It was Daphne's oil painting of our own canine detective scooby doo
Well Studio is well and truly over. Initial results through for the semester's work. I got quite a surprise (a good one) with the mark I ended up with...After chatting with one of my fellow Crossing classmates, they said I had sold my presentation with conviction. If by conviction they meant unplanned and squirrel brained...then yes,
who would have thought??
It turns out that my mum liked the critters that I made for studio. She usually looks at the things I do with an unamused face, but generally is encouraging. She's claimed one of the big critters, the disemboweled one to put on her bed. Around the house she had placed smaller versions I made, in a little clusters.
It's strange that other people are attatched to them
The review 26/10
Today we had our review for studio. Although it was a long day, it was fantastic to see everyone stuff, and recap on the work they had done through out the semester.
The major projects were diverse and they seemed fun and interesting (well they were to me)
During our break, I was kind of fretting about not having written or planned anything to say, but becaues I was last I did listen to what others said, and incorporated that in my spiel. Well not such much spiel as blurt, then off track restrained rant about politics of the sewing machine (ugh, I should have buttoned my lip, that was weird)
Peoples comments about the critters gave me confidence that they weren't just some lame mutilated doll. The stupid ring binder of the photo album tore some pages, so I taped it shut, then the pages caught on the edges of the tape. grr
This presentation has left me feeling good. I'm happy with what I produced. It wasn't disapointing. Yes there was heaps more stuff I had planned, but I can put that in the portfolio...like the unfinished flash version of the album, and a couple other unfinished flash and quicktime movies.
Finally something that wasn't total crap and I didn't have to play by other peoples rules, like denis and that darn multi-tool.
I'm on the review panel.
OK, I think I'm prepared for studio's review tommorrow. This time I'm last, so I can see what others say, then improve what I've planned...excellent ( mr burns finger tap)
I was finishing off the album thingy and was looking for something to bind the edge. It is so thick, I put on a bulldog clip and it slipped and flew across the room. Ha!
So I found an old school binder and trimmed it up on the guillotine. Covered it with fabric cos it was a weird puke green. The pages only just fit. One of the rings in the binder edge is slightly crap, so the pages if turned quickly catch on it...dang it.
Ah, now to burn a cd with this semesters crap I have produced...It seems so little and insignificant, but then I have learned to do simple/ a step up from dodgy animation, and have become pals with my sewing machine.
I'm going to paint my nails, and wrap up editing some back up stuff for studio.
if you are in crossing, don't be looking here
Not the photo album, but a condensed version of the presentation posters. This is like a quick hit. As the portfolio is due next week. I think I'll work on this, removing the photos and replacing them with an animated segment... maybe like the hands getting cut off or something. I don't know, the photos kind of suck at the moment, but they do make viewing it like a brief 'background' info stab to the head?? (This is becomming crazy talk) *ahem* yes.
uh, I suppose you could have a watch of itOh yeah, and another thing, once it hits the photos, boy does it drag and stutter and why can't my computer just....play it?
Does it totally suck? Be honest, because if I show this on wednesday and people look at me with a blank stare...*sigh*...I'm going to make porridge...SO over this.
sewing habit, It's hard to escape.
It's a blurry pic i know! A lot of colour definition is, well lacking.
Anyway, the physical version of the photo album.
It's a mix of fabric and paper sewn together. Reminds me a bit of burlesque with the lace and colourings. It's supposed to be a throwback to the fairy tale world: Candy striped background, this kind of in between realities. It's kind of theatrical.
After some wise words (Thanks Huey) I went off and thought more about the critters themselves. Who are they...good/bad? friend/foe? Did some quick planning, a stack of notes (well a page choc full of key words of things I wanted to incorporate) and started sketching.
...Once I started, things didn't really go as I had outlined. I suddenly wanted fabric everything, but had one transfer left (A shite one too) And so began yet another turn in how it looked. It is brighter/happier, fairytale fantasy,
lot's of stripes(More colour and busier, heaps less gloomy) On the cover, the 'family photos' oval is padded quilted (the quilting happened beacuse of a stupid fold that happened when sewing)
I have more to say, but I've got to do draw some dead birds.
why do people keep asking if the critters are for sale?
The travelling circus has moved on.
Just a couplemore shots neededmaybe?
I was thinking of doing an interactive photo album/family tree thing using flash. As well as a physical one??
Today I was back in the city, with the large critters. While at southbank, they got a free photo taken of them, care of HP photo truck/van thing. The guys 'wrangling' for peopleto get their free instant photos thought the critters were great, and were only to happly to oblige in taking their photo, even adjusting the fixed camera. While the printlady inside the van was a bitch, mouthing off about how 'gory and gruesome' they were.
You can't please everyone, but then I never set out to.
my brain slowly churning once more...which is a good thing...
OK.
Tourist family + Melbourne = Family snaps = holidays photo album = prints or photos left back at initial sites?
