Introduction to Ceramics - Ceramics Workshop Day 1

In the introductory lesson for the Ceramics workshop, my group and i were shown the basic uses of clay. In this workshop we were given the freedom to experiment with the clay and the clay tools on our own but in the idea that we were making buttons.
We were told that  to create a flat surface on the clay we were to ensure that it wasn't dry, and to put two wooden rods at each side of the clay. This was so that when we rolled the clay out, it would only go to the height of the rods, meaning the clay would have an even width throughout.

This was the clay after i had rolled it, demonstrating  the use of the wooden rods.

After we did this, we were asked to add texture to the clay to then cut out in the shape of buttons. To do this we were given a basket of things such as a comb, stamps, rope and much more to press into the clay. I found this fun as you were never sure how the texture would turn out in the clay and it was fun to experiment.

This was my clay after i added texture to it, using things such as textured wallpaper, a comb and shells.

After we added texture to the clay, we were then able to cut out shapes to use as buttons. In order to make the buttons useful, we were to pierce holes into them in order to be able to sew them onto things.

These were just some of the buttons i had created using the textured clay.

After we did as many buttons as we could, my group and i were then able to create things such as pendants. To do this, the process was exactly the same as creating buttons except you only needed to pierce one hole in it.

These are the pendants i created using the same
process as creating the buttons i had previously done.

The work i did in this workshop links in with the nature project i have also just started as in the texture i added things such as butterflies, flowers, snowflakes and also animal stripes.

Finishing my final piece - Jewelry Workshop Day 4

In our last day in the Jewelry Workshop, my group and i were asked to finish off our final piece. In this session, everyone was trying to use the gas torch to solder their pieces together, this unfortunately meant i was unable to finish off my piece. I finished all of the pieces of copper and brass that i was going to solder together, i was just unable to solder them. I didn't really  enjoy the Jewelry workshop as a whole  as it was all intricate and it was hard to get things to go as you wanted them to, meaning if something went wrong you had to improvise with it since you didn't have enough time to re-do it. I also dis-liked this workshop as there weren't enough tools to go round the entire group so we  had to que to use things such as the gas torch, which there was only one of.

These were the pieces of copper and brass that i had etched/pierced out to use as my final  piece.

Starting My Final Piece - Jewelry Workshop Day 3

In this workshop we were asked to make a start on our final pieces. We had to base our final piece on Architecture and i decided i was going to base mine on some aspects of Traditional Architecture around where i live. In this workshop, i started to etch some of my pieces of metal and also pierced out some other pieces for my final piece. I enjoyed this workshop as i was pleased with my outcomes from it.

Silver Soldering - Jewelry Workshop Day 2

In this workshop, we were introduced to Silver Soldering. In this workshop, we were shown how to solder two pieces of metal together and also two pieces of wire. I enjoyed this workshop as i found out not only a strength but also a weakness in Jewelry designing. My strength is that i am good at soldering two pieces of wire together, and can do so with no problems at all. My weakness is that i find it hard to solder two pieces of metal together as i find it hard to file them down to the point where they touch all the way down the join. Even though i found parts of this workshop hard, i really enjoyed it.

My Silver Soldering Examples

Introduction - Jewelry Workshop Day 1

In this workshop we were introduced to the Jewelry workshop. In this workshop we were shown some of the processes that some jewelers use such as etching and piercing out. After going through health and safety that comes along with some of the processes, we were able to experiment with the processes our self. I enjoyed this workshop as i was able to experiment with metals and figure out how hard it was to cut/melt certain metals and what processes i enjoyed doing the most.

