"Lens Based Media- Day Two"

For the second day of our Lens Based Media Rotation, we were split into groups in order to do a small group project. At first, we had to do quick illustrations of characters and places from our past and present memory. For instance, we had to draw a character from our dreams so I drew this ghost-like creature that has an eye for its head, since this was the fist memory that came into mind. After that, we had to create three storyboards, consisting of six boxes each. The challenging part was that we had to use everyone's characters and settings from our group and we were restricted by the amount of "boxes" we had to fit our stories in. In the first box, we were supposed to introduce the characters and their problems, in the middle boxes we had to create the development of their stories and their struggles and in the last one we had to resolve their problem. Everyone in class seemed to be enjoying themselves since this task made us think more with our imagination. 

"Lens Based Media- Day One- Part Two"

For the second part of the day, we were asked to go around the university and take photos based on six words- happy, sad, fall, jump, echo and crush. We had to think of various things, such as the positioning of the camera and the cropping of the image, in order to capture the feeling of the words.

Happy

Sad

Fall

Jump

Echo

Crush 

I found that it is not easy to capture the essence of a word through a photograph. At first, it was quite challenging for me to decide what I should photograph and how should I do it in order to create something that expresses meaning. However, after trying a few times, the challenge became something I enjoyed. Every time I found my subject, I had to photograph it various times before I had the final outcome and I found myself thinking before photographing it. This made me realize that the positioning of the camera plays a big part in portraying meaning. 

 

"Lens Based Media- Day One- Part One"

During the first hour of the Lens Based Media Rotation, the teachers gave us a short presentation on what this area consists of. Before coming here I was not sure what LBM was therefore, this presentation helped me a lot. Later on, we had to choose a picture we took and create a copy of it,  I chose a black and white picture I took of my brother. The aim of this exercise was to make us see different elements of the picture we would't have seen before. What I noticed in my picture was that when I drew it out, I over-exaggerated the contrast between light and shadow.

 

After that we had to crop out our drawings in various ways in order to try and give meaning to them and add more emphasis on different parts of them. For the first one I tried giving more emphasis on the background by doing a simple cropping. However, for the next ones I tried being more experimental and played with altering the shape of the picture. The one I like the most is the last one I did by copping the drawing in a triangular way. By doing so, I managed to make it more powerful and 

create a feeling of suspense. This exercise was extremely interesting and I enjoyed it a lot because it gave me the opportunity to experiment and think outside the box. 

"Graphic Design- Day Three"

On the third and final day of the Graphic Design Rotation, our task was to create a piece based on our future aspirations and future memories. We had the whole day to plan out and create this piece and by the end we did a group presentation, where most students talked about their work. It was exciting to see what other people's dreams about the future were and at the same time it was interesting to see their interpretations of it. Some people chose to do three-dimensional pieces, whereas others created posters. I chose to create a self portrait and around it I wrote the words Art, Travel and Work, since this is what I want my future career to consist of. The self portrait is in black and white and everything else is in color. I chose to do this because I wanted to add more emphasis to my future dreams rather than on the self portrait. In addition I thing the contrast between the two makes the piece stand out more therefore, it will be more effective to the viewers. The triangles coming out of the face, consist of printed images which I found and I added them because they were quite inspirational and they might help me with ideas in the future. I think that the triangles add an abstract feel to the piece, which makes it more interesting. The combination of drawing and printed images worked very well together and I enjoy the final outcome. This process was interesting because we got the chance to work completely by ourselves, to manage our own time and create something that is very personal to us. 

"Graphic Design- Day Two-Part Two"

Later on in the day, we were asked to create different fonts, using a range of media and techniques. I tried to use as many different materials as i could and combined them together in order to crete different effects. After that, we had to pick out one of the fonts we created and apply it on the alphabet. It was challenging to complete the whole alphabet since the font I chose had loads of detail to it. However, I enjoyed the process because   I got the opportunity to create my own series of fonts. When everyone put their work on the boards, it was very interesting because each student had their own personal approach to it. Some people tried to experiment with three-dimensional writing and I found this very exciting and a unique approach to Graphic Design.

Later on, we had to choose either a word or a quote which describes us and write  it down in our own font. I picked a quote from one of my favorite poems, "Prayer Before Birth". It says "Let them not spill me" and its a plea against totalitarian societies who try and change people. I decided to write the word "Spill" in red, using a dripping effect in order to add more emphasis to the idea behind the quote. The color red is supposed to portray blood and reflect the idea of people trying to completely change you in order to fit in this totalitarian machine. By doing this exercise, I realized that you can play with words, in order to alter and add more meaning  to the message you want to pass on. 

