Zakriya ChughtaiPlace in Question assignment 2015

Location studies

After first receiving what location I was given, we where made to examine the location through looking at different aspects and drawing the location from all angles to try and capture the bigger picture. Then due to my location being boring in my opinion, I tried to focus in on major parts like the lamp post, trees and bushes. To try and show the overhanging space, I drew quick linear drawing to show the gloomy atmosphere.

The materials which were used are ink, charcoal, coffee and pastel. The ink was used to produce sharp details however the charcoal and graphite were used to give softer tones. When drawing with graphite, the texture reminded me of being twisted, wiry and tube-like. What I enjoyed working with the most was the ink because of the deep black and the intricate marks it can create.

Location studies SketchUp and Movie

Looking at the area, I decided to pick out key features of it and tried to recreate them in Google SketchUp. The first aspect I decided to recreate was the lamp post. I used the measurements of the base; which I took and some estimations for the rest. What I like is the curvature mixed with a linear approach. Next I moved onto the trees, where I drew the outline then started to lift and twist the shape multiple times, to represent the forms in the trees. To produce a more realistic representation of the bushes I input them from the 3D warehouse. Next I gave each aspect colour and shadow to make the atmosphere more realistic. To develop these designs I used them to influence my 3D model of my given location.

Making and developmental work - (Large drawing, 3D, print)For the larger drawings I

incorporated mainly every aspect I sketched. The materials used were charcoal, ink, graphite, acrylic and textured papers. I wouldn’t change a lot as I am happy the way it turned out. If I were to change anything it would be to take away from some of the literal aspects of artwork. This is the reason why I want it showing upside down, so some parts are more questionable. What I think went well is how the artwork is split into 3 sections and how the overlapping parts bring them altogether.

For the next artwork I used the same materials and subjects. I enjoyed using the ink, so I wanted to include more of that in this artwork. The use of colour defines more parts which was done by using orange, green, blue and brown. The scale of the lamp post and natural aspects adds to the contrast between man-made and nature.

When first thinking of designs and ideas for my 3D model Iwas inspired by the shapes and forms inmy Google SketchUp.I took inspiration from the linear aspects and developed them into the design for my model. The materials used in the model are wood, copper rods and electric wire. The inspiration for the use of electric wire came from the sculptor Judit Rita Judit Rita Raboczky.

To create my dry point prints first looked at the work of Lesser Ury. His work inspired me to scratch into the plastic sheet in a similar way he does. I did this using a compass and traced the image of leaves from my primary drawings. When printing the paper had to be damp and I used scrim to apply and tissue paper to block out ink. I was pleased in how they turned out, due to them capturing a large range of tones from black to white. The blocked out negatives eventually helped develop the ideas for my final 3D model.

Using historical and contemporary research

Judit Rita Raboczky helped me decide on how to portray the tree in my 3D sculpture. Firstly looking at my drawings I thought they were very twisted which made me thick whether I could use electric wire as material. Looking at Raboczky’s artwork she influenced the way I would use the wire. What I learnt from her was to use a frame underneath then intertwine the wire to create the wanted aesthetics.

Lesser Ury influenced my prints. I wanted to use a similar style of how he scratched into the surface for his own print. He did this with a lot of short and sketchy marks which also created a lot of soft mid tones. What I leant when doing my print was that I had to be careful on placement of the ink and how much I had to use. I also realised that what made his prints appealing were the range of tones from light to dark.

Toyo Ito’s pavilion in the serpentine gallery highly influenced my final piece due to segmented design. This made me want to use a similar style of design. What I learnt was that Ito based the entire design from the geometrics of a cube. This made me wonder whether if I could do the same, however base my pavilion from the forms of leaves.

Developing your personal brief

After first looking at my 3D piece I realised that I wanted to go down an architectural route due to some of the shapes and forms in the piece. What also enforced this the fact that I am applying for architecture for university, therefore this would be a good way to add to my portfolio. Next I looked at the Serpentine Gallery where every year an architect designs a pavilion. Due to my preliminary location being in Esher college, I thought it would be a good idea to make a small model shelter/pavilion for the college. I wanted to make a small sized shelter/pavilion so that it could be placed anywhere around the college outside, with little constraints.

I started by doing some sketches of different designs and patterns. I liked the idea of interlocking and negatives.

