Today I had a tutorial with tutor Oonagh. She had a look through my sketchbook as I explained my ideas and concepts to her. She was very interested in the Dianna memorial page in my sketchbook and suggested I should visit all the memorials I could find of her in London for further research, as she knew there were a few more dotted around the city.

She was also interested in the idea of the story of the elevator taking you to different worlds as this reminded her of a film 'The Cook, The Thief, his wife and her lover", where in each scene, in each room of the house, the characters are wearing the same outfit but in different colours, which is in accordance to each room they are set in.

She thinks I should embark on this idea of 'the fantasy room', and possibly visit a couple afternoon tea places in London for research and to gain inspiration from the interior design of the rooms.

OONAGH'S NOTES FOR ME:

last portfolio pages prep

Today I wanted to start preparing for the making of my final look. I decided to organise the accessories I had made and purchase any additional items I made need for my final. I bought a photo frame, a tiara and beaded necklace from the pound store, alongside some gold paint. I decided I needed to spray paint my items good in accordance to my colour scheme as all my items where just what I needed but not in the colours I wanted. I like how Ive saved time buy buying props cheaply, however manipulated them in accordance to my project. I removed the silver gems from the tiara I bought and used a hot glue gun to attach the large yellowy-gold gems I had bought to recreate the tiara in my design illusions. I will be using this tiara in my final look. 

When searching for larger versions of the gems in my sketchbook for applying to my final, I only came across large boxes of 'mixed gems' in assorted colours and sizes. :( This was quite frustrating because I am very particular with the shade of Gold and the size I want in my final look, that will reflect what I have made in my book. I spend quite a bit of time having to sort through the packs to gather the ones I needed. I have realised that in this particular project, sourcing out EXACT gems relating to my book illustrations was a necessity, and after a few purchases I got there in the end. However for a future project I will make an effort to create my own items to embellish with, such as my own beads and gem-like items and therefore I will not need to go out in search for them, as the supply will be infinite. 

SHOOT PLAN

MODEL:

BACKROUND:

UNDERGARMENT:

MATERIALS:

PROPS:

SAMPLES:

INITIAL PHOTO IDEAS:

Today I continued on making sample, extracted from my designs in my sketchbook. I wanted to make particular elements from my designs that I think would enhance the fabrics I printed on and would help me to create several different looks. I embarked on creating one of my collar designs. I deiced to use a cut out collar from an old shirt as a basis for creating my design onto. I used the measurements of the collar to measure out some green satin fabric and drew the scalloped edge shape of my collar. Eventually I realised I only need the found collar to help me measure the size, and therefore I cut off the excess to make room for my own collar design. Whilst making I realised I needed to crate the check-board design before sewing the collar all together. I cut out pieces of black valet in an intentional lopsided way and appliquéd them. I deiced to cut them this way, because this would give the illusion of the wavy checkerboard plates I was inspired by and also the curved check-board 'pathway' I have experimenting with in collages in my book. I decided to use some scalloped gold trim to finish off the collar to cover all frayed edges, and I like how this gave it a more finished look.

I also wanted to make seem functional earrings for the shoot. Learning from my previous project, that 'double sided tape' earring won't last, I decided to use an old pair of flat faced earrings to be a basis for gluing my materials onto to create the look of my design. I use two large pearls to recreate the design and some gold paper and gems. I think to improve these I should have sought after some gold plated metal, and used the metal workshop to cut it into the size I needed for the earrings. This would have had a more professional outcome then the ones I made. However I am still very happy with the way they turned out as I fell like they really have the vibe of my drawing. 

Today I received the news that my sister and her boyfriend of 3 years have broken up. She removed her 'L' necklace that she would always wear on her neck and put it on my desk. Looking at the necklace I saw an uncanny resemblance to my designs. The gold oval diamanté frame, hung around the neck has been infused in my design process predominantly. How have I not noticed that my sister necklace looked so similar? I only came to realised this similarity when she removed it today.

This hurting truths of events today got me thinking more about heartbreak in relationships and how this relates to our relationship with the items relating to that other person. The items they gave us in love. Precious jewels. Necklaces that sit close to our hearts. I would to incorporate this item in my forth coming photoshoot and possibly in my design ideas. I love the meaning and hurt behind this necklace and how it obliviously related to the design in my work.