 

"Graphic Design- Day Two- Part One"

For the second day of the Graphic Design Rotation, we were asked to bring in photographs of various celebrities. During the day, we were asked to create a collage using different parts of the people's faces in order to create a whole new face. This gave us the opportunity of exploring the design process, as well as giving us new ideas of how to create a piece. Although the outcome does not look like a "normal" face, I think it is very interesting and has a unique feel to it since its different. I found this exercise extremely interesting and I enjoyed creating this piece.  

"Graphic Design-Day One-Part Two"

For the second part of the day, we were asked to draw the ear of one of our classmates. We were supposed to create this piece in just 20 minutes and I found that quite challenging. Even though  ears seem to be easy to draw, they are not. They are full of curvy lines,lots of detail and you have to capture how three-dimensional they are. For my drawing I chose to use markers because I though they would help me work quicker. I used three different colors, blue, yellow and red, in order to create a feeling of dimension and shading.When everyone finished their drawing, we placed them on the floor so that we could see each other's work. What I found extremely interesting was that everyone had a different interpretation of the ears and each one was unique in its own way. Some people did exact copies of the ear whereas others, took a more abstract approach. Even though my drawing does not look like an ear, I still enjoy the final outcome because it has movement and a playful feel to it. 

"Graphic Design- Day One- Part One"

On the first day of Graphic Design we were asked to do a series of portraits but each time in a different way. For example, the first one had to be of a person sitting opposite us but it had to be done with our eyes closed. At first I found it difficult to create a piece without looking and in only 5 minutes, because it feels as if you are out of your comfort zone. However, when I saw the outcomes of each one I liked them because they did not come out as I expected them to be. Some looked abstract, for instance the one where we had to draw with out mouths. I found this exercise to be interesting since it gave me the opportunity to explore different ways in which I can draw. It helped me learn that sometimes the things that you don't expect to be good turn out to be the ones you like the most. 

"Memory Palace"

One could describe the Memory Palace exhibition at the V&A to be overwhelming since it has to do with a psychological exploration of the human mind. The works were created by various graphic designers, typographers and illustrators who got inspired by a series of fictional novels by Hari Kunzru. What I found unique about this exhibition was that the story leads you through the gallery space and therefore the viewers can feel more involved and more excited about what is coming next. The thing that intrigued me the most was a quote which said "Its hard to be an individual, to be conscious and alive inside the prison walls of your skull". The narrator of the novel uses his prison cell as his "Memory Palace" however, from the quote we can understand that its hard to keep control of your memories in a small place such as a cell or your skull. As he says further on, "It was like pushing the walls outwards with my hands" and this mimics perfectly the idea of an overflow of memories which you cannot restrict in a small space. In addition, the theme of memory and the idea that without it the world is doomed,is something that everyone can relate to and I believe that this is what makes this exhibition so effective. Personally I really enjoyed this exhibition, even though at some points I found it difficult to follow due to the use of language. However, in general, I enjoyed it a lot because it was not the typical exhibition one would expect to see. The fact that it was based on a series of fictional novels allowed me to create my own opinions towards the theme of memory. Towards the end of the exhibition, we were allowed to create our own memories, which were then projected on a screen. I though this was a good idea since people can feel more involved and become a part of the exhibition as a whole. 

"The Cinderella Table"

The Cinderella Table was something that caught my interest whilst I was visiting the V&A Museum. It has continuous flowing forms, even though it is made out of wood which is known for its rough texture. The table was fabricated using computer controlled technology, which contrasts he idea of its organic looking nature. Since I am interested in design, I found this to be extremely inspirational. 

"The Design Museum- The Future Is Here"

When I visited the design museum, I got intrigued by the various and innovative techniques artists use to create. I found it helpful since it opened my eyes to new materials, as well as new methods, that I can use in my artwork. For instance, Philippa Brock uses 3D printing in order to create unique and textured textile designs whereas Assa Ashuach uses 3D printing to create the "Femur Stool".  

In addition, it made me realize that technology is a crucial part in both the modern society and the art world. Something that I found extremely interesting was the explanation of how products are made. There are three types of product making: addictive manufacturing, subtractive and transformative. There are different methods in which you can produce a product like adding to, layering, removing parts and even altering the shape of a material and this made me think of ways in which I can apply this to my own work. This exhibition encouraged me to explore new media and to appreciate using technology in order to create something new.

