Final Images

Summary

My final piece has been inspired by two artists Julie Marabelle and Rob Ryan. Both these artists look at the idea of paper cuts, Marabelle looks at cutout maps, whereas Rob focuses on cutout dresses. I chose to combine the two together and apply it to the theme of Architecture. I based my final piece on this because I felt that the map idea was a captivating way to create my piece and the dress design was a unique way to present it. I created the map by using photographs of Architectural builds I took in London, then applying them to a map design I had created. I chose to create this piece on AO size paper. This shows how I have successfully investigated into Architecture independently, used photos I personally liked and applied it to my own work. 

I am very proud of my final piece, I feel that I have used the influence from both artists successfully, whilst ensuring that I wasn't merely copying the artists design. I like this piece primarily because of the medium I have used. I think that cutouts can be extremely powerful if approached and completed in the correct way, I feel that I achieved this. I like the intricacy of my final piece when designing the outcome. I was wary about the cutout being too basic resulting in a weaker outcome, however this was not the issue once completed. I feel I tackled my original worries well and fulfilled a powerful design. 

I feel that the most successful part of my project was the development of the paper cut collars inspired by Michael Cepress, then the further development of the paper cutouts leading to my final outcome. I liked the collar outcomes because I enjoyed the challenge of finding ways to adapt Architecture to an Item of clothing. I think this shows how Architecture can be applied successfully to produce a powerful piece of artwork. The paper cutouts worked to my advantage because by exploring this medium, really helped focus where I wanted to be by the end of the project.

The least successful aspect to my project was the beginning, when I was exploring the use of watercolour. I was very constricted when experimenting with the use of mediums, it wasn't until the second sketchbook I began to move away from the constricted approach and really explored a range of mediums, this is where I really felt the improvement within my project.

If I had more time, I would develop my final piece further by cutting out on black card, I think that by doing this could have possibly strengthened by project overall. I think that by basing my cutouts on white card limited my research.

If I begun the project again I would make sure that my first sketchbook was as powerful as my second. I really feel that my first sketchbook let me down particularly in presentation of my artist research. I feel that in my second sketchbook I have really expanded my imagination thus powering the project.

The artists that mainly influenced me within this project are Veronica Lawlor, this is because I continuously referred back to this artist when developing the stitch outcomes and also beginning to look at the paper cut outcomes, this is because I was particularly interested in her continual line approach. Michael Cepress is another artist that inspired me as I progressed through the project, the Idea of paper cut collars was a dynamic way in which to present the theme of Architecture. Julie Marabelle heavily influenced me by giving me my initial idea for my final outcome, I really liked the thought of the application of Architecture presented through paper cutout  maps and obviously Rob Ryan inspired me to develop the idea of presenting the final piece in the stencil of a skirt.

Word count: 623 
Total word count: 1662 

Cutout Maps

From the cutout outcomes, I came across Julie Marabelle. She is an artist who focuses on the idea of cutout maps. I chose to develop her idea and apply to my set theme of the project. I firstly designed the map A3 size, then cut it out using the black paper I used in my previous cutouts.

Design of Paper Cutout, London

Progression of the Paper Cutout

Image of the completed cutout map

By completing this cutout really helped focus my mind on how I wanted to create my final outcome. I hope to create a larger study making it much more intricate.

Word count: 87

Cutout Outcomes

I wanted to begin to look at the idea of cutouts. I began by developing all of the stitch outcomes I completed earlier in the project.

I felt that these outcomes were very good baselines to experiment with the cutouts and I wanted to develop these ideas further and improve my cutout skills. 

The cutout above shows experimentation with a different type of paper used to the background, an aspect I found particularly powerful and unique to the quite basic black background I have previously used.

I chose to develop the idea of using black paper for the main paper cut and using white for the background. By moving away from singular buildings and moving towards the panorama shot really powered the outcome and made it unique to the previous cutouts I have looked at. 

I chose to look at the idea of 3D cutouts and layering the outcome. I felt the outcome was powerful however it isn't a path I wish to head down for my final outcome. 

Word count: 169

Collar Outcomes

Images to show the progression of my first collar

The images above show the creation of my first collar outcome, inspired by the Gherkin which was taken by myself in London. I like this first attempt however I think that the use of white paper weakens the final outcome. The idea of developing my cutouts further could really help strengthen my project and help create ideas for my final outcome.

Images taken in London, used for inspiration to create second collar outcome

Images to show the progression of the second collar outcome

The images above show the creation of my second collar. I wanted to explore a vriety of mediums including calico and paper. I like the outcome, however I feel that the style is too much like Cepress' work, making it look less individual to my own project. I think that the use of calico slightly weakened the piece and I want to move back towards the paper based collar.

Progression and Inspiration of third collar outcome.

From the second collar outcome I chose to completely move away from the style of Cepress and create a collar totally individual. I think that by doing this has created a truely powerful collar, inspired purely front the theme of Architecture. I like how I have used the use of foil and curved card to inspire the metallic of Lloyds building and still managed to create a powerful bib inspired from the Gherkin. 

Word count: 203

Reviewing & Refining Ideas

From the initial research, I was able to produce various outcomes Including collars inspired by Michael Cepress, a way of presenting the theme of Architecture in an extremely powerful way.

Images of collar outcomes, inspired by Cepress

I developed postcards influenced from the concentration on signs in my mono print, stitch and paper cut outcomes, from Veronica Lawlor. This lead me to further develop them into the application of mugs, a unique method to portray the theme of Architecture.

Postcard Studies

Postcards portrayed through mugs

I liked the idea of application of my art onto mugs, however I did not personally feel this was the way forward for my project.

Word count: 97

Initial Ideas

At the beginning of the project, I focused particularly on watercolour, but I soon moved towards various other mediums, including Acetate, Acrylic, Cut-out and various methods of Photoshop enhancements. By exploring these various mediums, I could focus on possible outcomes when I progressed through the project.

Examples of Watercolour work

Examples of cutout, Acrylic and Photoshop development

I also continued further into my own research by recording photos of various architectural buildings that inspired me, these places included Mexico, London, Portsmouth, Brighton and Nottingham.

Word count: 74