Plus & Minus

Take out the 3 random objects you've brought to class.

Simply choose 1 to begin with.

Using your A3 paper to draw on, begin to study/ draw this object. 15 minutes

STOP!!!

Take out eraser and remove a section of the drawing.

START!!!

Choose another object from your collection, and draw it on where you've just erased.

Try using a different medium. Start to draw a part of your new object as though it were a natural continuation from your original first object. You can use different scale, different drawing techniques, etc. 15 minutes

STOP!!!

Erase a section of the drawing of your 2nd object.

START!!!

Repeat the same process using your 3rd object. 15 minutes

I must confess, I forgot to bring any objects to class to draw, so, I've borrowed my neighbor's objects. But it was interesting to see how different our drawings were, even though we've just used the same random objects. Anyway, here's what I drew in class.

I wanted to draw my own objects instead, so I got home and redid the whole exercise...

Here's the 3 random objects.

Because this was done from home, I spent more than 15 minutes on each object, just cause I love drawing as much as creating pieces. ^^

Pieces of Eight in the City...

Visited Pieces of Eight Gallery in the city with the entire class.

Was quite excited about the new exhibition, "Rock Solid", overwhelmed by all the interesting and great pieces, really got to learn how different materials are used and how they're exhibited, the play of light on objects, how the qualities of these pieces are highlighted on display.... was genuinely fascinated... got my mind all hyped up with all these inspirational pieces in the gallery room. 

Really need to make it a habit of visiting different galleries every week...lol

Check out the exhibition >>> Pieces of Eight


I was most intrigued with Susan Jacobs' magnetic pieces.... It was very clever...

Again it's all about understanding materials and exploiting their qualities the best way possible, at the same time, infuse them with your distinctive artistic style....^^ and never forget to have fun making them!!!! Cheers!!!

Bejewelled

Back from coffee break, so let's start 2nd project of week 4...

Consider yourself an explorer in some mysterious alien territory. You are collecting weird and wonderful treasures found throughout this strange and foreign environment.

From the materials you have brought with you to class, construct a number of spontaneous 'jewels'.

These forms can be as abstract as you wish, concentrating more so on interesting use of color, form and the combination, juxtaposition and experimentation with materials.

When constructing these forms, consider where you might have found them in this alien territory. Are they animal, mineral, vegetable?

These should be rapid, serendipitous constructions, do not over think these forms.

The result should be a collection of around 10-20 objects of 'jewels'.

Each form mustt be roughly 50 x 50mm in scale.

The birth of my precious 'jewels'.... ^^

Proudly presenting my cute little fury aliens, they are very shy, so please don't startle them. They might look harmless, but you wouldn't wanna risk triggering its defense mechanisms, do you?! They are after all, ALIENS!!!! hehehe...

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...

New project in class on week 4 had everyone bringing a material that can be manipulated.

Using only the single material you've brought to class, work at constructing multiple 3D objects. Look at the potential and limitations of the material and use it to your advantage. The material can be manipulated in any-which way you wish, as long as it is the only material used.

4 objects are to be created :

• 1 x object that is DENSE in its form and construction. 1/2 hour
• 1 x object that is LIGHT/OPEN in its form and construction. 1/2 hour
• 1 x object that is a VESSEL/CONTAINER. 1/2 hour
• 1 x object to form a visual, structural and harmonious relationship with mystery object given by our dearest tutor. 1/2 hour

1 of these objects must include 1 single material kindly donated by one of your neighbors.

Wonder what the single material I've brought to class is???.... Egg cartons!!! ^^

 

A preview of the process...

 ...Dense...

Layer upon layers of sheets, twisting itself into a thick packed form.

 ...Light / Open...

A very delicate bracelet that tingles your skin, giving you that light and airy touch.

 ...Vessel / Container...

A vessel created along with the red balloons I've got from my neighbor.

...Mystery object...

Yes!!! It's a pingpong ball!!! ^^

See how cosy it's sitting inside my object...haha

The pingpong ball actually sits perfectly inside the egg carton, but instead of doing the obvious, I've flipped the egg carton over, placing the pingpong ball in the middle of the back of 4 egg vessels.... also letting the centre cone stick out at the back of my object, as though the object resembles an ice cream cone. Hahaha....

 Pingpong ice cream, anyone?!...lol

The red balloons were cut and shredded into tiny bits.

