Week 4 18/11/2011-25/11/2011

This week I have been working on the next stage of glass weaving process. The first stage was to slump glass strips over fibre paper. I have now woven the strips together using 1mm glass stringers in mostly clear with just a few coloured stringers. I have also prepared another 2 pieces for first firing which I will do next week.

Glass after first firing slumped over fibre paper

Glass stringers woven through slumped glass strips

Glass prepared for second firing

I think that this may form my final piece as one of my original concepts was to look at the historical industries of Alloa which included both glass making and weaving.

This week I have also continued to look at the growth industry of beauty therapy, a course delivered by the Alloa campus. I have been developing the hot stones therapy concept and working with the circle using blind embossing on a plate made with string and embossed onto blotting paper. I have coloured some with inks and like the effect that the blotting paper gives as it not only absorbs colour but takes on the form of the plate.

I am going to continue to develop this further this week and will be making more plates using the massage movements and pressure points I was looking at earlier. I want to see if I can not only visually convey the mechanics of the treatments but also the physical sensations.

Finally with this in mind I have also been working with printing from glass plates as well trying to combine the prints with the lymphatic system in the body and giving the illusion of relaxation and drifting or melting away.

  

Week 2 & Week 3 5/11/2011-17/11/2011

I have been looking at hot stones used in a specific area of massage the heat radiates from the stones through the body and I have been drawing with inks and fine line pens.

I Have been continuing my use of glass as a printing medium and exploring the use of string in an ever increasing circle to convey the radiance of heat from the central point outwards.  

I have also been thinking in more depth about the concept of beauty and purity and considering working with white on white. I have been experimenting with paper making and although I don't know if I will use this process in my final work it is a process that I think may be useful. I have been making paper with glass frit as an inclusion to incorporated the old industries of Alloa and string to represent the woven industrial history of the town.

 

At the same time I have been working with glass inks and drawing as a continuation of my previous work on brief 1 The Emperors New clothes. The treatments I have been exploring benefit the lymphatic system of the body and I have been drawing images inspired by these systems and microscopic images of the central nervous system. 

From this point I have been starting to think about not only the physical but mental feelings of the client when receiving a massage or beauty treatment. Feeling of weightlessness drifting dissolving away.

I have been looking back at some of my previous work, in particular this sectioned drawing and thinking again about the movements of the facial massage. I am working on a sectioned face using only marks made that are similar to the lines of massage.

 The final drawings this week are concentrating on peacefulness and purity of the single line. I have been thinking about peacefulness calm and imagining what a person feels and what they imagine or daydream about when they receiving a facial.

Practical work this week has involved preparing glass to be slumped over fibre paper. When fired I hope to weave these pieces with other strips of glass to make woven glass. 

Week 1 Studio Practice 04/11/2011

I have been looking at some images of beauty therapy practice. The movements made by the therapist during a massage and facial massage are specific to the area of the body or face that they are working on. In my sketchbook I have been experimenting with these lines.

These line drawings are taken from the movements made by the therapist when performing a facial massage. The finger tips rarely leave the clients face and the movements are made in spiral motions or straight lines depending on the area being worked on. The dots are the stopping points and there is slight pressure applied at these spots. I am experimenting with line in my drawing and seeing if there is anything interesting that can be produced by drawing by using the movements and rules of massage.

Another treatment I have been exploring involves hot stones and I have been using this treatment as inspiration for drawing. I will see if anything comes from this.

Studio Practice 1 Brief 2 Alloa Campus 16/10/2011-04/11/2011

Photographs from site visit to Alloa Campus. 25/10/2011.

Long corridors Large Windows

Wall of glass windows overlooking the town and the Ochills

The historical industries of the town are glass making and weaving. The college prospectus states that it is to offer courses that meet the needs of today's employers. Naturally with my own background in craft practice the things that interest me a glass and weaving. I have been studying the courses on offer and note that growth industries are in hair beauty and hospitality. So my thought process has been running in this direction.

1. Alloa historical industries Glass and Weaving
2. College to encourage courses to meet the needs of today's growth industries
3. New developing growth industries Hospitalities Hair Beauty Therapy.
4. My materials choices in current practice Glass and Print concepts Glass and Weaving.

The Campus Salon Is on the same corridor as the Art rooms.

16/10/2011-04/11/2011

My research for this brief will start with gathering information from many different sources including the following. I intend to narrow this down to one or two areas to concentrate on latter in the project.

·         Courses covered by the Alloa campus in particular.

·         The history of the area.

·         Links with industry. Traditional and historical.

·         A site visit photographs and notes for possible sites locations for work.

·         The brief state international links and I think there could be areas of interest there.

I intend to narrow this down to one or two areas to concentrate on latter in the project. As well as the previously mention artists I intend to explore the work of other artist relevant to my research and work as it progresses.

Studio Practice 1 Brief 2 Alloa Campus 16/10/2011-04/11/2011

The second part of studio practice is  brief base around the new Alloa campus. For this you are required to create artwork/ creative responses to this new dynamic learning environment and to appropriately site your art work. 
I want this piece of work to build on my previous work as part of the same studio practice unit. In the first part of creative practice I explored the use of glass and print and I have still many ideas for the use of these materials. The history of Alloa includes industries relating glass and weaving and I want to uses these as a continuing theme through this brief.

The historical industries may not be present today but I hope to combine the history of the town with the present aspirations of the college in particular the learning environments offered to create a contemporary piece of work.

I have been working with glass and print and recently been inspire by the work of George Papadopoulos and Brian Clarke.

I want to explore the possible used of glass lamination combining it with printing techniques.