"Time Capsule"

 I decided to burry my time capsule at this park in Mile End as it is close to the place I am currently staying at. This location is important to me since I just moved here and its the first time I'm living by myself away from home. The items I picked are a map of North Greenwich, to remind me of the new beginning I made here, a piece of fabric and a shoe, which are reminiscent of the past.If someone where to find my time capsule in ten years, they wouldn't understand what it is about since the items are personal to me. The reason I chose to burry it at night is because I really liked the lighting at that time and I thought that this would create a sense of atmosphere in the pictures I took. I enjoy the contrast between light and shadow since they create a feeling of nostalgia and this reflects the idea of letting something go.

"A Camera"

My camera is an object that is significant to my present life since I just started my foundation course at university. Whenever I find something that attracts my interest or something that inspires me, I try to take photographs of it and this helps evolve my artwork. I tried to create an abstract drawing of my camera since it is an important object to me however, it did not turn out the way I wanted it to. The face inside the lens represents myself and how through my camera I'm able to see the world in a different way.

"Textiles"

This illustration was inspired by a textile design my mother used to sell in the shop she owned. This is reminiscent of my past since its one of the only things that are left from the shop and therefore, every time i look at it it will remind me of all the good times i spent in there. I do not really like the outcome as it does not reflect the idea I wanted to pass on. I believe that if I had continued the pattern with more elephants and used more vivid colors, the drawing would look more playful.

"An Old Pair Of Shoes"

One of the objects that remind me most of the past is my old pair of converse shoes and this is because I used to wear them all the time. Since they are old, the cracks and the stains on them make me reminisce of some of the greatest times I had with my friends. I tried to portray this by creating a quite abstract and colorful drawing. The cartoon-like figures and illustrations are supposed to represent various memories I have had and people that have had an impact in my life. I personally enjoy the outcome of this drawing and I think that I have managed to express my feelings towards the past in a bold way. 

"Barcelona"

I got inspired to create this drawing from a trip me and my friends had last summer. I decided to include various memories I have from Barcelona, such as the coast. I thought that the best way to include everything was by depicting it in a comic-like way and I really enjoy the outcome. However, I think that if I added some color, the drawing would look more vivid and it would reflect better the idea that this is a positive memory I have from the past. 

"Bubble Wrap"

Every time I look at bubble wrap I remember of the times when I was a child and got enthused by the idea of popping all the bubbles. I tried to illustrate it using a pop-art style since it would create a playful effect, however, the outcome is not how I expected it to be. I believe that if I had added some more color and words such as "POP" to the bubbles, this drawing would be more bold and exciting. 

"Art Bag"

Since this is my first year studying art at university, I get thrilled with the idea of different medias and getting the opportunity to use new materials. Therefore, I decided to draw my new art bag since it reminds me of my present. The inside part of the bag is full of vivid colors and this represents the idea of how inside of it there are various different materials which I can use to create new things. I though that by creating a contrast between monochromatic and colorful tones, created by charcoal and colored pencils, I would manage to make the drawing more unique. However, after seeing the outcome, I believe that if I added all my art materials inside the bag my drawing would have looked much more interesting.

"A New Place To Explore"

I have recently moved from Cyprus in order to come and study in London and therefore, i chose to draw a map of the area I'm currently living at. This is a new place that I can explore through my art and I tried to express this idea through the  use of vibrant colors and different abstract shapes. The circular shapes represent the idea of reaching out for new opportunities and expanding my knowledge in art. The idea behind the drawing is good however, I don't really enjoy the end result. I believe that if I had arranged the different shapes in better positions it would look more vibrant and be more effective.

"Back Home"

This necklace was given to me by one of my closest friends back home. It is an extremely important object for me since every time I look at it it reminds me of all the great memories we had together. I tried to create a fading effect in order to portray that this is something that belongs to my past. In addition, I chose to draw a picture of me and my friend on the necklace because he is a person of great importance to me. I think the outcome is good however, I believe it would be more effective if there was more contrast in my shading since it would create an effect of nostalgia.

"The Power Of Now"

This drawing is based on a psychological book I'm currently reading called "The Power Of Now". I tried to depict the idea of myself and how this book affects my present life by combining different elements such as a human face and a book. The quote "I AM" comes from an idea the author of the book values, which has also helped me a lot, since I was going through a rough period of time. I think that the scribbling shading effect, created by pen, mimics the idea of how thought provoking this book is and how it made me more openminded about the present. The different colors used represent the vibrant ideas the author wants to pass on and in my opinion, they give a more positive feel to the drawing. I enjoy the surrealistic outcome of this piece and I think it reflects clearly they way I feel towards this book.