Developing your personal brief

I started by taking inspiration from the negatives and arc shapes in my print by producing a simple overlapping leaf pattern. This helped me visualise a floor design which I was thinking of. Next, to develop this I wanted the roof design to have a correlation to the floor. Which is why I used acetate to trace out negatives within the shapes of the leaves. Following this, I picked up on the floor design again, by creating a recurring leaf design, by using a compass. I did this to neaten up my preliminary thoughts and so it could be used for the use of a tile. I liked how the leaves gradually becomes negatives as you move down, due to the arcs. To enforce this I thought it would be a good idea to have the two back rows of leaf tiling to be risen to how the change and impose the overlapping theme of the tiles. Finally picking up the roof design again, I also wanted to neaten it up by making it geometric and linear to contrast with the curves in the floor. This would overall show the contrast between man-made and natural. In-between the panels in the roof, I wanted to place a glass panel over for protection from the elements.

Then to help visualise my final piece I cut out the tile pieces which would be used, and tried to replicate how the back tiles could be risen. I first tried slotting them within each other, and gluing it with hot glue. This didn’t work and looked very messy. The next idea I had was to individually cut blocks of wood at an angle to hold the tiles up individually. This led to me to think of holding the roof up with the same blocks of wood.

Applying Professional; practice in your work

To start creating my final piece I started to cut my shapes using a scroll saw. I decided to use a scroll saw to cut the foam board because it gave a smooth and precise edge without to much force. When I tested a scalpel it took up a lot of time and the edges were not clean. I was also informed to use a laser cutter to cut foam board because the laser burns the edges which leaves them frilled and it can smoke. After cutting the pieces all out I sanded them down to refine them all. I also used the scroll saw to cut the roof pieces which then copper rods were slotted through to hold them together. A piece of acetate was then placed over the roof using hot glue to replicate glass to defend the people underneath from the elements. For the back row of tiles I cut 5cm tall wooden blocks with an angle of 40 degrees cut off; for the second row I cut 3cm blocks with an angle of 30 degrees cut off using a saw. To stick the pieces together I used super glue. Finally I wanted to have only 3 pillars to hold up 3 of the corners of the roof so that one corner would slant down therefore letting the elements roll off using gravity. To create somewhere to rest, I drilled holes in the pillars to fit wooden rods to allow people to lean on them.

When using the scroll saw I had to be careful when handling the foam board in case of cutting my finger. I also had to wear goggles to protect myself from the blade or any off cuts which break and fly off.

Again when using the drill I had to be careful on where I placed my fingers in case of the drill bit hitting my finger.

Lastly I also needed to be weary when using the saw. I had to watch where I was putting my fingers in case of me accidently getting too close and eventually cutting my finger.

Pictures of final piece

Evaluation of the projectI spent quite a lot of time on the project, during lesson and almost everyday after school, trying to come up with ideas and topping up analysis and annotation. To try and come up with new ideas I tried to look at as many artists and designers as possible to gain inspiration for my own work. Stages which were more difficult than others were definitely being decisive on my final piece and in what direction I should take it in. This for me was the hardest part due to it taking up a lot of thought. What I most enjoyed was surveying the area and getting stuck by creating 3D models. Not a lot of things went wrong in my opinion, however when creating the model for the final piece, I was at first going to use balsa wood but it kept breaking when being drilled into. Therefore I had to change the type of wood I were to use to a thicker and firmer wood. I also feel that overall my final piece and preliminary drawings turned out well. The drawing helped to force me in the right direction whilst also creating a solid base to start from. The final piece also eventually turned out aesthetically how I wanted it to, and it looks like it could serve the purpose of a shelter/pavilion well in reality.I researched into a range of artists and artworks for this project however the main influences were, Judit Rita Raboczky, Lesser Ury, Toyo Ito, Eduardo Chillida and Will Alsop. Raboczky helped develop my first 3 model of my location, Lesser Ury influenced my prints, Toyo Ito helped progress my ideas for my final 3D model, Chillida inspired aspects of my prints and final Alsop helped with the design process for my final piece. The primary and secondary drawing which were taken had a large influence on the direction I took for this project. This was mainly done through my first hand drawings of the bushes and leaves which were the made the subject of my prints. The prints then helped develop forms and shapes which would in the long term help decide on what I would base my final piece on, which was the forms of the leaves. The main sources to find artists and artworks of inspiration was the internet and books.There was lots of development which took place before coming up with my final outcome. A large part of my development was doing dry point prints. To better the prints I could have created a larger range and taken more time when applying ink and producing the print to create a better look and more prints which could have led to more ideas. When creating the 3D model of my location I knew what I wanted to do due to my planning and drawings. This made it easier to make. Although as previously discussed the main influence on this project were the primary drawings and dry point prints.