A stroll down Degraves St

Went for a short walk in Degraves Street the other day, was very intrigued with some of the shops down the subway, thought of sharing them with you.....

check out their blog >>> http://platformartistsgroup.blogspot.com/

 

 As you walk pass the public art space, there are several interesting shops up front.... pretty cool stuff...

One in particular's called Sticky Institute...

http://www.melbourneplaces.com/melbourne/sticky-institute-for-zines-creativity-and-the-rumble-of-trains/

The other shop that really caught my attention was Corky Saint Clair...

Spent almost half an hour looking around in the store.... just couldn't take my eyes off their art pieces... lol

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/blog/2010/05/featured-shop-corky-saint-clair/

Here's their official blog >>> http://corkysaintclair.com/

After that, had a cup of coffee from the cafes on Campbell Arcade, then walked along Flinders Lane and found Lindberg Galleries..... 

 

http://www.lindbergcontemporary.com.au/artist.php?name=james-cochran&id=6

 

James Cochran's artwork blew me away, incredible upclose..... and then.....

take a few steps back..... and.... just let his art simply take your breath away....

I love how he plays with light, capturing the aura of the subject, their feelings, their expressions with a really wide ranged colour palette... some warm, some cold, but both reflecting modern day life...

Canapés

A canapé is a small, prepared and usually decorative food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite. (Wikipedia).

In week 2, we've been asked to put on a kitchen apron, and chef up some exquisite new appetizers that would shock and astound connoisseurs around the globe. 

As the new hot chef in town, I've chosen " LACE" as the main ingredient to my new appetizers.

So, here's what happen...

Step 1: Collage

Using various clippings from magazines, paper, etc, create a body of ingredients that you will use to create your canapé collages. Draw on the various idiosyncratic features of your chosen subject (in my case, LACE) for inspiration in creating your unique edible concoctions.

• Divide your pages into 4 x A5 canvases. Label each one on the back of the page with the following:- Seafood. Meat. Vegetarian. Dessert.

• Take your time to play with composition and colour harmony (or intentional disharmony if you wish). Create compositions that are dynamic and intriguing. Consider the scale and interplay of all your elements.
  
  MEAT. VEGETABLE. SEAFOOD. DESSERT.
  
  

  

  Spare ribs came up to my mind when I was doing the collage for 'meat'. Was thinking of the strong bone structure and muscles.... however, it didn't seem quite successful with what I did here in class, so decided to do a new one at home... ^^
  
  

  

  Please note that the images from this collage was taken from a different magazine...
  Even though this collage seems quite literal, but it's what I wanna convey, juicy meat in dumplings...slurp!!!
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  Step 2: Kitchen Prep
  With the materials distributed to you in class, start to manipulate and distort them in a variety of ways Can you colour them, score, cut, crumple, fold, texture...etc. them in any way to remove them from their original context into something quite abstract and unrecognisable?

Create a palette of possible canapé ingredients from these materials.

Step 3: Canapé Cook Off
Using any collected materials you've brought to class alongside what our tutor provided, build a series of canapé dishes base on the collage you made and the subject matter plus a point of inspiration.

Create a platter of 6 canapés, and if you have time left, consider a potentially interesting way of presenting them to the class at the end of the day.

These canapés can be as abstract and un-food related as you wish.

• Create a basic base for each canapé from paper and build onto this base.
• Experiment with manipulating the materials you have in front of you. Try and work them into a new context.

 

Hmmm, such a mess on the kitchen bench.... =D

This tiny canapé was inspired by the little meat bun I had just a few days before... deliciously juicy.... slurpp!!

The crispness of the lace reminds me of the crunchy chinese white cabbage.... hehe

Shredded "blue carrot" intricately weaved and tied with "pink salmon roe" as garnish....crunchy!!! ^^

A cupcake-like canapé in a toffee basket, drizzled with dark chocolate sauce, topped with rhubarb flavoured cream......YUM!!!

Tiny little fish balls thread together with crunchy jellyfish...hmmm, just mouthwatering!!!!

Deep fried baby octopus paired with shredded "blue onion" curls and croutons....
Are you drooling yet?! hahaha....


Can you figure out which is my favourite canapé? Do they look as yummy to you as they are to me?!... LOL 

Bon Appétit!!!!