What is yellow?

I figured I may aswell update my blog.. even though this is currently offline on word.. I have an hour to kill on the train when I go see my friend Anna Sangha in Lincoln at Uni, so I figured I’d do the draft version now. Her blog (even though she probably hasn’t updated it in ages) its www.annacanvas.blogspot.com

Anyway.. the recent brief we had was ‘What is yellow?’ Since the beginning of the course, we had a pack of materials and a few random items.. one of my random items was a yellow toothpaste and was later used for numerous briefs and tasks since then (the colour theory work, placing colours into groups) For the new brief, from the work we had on that chosen colour, we had to answer the question, what is yellow in 10 resolutions A5 squared (150mm x 150mm)

I began by describing words, objects, context and phrases all to do with yellow, as shown by Fred Bates breaking down the brief to truly understand what was being asked for. It was a really good way of working, giving you the ability of putting down your ideas fluidly about such a vast subject, from there you can make some creative links (see my a2 sheet below..)

From there, as we are told time and time again to be visual with our ideas, I drew some simple ideas and created a few concepts for what can be achieved  (7 in total I think) Although illustration isn’t my strong point, I really wanted to create something bold and fun with some doodles.. My drawing style of characters is very basic shapes and smiles formed which I though would work really well witha brief like this. My original concept was going to be ‘Yellow in situation’ creating 10 resolutions of yellow characters made out of yellow objects in yellow situations. I found our while researching in groups that in certain areas a football is yellow when played in winter, so to add more yellow, I featured players made from yellow rubber gloves to make the image a little more fun J from there I created a few more examples and progressed with the production.

Originally when experimenting the concept I really wanted to create the characters as vector formed graphics, bold colours, clean lines and subtle shading and gradients.. (similar to the work of the Gavin Strange –  www.jam-factory.com ) until I truly realised my skills on illustrator.. terrible. Instead, I went for a more low-tech approach of recreating my sketches in greater detail and rendering with good marker pens instead.. the results weren’t as good as I wanted, but Iam pleased with some of the outcomes. Maybe something to investigate into with some more induction sessions and practice with illustrator in my own time.

Just to keep on the right track, I booked myself into a ‘student surgery sessions’ (who writes this stuff? ..really) on the Thursday and had some more guidance with Jo. It turned out really useful and put me more in a direction with my work, answering the brief a little better. The original concept although good, didn’t really answer what was yellow, just showed yellow.. so back to the drawing board so to speak the concept changed to ‘Yellow is visability’ It didn’t really take more modification, I was more placing the imagery in the correct order and emphasising the look of visibility. The resolutions now included, traffic lights, vehicle recovery, bouncers at a nightclub, a nightlight and a taxi.

Below are the finished articles, placed in order and on the board for the harsh views from the interim crit from Friday afternoon. In a crude way of ‘judging’ work that had been created the work was removed from the wall in order and leaving the most successful piece on the wall. Apparently from the work, the links weren’t as clear as others, but although I think they were, and some feedback I got from friends. I think it was probably me spending all week with the work that made it obvious to me, quite a bad habit to be in..

*image coming soon*

It needs to be updated.. I know.. :$

i will when i'm home, just at uni at the start of the second week of my course :D its amazing! brilliant facilities, tutors, people and good nights out.

Anyway.. more tonight, I promise!

Aaaaaah!

Its been so long.. ive totally forgotten about my blog.. how terrible. I have plenty to say but probably best to put it in pictures and fill in the gaps with what ive been doing :) including the final show, visits to leeds, birthdays, a burglary :( emma's final show, wicked college marks, chatsworth, Sara joe and carley moving house, and other crazy antics :) and LCAD stuff! its been pretty hecktic.. here we go!