=family tree/family history = who are they? = where (I'll come back to this later tonight)
un petit promenade
TOday with the help of Lauren, I took my big Studio critters out in to the wide world, for some family snaps. Unfortunately, as soon as we started out, the rain began. At the moment, the critters are drying out...I think I'll have to iron them, they're quite crumpled.
2 of ther minies were left around. One on a busy train, and I gave to a British couple. (I know i wanted people to find them, but this lady rocked) I got a couple of shots...fed square, town hall, cnr collins/swanson where the Xmas tree goes.
I'm doing some more shots tommorrow...Have some better ideas, hoping they will be more successful.
wow 50 posts!
...so what about something like this:
Yous can see in the 'cheesy' photos I took of the completed critters, they're positioned on a couch like a 'family' Someone even said...."ooh, domestic violence"... So what?
...What do families do together... Vacation (well some, not mine)
What so visitors to Melbourne do? Sight see.
Perhaps a mix of big and miniatures could do a series of 'family snaps' at melbourne landmarks.
Fed square...southbank...cook's cottage...other tourist like locations...??
Leaving behind one of the small ones at each location????????
A few changes
Ok, so I've decided to scrap one character, the plucked out eye. Why? I couldn't find a reference passage to work with. I didn't think I could stand to paint the front of the body with turpentine becoming my arch nemesis.
Now that leaves 4 styles:
Dismember-footless-cinderella
Disembowel-snowwhite
Dismember-hand issues-the apple tree
Scratched-shredded torso-sleeping beauty
Also the small ones in boxes has been scrapped, I think I'll just use them for the presentation...??
A context?
The end is near, time to bring it all together.
Here is my main idea for the Big things:
I want them to both inhabit an existing and create a space of their own.
So I was planning to position them in two different environments, using photography to capture/assist?
First type of environment would be parklands...a forrest like place as a throw back to the original settings of fairytales. The forrest being used as a metaphor for many things dark and immoral. A park or treed area is a nod to the traditional surrounds, and enables the critters to inhabit an existing space. They don't seem out of place. Ask questions, make remarks if agree, not agreed, etc. Please!
Second environment using the city street scape, the alleys. The backstreets are the forrest of today. Don't stray from the path, go straight to grandma's house...danger lurks in the forrest...
Ok, so with the two different settings, I thought photography could be a good way to capture the contrast and draw out the similarities. tradition/updated, plant lush natural/concrete urban artificial...
Please add any thoughts on this.
The extra small ones, the miniatures (3 X 5 styles)
SOmeone in class suggested planting them in toy sections of unsuspecting stores. Perhaps? or perhaps leaving them around in no specific place, tagged with and email or web address for a finder (if found) to contact and leave some sort of response/photo/other...
THoughts/improvements/criticisms please
The small ones:
These are to be boxed/pinned like the butterfly or insect displays a museum has.
The box is rather plain, painted card stitched corners acetate front, I don't knwo really what to do with these. I was thinking to affix them to an alley wall, or someplace around the city, Inside tagged once again with contact details or something??
SO yes any remarks, thoughts, improvements, dislikes anything at all. Please leave a comment!!
clone army
A small one and it's miniatures
Without their faces and blood, I find them creepy...these are for distribution.
Each of the 5 styles will have 3 miniatures of them to be left around various locations.
they're multiplying
Small ones, and their miniatures
Severed hands- The apple tree
Severed feet- Cinderella.
I was watching Braveheart while making these, and couldn't help but thinking how all layed out bleeding on the paper, they are like the bloodied battleground when Robert the Bruce and the nobles double cross Wallace and the scots.
family ties
Two of the completed big ones:
Disembowel- SNow white
Severed toes and heels- Cinderella
with five of the small ones:
Disembowel, Severed feet,
Severed hands- the apple tree
Scratched- Sleeping beauty
eye plucked- other
what happened to you?
SO I basically completed all of the big things, 5 in total, I just need to sew their heads on. Surrounded by heads, I'm feeling a bit like that evil princess mombi from return to Oz, the one with the cabinets full of heads...
One more small thing to assemble, and to create their boxes (picture coming soon)
Also sewing more litle ones to distribute around selected areas (picture coming soon)
work through it
Er...taking a short break from sewing (well the little ones as they are all hand detailed) as my hand is mutating into a deformed claw! Awesome!
Will be using the next couple of days to reflect upon where these things are going. Ground them with a context. I don't want some half baked positioning within an environment, and need to draw more from them that what i have at the moment.
A few good ideas were thrown my way by classmates, so It's not like I'm doing nothing. Besides, i still can create the big bodied ones, but as of now, an unable to attatch any limbs, without excruciating knuckle pain. Perhaps I can recruit somoeone to do my hand sewing...
Still plodding along, but the feet are no longer dragging
Another body.
the severed hand/arm
Incomplete, no head.i need more stuffing!
Sewn the guts in to the pouch of the new/fatter disembowel character.
The monotony
THIS is what got me frustrated. Repetitive. It became boring. It was a chore. For some reason, I started to take the whole thing a little too seriously.
