To begin the course, I engaged in the summer work which started the 'MESSAGES' theme for the initial project. I created 3 post card variants each with different messages and meanings - I have explained these below. I enjoyed working on the postcards and liked making mine pop out the page and look 3D, making them look unique. In the one that I have displayed a photograph on, I sourced plain post cards, with press on letters, a VW badge from amazon, went to the denim shop and bough some off cut to stick on, then also broke a pencil and paintbrush to stick on too - this symbolises my passion for creativity and other things about my life. 

Te first project we were set was a group project which we had to protest about something that did not mean anything - a protest of nonsense. To begin with, I went around college taking photographs of different signage and types of graphic design such as posters, labels, directions, etc. Below are selected imagery of the photos that were the most successful and ones that linked in best with my final pieces

Once gone around college, my group and I brainstormed some ideas of how we can make out photos into a protest of nonsense. A few ideas popped up but we decided to go for a protest displaying signs with the inverted meanings. I created small circle signs with cardboard promoting eating, drinking fizzy drinks, smoking etc, whilst my partners created other similar things such as hazardous signs showing that its a safe place etc. Here is a photo from my biggest sign, I made this by cutting out a circle of cardboard, painting the background white and writing '100' in the middle. I also coloured in the border green as that will represent something positive and encouraging. This idea was supposed to represent a 100 mph speed limit which do not exist. 

I do think this could have been improved if I had more time but the starting project only lasted a couple of days, most of which were used trying and testing out potential ideas. The lines aren't as neat as I would have liked or hoped. 

In this project, we worked in a small group once again to redesign morse code. It started with selecting a piece of paper from a hat which translated into a message - from there we though of ideas of how we can incorporate the meaning into the design whilst also redesigning the code, also incorporating the translation. Another idea aside from the sea theme we had going was a treasure chest as these don't often look the greatest from the outside, often looking ragged and old but inside there is treasure and things of value. Creating this would have been difficult and we didn't know how we would have included the morse code aspect of it. Instead we settled for clams - which don't look the most valuable, but once opened, reveals a shiny pearl. Here is a page from my sketchbook which shows some of the ideas I had initially:

Above shows the construction of our piece, and how we made pieced everything together onto the wire frame. We created the small clams, bubbles and seaweed pieces using plasticine which was a great material as it was easy to handle and good to make marbled colouring effect for example the clams. 

This was a mini project, lasting only 1 day. The photos above are the drawing I started on and each photo is a update after someone else took over the piece and added to it. Once the time was up initially, I made a note for the next person - this was to add shading and colour to it. Colour was definitely used, however, shading could have been improved. Using the same note, the third person did add shading, especially to the bed and other objects around what I drew to begin with. 

Here is some experimentation with lines and accuracy in timed setting. I used different methods, like continuous line drawings, timed drawings, blindfolded drawings, using not dominant hand and so on. 

Here is our finished mechanism and a few marks it had made with the oil pastel. 

I did some observational sketches while at Scarborough, these were of the coast, wildlife and scenery. I did these to achieve an understanding of the environment and aspects around me. 

Joe Clasper – Fine Art/Photography

During October, it was Black History Month, in this time we focused on creating a poster promoting the month and the past. My groups message said ‘1978 – Viv Anderson becomes England’s first full international footballer.’, which was quite monumental in the late 1900’s. Black History month inspired us in the making of our poster, at the start I recoded the message into different codes with meaning to the message. Viv Anderson comes from a Jamaican background which gave us the idea to translate the message into the Jamaican language using their alphabet. As well as this idea, I thought of using pig pen and colouring in some of the blank spaces outside of it with UK and Jamaican flags – this was the idea that was finalised which did turn out very successful. The audience we created the piece for was not for a specific group of people as I think Black History month can be shared to all types of communities.

I used mainly primary research to brainstorm ideas for my projects, using books and the internet to find out information or get ideas. In the fine art/photography week, I looked through a book by Eric Bainbridge who works mainly digitally creating unique photos with photos within. This was an idea I liked and took onboard on my final outcome for the week. Another example of primary research I did was through a photoshoot sprouting from one of my artist researches, this involved setting up the studio and shot and using lighting as well as compositional devices in order to get successful shots – which I do think they were successful. I carried out secondary research when researching artists, who’s work was their own which I had sourced from the internet. I then took inspired photos of their photos, following the artists theme.

I have discovered a range of new skills since the beginning of the course, including more simple skills using basic materials, such as charcoal. I have been using charcoal a lot and have been improving my skills with this median. During the course, I’ve also strengthened my skills using digital means of art like Adobe Photoshop I have used Photoshop to post produce some of my photography I did in preparation for the fine art/photography week – the results turned out great and I am pleased with the results. I would like to do more of this as I do have some past experience using Photoshop so I think I can put these skills to good use.

There has been a few instances when I had to solve problems within the course so far, one example is where I spilt ink over my work, I managed to adapt my work in order to incorporate some of the mess, as well as also paint over and cover up parts with collaging photos. This process allowed me to not think my work was ruined, which it wasn’t, and I could make the situation better with some problem solving skills.

I have good self-direction, I know what I want to do and how to achieve that idea when starting a new project, even if it does require some time to think or a mind-map. I don’t have very good management or time-management but it’s something I am trying to work on during the course in order to hit deadlines and complete assigned work. I am committed to the subject and enjoy what I am doing, especially in my specialism.

There is no outstanding work in which I think it has been largely unsuccessful, most of what I have produced, I am happy with it. In particular, my final A2 piece for fine art/photography week, where I used several medians, collaged images, and used ideas from another artist which created a unique finished product. In this piece was also when I spilt paint on the background which encouraged me to paint over with a sky colourway using a sponge and mix of white & blue. However my work completed in communication design could have been improved upon a lot more as some of the lettering were messy and the medians we used to paint the code sometimes overran the template of pig pen.

I have never been as much into physical artwork as I am to working digitally, and I think this will become more apparent throughout the duration of the course and work produced physically in my sketchbook. That being said, I am beyond proud of some of my pages such as the artist research ones where I designed the layout really well and created a visually appealing page for each. One improvement which will be useful and that I will try work towards is fixing my time-management skills, by trying to find time outside of college, commuting and my part-time jobs to work on my school work.