Today I have started the day planning ideas for a photoshoot to dense my research and develop design ideas on the body.  I want to use some samples I have created, some fabric I have printed myself and collect accessories and items to accompany the model in my shoot. I plan in the next few days to make accessories and further samples inspired by my initial design ideas for this photoshoot. I don't want to have a final look in mind, just a collection of items, colours and a mood I want to convey is what I will have to work with. I find this a good way to introduce actual three dimensional experimentation on the body, as opposed to two dimensional work in my sketchbook. I have used this idea of an almost 'styling' photoshoot previously in my corduroy project, and I found it to be a personally refreshing way to look at you ideas on the body, rather then draping with just plain calico fabric. I personal feel uninspired to use plan fabric although I know this does help the design process in terms of shape I feel accessorising fuels my ideas further. In my corduroy project and colour project I used 'additional clothing' other than things I have made to add to the look for my photoshoots. For this shoot I want to find a 'basis clothing item' for the model to wear before draping and accessorising with her. I have seen before designers and stylists use plain nude underwear or just a naked model draping and styling. However for this project I think I want to use some sort of night gown for the 'undergarment'. This is because it will relate to concept and vibe of my project, and I also like the idea of the nightie as being the underwear of my model itself. Sort of like how a child wont have the need to wear a bar or even underwear under they pyjamas for bed. I like my model to have this innocent child-like vulnerability to her wearing the nightie as her 'nakedness'.

found image ~ vintage child paper doll ... undergarment ideas

Today I didn't managed to do much solid work. It was my best friends cousins birthday so I spend the day help preparing the party with her. Although no sketchbook or making today, I did however managed to contemplate on my project in my mind. By observing the objects around me, I managed to extract some ideas for colours, shapes and image ideas. At this party, I was intrigued by the choice of party cups, and jelly moulds. It was a horse riding themed birthday, and so the cups had a illusion of two horses, what seemed to be a mother horse embracing a foal, surrounded by green grass, little flowers and a blue sky. I am inspired by the fairytale-like scenery and the idea of the parent caressing its child, protecting them. I also love the periwinkle and gold trim of the cup, which relate to my colour scheme and trim ideas in my designs.

I also found some jelly moulds. They were also of a periwinkle colour. I love the shapes of the mould, a puffed out shape reminding me of the puffed out sleeves of a princess dress. I like the idea of using the jelly moulds as inspiration for garment shapes. I have looked at vintage Jelly moulds sold at Harrods in my research and would like to introduce this my my 'Bitch Tea Party' for further ideas.

Today I made some samples. I wanted to use some free hand embroidery on my machine and use the stitches to draw on top of my printed material, and samples to enhance them further. Looking at the back of my embroidery, I saw that the back seems quite interesting as I has unintentionally used white thread for the bottom and black for the top. This created a dotted like effect stitching on the back which I also liked. I deiced to use both of these techniques of back and front in my sample.

My thread ran out and I started to push holes in my print without the thread. I saw that this made an interesting effect in my sample that looked like the dots in my illusions. I decided to use the machine needle to push further holes, and put my sample against the light to photograph. I love the light shining through the holes which gives my print a whimsical appearance.

Today was a self study day, I decided to use the day to work at my table at home. It’s been a while since I’ve spend a whole day by myself sitting at the table and It was good to get back to that today. I feel like there needs to be a balance between studio work with peers, research time at the library and working time at home. Being at home I’m able to be left alone in which is the time I fixed myself making some of my best work! I was able to do a lot of printing I had been postponing. This alllowed me to develop my collage prints further as I had more easy acess to a photocopier. I developed a collage idea of Diana’s Memorial into a print design this morning. I decided to use a green marker to colour in the negative space of my print design. I found this unsuccessful because the green was far too bright and didn’t go with the print design. Although I have used this green marker in a previous print design, my colour scheme has revolved to a more sophisticated array of colours and so the neon green stood out like soar thumb. I wished I could have gone back and not done it but since it was perminant I needed to find a way to solve this problem. I decided to use some of the pearly foiling I had use prior and glue and transfer on the area I had used the marker. The filing didn’t cover the entire negative space but instead transformed it. I loved how the neon green was visible through the foil, peering through. Almost like when a gem is peering through a rock. After creating my print design I wanted to starting designing on the body. I didn’t want to go straight into working on the full body so I decided to focus on the top half, in particular the neck and shoulder areas. This was interesting because I feel like I was able to capture a sense of statue and rotality with my designs.. elements were focused on the chest areas, neck and cuff. Creating these details allowed me to explorar in more detail the little touches of a garment design rather then the whole picture. I was able to really consider why I am placing a certain trim or colour in that area. Designing with the top half also reminded me of all the royal paintings in the national gallery of the royal family members as they would usually only capture the top half of the body, filled with adornments and layering to show status. Looking at my previous collages, colours and vines to create fashion details, I think my designs from today are very successful. Next I wanna make Textile samples of what they remind me of.

