then looked at different
sea creatures and incorporated them into my sketch book. I used the website www.tagxedo.com to make different shapes
using words. I used words that I link to the beach and make me picture the
scene. I then chose shapes of creatures that live in the sea to make the
shapes. I used colours of blue because of the colour of the sea. This allowed
me to bring words and shapes together to make an effective picture to show in
my work.
Next, I
looked at the artist Claude Monet. I chose this artist because I really enjoy
his work and he incorporates many images of water in his paintings. I chose a
few of his paintings I liked best that showed how talented he was at painting
water. Many of the images are of the sea which is what I wanted to use for my
final piece. At this stage I had not yet decided what I wanted to make for my
final piece but I knew that I wanted to somehow use imagery of the ocean.
I then
looked at the holidays I had been on as a child. As a child, I would holiday
with my family mainly to destinations on the coast to be close to the beach and
to the sea. I had saved postcards and pictures from these holidays that I put
in my sketch book. I did this for inspiration of what images I could use and
which colours looked most effective. From looking at these pictures I decided
to make something using the colours of blue for the sea, purple for the sky,
orange for the sand and white for the foam of the waves. I decided that I would
make a cushion with a wave on it so that I could bring aspects of the beach,
home to me to keep in my bedroom. The main colour I wanted to use was blue for
the ocean which ties in with the blue of my bedroom as it is my favourite colour.
I could incorporate aspects of the beach to my home life which was important
for me.
Materials/media/ICT programs/techniques explored
I made a
template that I would use to sew the shape of the wave onto my cushion. I used
silk noil fabric as it is soft. I washed the fabric first to get the finishing
out of the new fabric. I then chose the main colours I wanted, turquoise blue
and purple. I threw hand dyes of these colours onto the fabric whilst it was
wet. I put rock salt onto the fabric to draw more colour to specific areas. I
then left it overnight to dry and ironed it the next morning to fix the colour
into the fabric. I then washed it again to get any excess dye out and left it
to dry.
I
finger-knitted purples together to attach around the edge of the cushion once
it was ready to add to the purple already on the fabric. Also, the shape that
the finger-knit makes, reminds me of rope which reminds me of times that I went
fishing with my dad out at sea.
Evaluation
Ideas and Intentions realised
I think that
my cushion did turn out well and as expected. It is visually very attractive
and will match well in my bedroom. The ideas of the beach and ocean I think
have shown up well although the shape of the wave is not as clear as I would
have liked. This is because of my lack of drawing skills on the template and I
am not as good on the sewing machine as I would like! However I think the
different layers of colour look effective and work well together.
Media chosen for presentation/final outcome is
appropriate.
The ICT that
I used in my support material was to research the artist Claude Monet and look
at his work. I also used bubbl.us to create a mind map of colours which allowed
me to see them all together and choose which ones to use based upon which would
work best together.
ICT as a
suitable tool for visual communication.
I used the website tagxedo.com to make shapes
out of words which let me include images that without ICT, I would not usually
have been able to include. These were important to my piece as they allowed me
to look at different uses of colour and how they affect different shapes. By
blogging as I did my project, it enabled me to see what level I was at with my
progress and what I had left to do. It was a good way to keep a diary of my
work as I went along.