Embossing Metals 

Etching Metals 

Piercing Out 

Architecture Project Evaluation

In this project, I used a lot of secondary source research. I did this as I found it alot easier and quicker to obtain whilst I was working on my development sheets. This meant that it was more efficient to use secondary source research than primary source. For my final pieces in both the 3D and jewelry workshops, I based them on things from my primary research such as my final piece for the jewelry workshop is based on some photos that I have taken myself of traditional architecture around Barnsley. For one of my A2 development sheets, I used and architectural model to create an accurate line drawing. I didnt enjoy doing this as the perspective and angle of the model I was drawing was constantly moving.
On my visual sheets, I developed my research by continuously adding to it. For example, my first ever development sheet (based on modern architecture) looked empty and as if I had rushed it, but as I progressed my sheets started to look better and better and were done at a higher standard.
In this project I did a lot of experimentation. I have done this by trying out new things such as experimenting with how I displayed things on my development pages. I showed this by cutting out pieces of paper to make 'windows' in my paper, showing things that were underneath. I also experimented with media, by mixing acrylic paints, watercolour paints, inks, coloured pencils and permanent markers. I have also experimented with my style of working by trying out different methods such as planning out my work before starting a sheet and also I tried just getting on with my sheets. Doing experiments such as these have shown me how I work best, which is planning my work before hand.
I looked at many particular styles of architecture such as Art Deco architecture and Moroccan architecture. I chose to look at different styles of architecture to ensure I got a wide range of ideas so I wasnt stuck for ideas when using my development sheets as inspiration. I chose to look at Art Deco architecture because it is something I personally like, along with Moroccan architecture.
Throughout this project, I feel that my improvement with my design sheets went well. This is because when I first started this project I found it hard to complete a single development sheet to a high standard but as I have gone on I have got better. To improve my work I would try to finish my development sheets that don't look finished or completed so that my work doesnt look rushed. If I was to change anything in this project, it would be to manage my time better so that near the end of the project I didnt rush my work.
In this project I dont think that I handeled my time properly as near the end of the project I began to rush my work. Although I didn't handel my time very well, it is something that I know to work on for my next project.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this project as it has given me ideas of what I need to work on for my future projects.

Classical Architecture Development Sheet

Art Deco Development Sheet

Famous Places Development Sheet

Columns and Scrolls Development Sheet

Finishing my product - 3D Workshop Day 4

In this workshop, we were asked to finish our final product but to a higher standard than we did the previous workshop. This meant that we were expected to work at a higher quality than we did before, making sure the edges were straight and sanded down to a good finish. In this workshop, i finished my piece with a lot of time to spare so i created another piece, a building based on a football stadium. I enjoyed this workshop as we were again, left to our own devices and were not being interrupted all of the time. I have included the photos of both of my finished pieces.

My First Final Piece

My Second Final Piece

Going into the Workshop- 3D Workshop Day 3

The next day in the 3D workshop we got to start and create our final piece out of wood. Before we started to create our piece we had to go through a risk assessment. This risk assessment included my group being told things such as when we were using the pillar drill we had to wear safety goggles and have all hair tied back. We also were taught how to use the emergency stop buttons on all the machines and how to correctly use a saw. Once we were able to start, we were told to create an abstract building out of little bits of wood and copper wire. I based my building on the places i have once visited that mean something to me. I found this workshop good because we were left to our own devices and were given help when we asked for it. it was also fun to be able to go straight into using tools such as a hand saw. Overall i really enjoyed the 3D workshop that i did on this day.

Card Model - 3D Workshop Day 2

For our next day in the 3D Workshop, we had to create a 3D Model out of card. To create this model we were asked to cut out pieces of card that only had straight lines and stick them all together with masking tape to create an abstract building. I found this workshop quite hard because it was hard to create the product i had thought of in my head. i found this hard because it was hard to cut sides of the card to the correct size and stick them together. I had two attempts at this and i have included both attempts.

My First Attempt

My Second Attempt

Paper Cuttings -3D Workshop Day 1

For my first day in the 3D Workshop, my group had to cut lines into a piece of paper (a template was used) and fold them to create a 3D design. The template that we used had solid lines, dotted lines and dashed lines so we knew what we had to cut and which lines we had to fold to make mountain folds and valley folds. Mountain folds are folds where the paper pops up from the rest of the paper, like a mountain. The valley folds are when the paper folds backwards so that the fold is behind the rest of the fold. I quite enjoyed this workshop as i found it easy yet challenging with folding the right places and the right type of folds. The images i have included are the finished products that i created from this workshop.

Attempt one - Simple

Attempt two - Medium

Attempt three - Hard

Attempt four - Very Hard

Introduction to my blog.

Hi, my name is Deborah and this is my blog. i will be posting photos and writing about what i have done in my workshops at college while studying Art and Design.