...It wasn't fun anymore. Now that's a thumbs down.
But things have livened up, lightened up and are not so...painful...
I see where I want to go, and am developing another element to add to it.
Thimbles!!
Yes I am happy now. Many to choose from...
Look mum no shoes...
I really need to find a thimble, before my finger starts to bleed, then i can back to the handstitch detailing of the character, Damn them all!
A few pictures.
All i have is this pile on the floor
Multiple heads
Two bodies,one has got henchmen shoulders, t'other a pot belly
Stupid ugly reject button eyes
Reject head
So, lazy, can't be bothered doing anymore until later today. I must get a thimble!!
Struggling
Have partially completed the newer fatter version of the disembowled character. As of now, I am running low. The cordoroy is not as easy to sew as i first thought it was. It has too much stretch in it, so I have to pay extra attention and care when sewing... I was unable to purchase more of the same Buttons for eyes, as previously used.
I hate the new buttons, they're smaller and ugly. I've stabbed myself countless times when pinning and hand stitching stuff. My nerves are frayed. I'm pissed off.
I have decided to use the seven characters I already have posted. I don't think I will be able to make ten, as planned... Pictures later tonight.
About the fabric
A little bit about the choice of materials:
When I went on my first expedition to Lincraft and Spotlight, to scout for some fabric, I had no idead what I was looking for.
I was thinking maybe patchwork, or something like that. The stores had a huge variety of patterned and printed fabrics. By I thought i'd get some plain calico and make mock versions.
Calico is a plain fabric. It is neither heavy nor light. It has some texture too it. I consider it to be rough, homey, school crafts sort of fabric. It's creamy in colour, and has a smell that I can't quite recognise.
Sewing away, I realised that the machine didn't struggle with it, it was easy to handle and cheap.
The thin cordoroy: beautiful velvety black. Soft, textured, rich, relatively cheap.
After making the body and face with the plain calico, I really wanted to have black limbs. The subtle texture is a bonus. It too is another easy to work with fabric.
Disembowel part deux
Click here to watch 'disembowel II'This is some stills of the test sew at first stage completion.
As yet, the limbs are not stuffed, not properly attatched.
The limb fabric is to be changed to thin cordoroy...preferably black...from the crappy tencil I used (oh, they were once a hideous pair of pants)
First run sew
Click here to watch 'Disembowel'This is a first/test run.
It is half size.
temporary padding...purchasing the proper stuff tommorrow.
Changes to be made:
Fatter body. Add a panel running along edge to achieve this.
Better stuffing
The Gibblies
So any 'gore' or maiming I didn't want to be graphic/realisitc. Mainly because the characters are not realistic themselves, so the blood and guts should match.
I was thinking of using plaited wool for guts, stringy bits.
MUM THE BUTCHER
Strands of wool, Blanket stitched on surface for cuts, scratches.
Paint (most likely oil, or fabric) for background colour, blood stain, weepage from wounds.
Personal review
It's sounds silly, but I'm actually excited by this studio. As of yet, nothing had grabbed me. Most things I did were a half hearted attempt. Now I want to take this to the next level. Push myself along and try to do the best I can with it. I wake up wanting to get stuck in to it rather than pressing the snooze button on my alarm.
Maybe it's the extra energy this break has provided?
Originally I was uncertain about choosing to do the Crossing studio. I didn't know much about it, what we would be doing, I'd never met Mick before either. That was the initial attraction. It was murky and undecided. Now I am glad I selected crossing. It's fun, unrestrictive, open, vague, encouraging, nuturing. It doesn't run by the straight and narrow...Yay...
...sounding sucky yet? Well I think so, emotional talkings are...cliche at best...
Still have to load my photos.
Until then, kick back and enjoy the break.
the wee bairns
A couple more things from the past few days.
DISMEMBER from cinderella
SEVERE DISMEMBER something like the apple tree??
THORN SCRSTHED Sleeping beauty
EYE PLUCKED DISOBEYED ORDER the huntsman that disobeyed the quuen from Snowwhite, as he didn't kill snow white.
THere are 7 of these things now, but i think i may do 10.
Kate suggested I look at Princess Donkey ears, for some fuel, as well as bluebeard and the little match girl.
I see these things fitting in to the 'spaces' category. I would like to set them up around parks, dangling from trees.
STILL TO COME:
photos- Guts, fabrics, sewing development, possible locations.
Meet my new friends
DISEMBOWELED CHARACTER WHat it looks like, a bit of thinking along the way- materials, colours etc
SEWN FACE of previous character. Looks extra creepy as he got a bit smushed in the scanner...
IMPALED CHARACTER positioning, props, facial expression etc
More to come very soon...
Fabric samples, patterns, mock construction, THEY will have names, THERE will be more of them...that's all for the moment
Death scenario
Using death scenarios provided/inspired by Snow white and Cinderella
Stabbing
Dismemberment (loss of:toes, fingers, eyes etc)
Burn/torture
Consumed (organs eaten)
Depression/suicide
Riding accident
Drug O.D