I found these in the window of a bakery in leeds when I was visiting Sara, they look so creepy! but kinda cool at the same time.. Leeds was fun as always even if its just walking round shops and things. later.. we got tapas for a tenner! brilliant..
Yummm yumm :) like the best meal in ages, all you can eat at la tasca. definitely doing that again soon.
When I was back I got some posters printed for my final show on a2 and they look sweeeet! three for £27 which worked out pretty good.. plenty more goodies to come too.
With an evening free I managed to go see Joni, tim and fiona (L-R) near the helmlock stone for some sort of crazy free music festival, which turned out to be quite good! the first summer evening of the year too. super warm drinking pints of real ale.. I couldnt have too much because I had to ride home :S not cool..
Ice creams at work! Cliff was a little left out, so I left half on his car for later for him :D Took and absolute age to get it off the windscreen.. was really funny though.
Anna's vinyl came to college while we put the show up.. It was amazing! super huge and really well printed. Got loads of attention at the show and was well worth it. Well done anna!
I havent been to dad's allotment in ages so I went for a look and see whats cracking off, bless him he loves it. Next door was some crazy old man that had made a shelter from literally rubbish! really freaky and interesting..
The Show is done! time to burn off some steamm... why not invest in some quality time on GH3 and get a new high score? Sorry I had to..
The show day! jeeez what a day.. It started off first in the morning and I had to drop my bike off so I didnt end up leaving it there for days and getting it stolen.. oh dearrr.. While I was out, someone broke into our house, took two consoles a laptop, ipod and a massive stack of dvds :( and probably my bike if it was there. I was so unbelievably lucky because Sara was in bless her in my room. The burglar probably opened my room door, took one look at her and left her alone along with all my stuff! I could of lost like 10,000 pictures (literally 10,000) my laptop, ipod, CAMERA, tv etc etc etc.. the list goes on. Im so thankful she was alright and I still had my stuff still. Gutted about everything else though.. its all covered so we'll be alright. Only material items gone which is an upside. ANYWAYYY. Back to the show.. Everything was up and people came. It was kind of a success.. I quite liked my show, but I had been looking at it for 12 weeks so I was really sure what to expect as a reaction towards it. The balloon on the display was a present with a bottle of cider tied to it. Get in! was brilliant.

Results! A week or so later we had our results for the course. For my FinalMajorProject I got DDD (triple distinction) which is wicked :D and overall I got DDM (two distinctions and a high merit) which is really good, im really proud of it. Everyone else did really well and got what they wanted, so well done!

'After party' which almost went to pot.. but we ended up in the rescue rooms with nachos and bulmers. good times :)
Carlitos menu in the rescue rooms which was cool.. I didnt catch the artist, but I will! Im sure locals have seen it and know what its like.
Art show number 2! Emma's final Art show in B'ham which was good. Emma knitted columns in the main foyer floor to ceiling which looked really good. There was reason behind it, but like all the art, you should have your own opinion and just enjoy it visually.. almost a theory for how design should be, apart from with function. 'Design is art people use'

There was a guy upstairs who did spraypaint on stretched canvas architectural forms.. how cool are they? it went all the way up the wall.

Adam's birthday! which was pretty sweet, went to his with mili and ben for a bit of bbq and beers. Nice a realxed, his family and friends are so laid back.. Was a really good evening. I was meant to go out too on the thursday but I couldnt make it out :( gutted. But I will! eventually..

N'awh Adam back in the day..
Crazy bong with banana flavoured stuff in it... I didnt try any but it apparently tasted well good.
Now im off and free, I managed to tag along with a day to chatsworth house for abit of a picnic and a nice wander.. and in the coal line too.
Aaah! sorry...

Bit of camera phone photography.. looks quite nice. i went a little over the top that day but this is my favourite.. Nothing wrong with a few flowers?

On the way to leeds on the train.. this time a long one straight from nottingham so I took a few pictures..
Blurryyyyy! but kinda coool. I like seeing what you can do with just a phone.. not bad?
the new home of carley and sara! not bad is it? And I only had to move two lots of stuff. You should've seen the taxi with sara's stuff.. and sara in there somewhere.. hehe
Cool poster? yes yes yes! more like this in nottingham pleasee!
Can you believe there was no microwave at sara's? so me and joe found one near his, and a chair... and rolled it! So funny, especially when we lost a wheel...

Thats it for now! its only taken me a few hours to do it.. expect more soon like a seaside trip, first bit of uni work and bbq's!

Yeah! im back x