CRYSTAL IMAGE FROM -                                     MY IMAGE

https://www.crystalclassics.co.uk/product/beryl-var-emerald-with-pyrite/

MY IMAGE

Today was a self study day. I decided to spend the day at home, continuing working on my Harrods sketchbook to illustrate my primary ideas. Tomorrow is the ‘work in progress’ crit for the Harrods project and I feel as if I haven't done enough physical work to accompany my research and thought process for the project thus far. As a result I’m not counting on my project to be selected for the ‘selected 10’.

However this will not stop me from further developing this project after the critique. This is because I feel as that I have spent too much time contemplating and thinking up ideas related to the Live project, that if I just leave it here, it wouldn't do it justice. I have found that I usually do this. I like to spend a lot of time analysing the concept and pricing piece together to create an overall mood and feel for a project before I start. I feel like I must continue to do this, however not to the point that it interferes with time that could be well spent on physical work and experimentation.

I would like to continue working on Harrods at least for the rest of the weekend to where I have enough work to reflect on and can show my ideas. This will at least make them clearer for assessment.

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In the evening a friend of mine came over as she needed to use my sewing machine, and needed my help make and to sew together her costume pieces for a performance artwork she was exhibiting soon. Although I love to help out a friend I was worried that she would need my assistance for the rest of the evening and this would take away time from my personal project. However I came to find that helping her actually inspired some sample ideas for my project. It also supplementary reminded me of how much I’ve missed just sitting at my sewing machine, focused on manipulating fabric.

I helped her create some quilted and padded knee caps with stuffing and some fabric from an old mattress protector of hers. She hasn't much knowledge of fabric or sewing so her use of materials was delightful to observe. This knee cap was inspired by a combination of protection from ‘something hurtful’ and comfort, which represent her feelings towards leaving uni and coming to live back home. These stuffed knee cap and use of bedding materials has inspired some ideas for samples making and fabric manipulation for some design development in my project. As the next ‘chapter’ in my ‘Harrods Fairytale’ is intruding the ‘princess and the pea’ bed tower to heaven, I feel like by taking this idea of using actual mattress protectors will just make my samples sing more. While I was sewing my friends work, I would shout out some ideas for which I want to in include in my Harrods project and she wrote on a post it for me. Seeing how many ideas I came up with in the space of an hour on that little post it, really got me quite animated and excited with continuing the Harrods project over the weekend.

Today we had a talk with renowned artist Grayson Perry. He spoke a lot about what it takes to be an artist in the 'real art world'; life outside of being an art student at Central Saint Martins. He mentioned that you shouldn't be yearning to 'be an artist', but instead you should just want to 'make art'. I found myself strongly relating to this because, growing up, my dream was never to be an artist, I was never even aware of this culture that surrounds the art world, up until recently, and I will not know much about it until I become a part of the future generation of this art world. Instead I have always enjoyed the process of just creating and making in almost everything I do. I love to get lost in the process of creation and to explore as many possibilities in the realm of a project as I possibly can. I know that for my unit 7, I must take this opportunity to allow myself to show my artist ability, to voice an opinion; an idea to the world through my visual voice.

       I was inspired by how he spoke about being 'who you are!' although this is a washed up term 'something your mum would tell you before you present in your school play', he mentions. However in this circumstance I feel like it was a necessary phrase to describe exactly the tools to be successful in 'the art world'. I feel, growing as an artist the only way you can communicate your ideas successfully, is to not fake it. Not bother looking at trends or what others around you are doing, but to stick to your gut and have some confidence in who you are, what you like and what you do with that in you work. When a project or piece of work has a person layer to its context it is more likely to evolve in itself and in conclusion will speaks for its self.

He touched on the subject of at this moment in our lives we are creating artwork for the 'world around us' which is our tutors and our peers. When in fact after art collage, the whole world is your audience. I related to this because I feel lately I've wanted to focus my work more to what I have to say about the world around me, rather then what I think the people around me actually want to here. Doing this, I myself am more inspired to actually do the work because it is coming from within my own ideas and not just what I think the tutors will want to see.

Some areas he's mentioned that interested me...

• Sometimes the work might be visually great but you haven't got anything to say
• Our jobs as artists is to avoid cliché or to make new ones!
• In this current age, every image in the world is in your hands, the world world is in your hards practically with our immense access to the internet. - sometimes its hard to realise what you want do do work about.
• He gave examples of other artists and himself - who just 'got on with it'
• Take every opportunity you have!
• How am I going to approach the whole world?
• What language are you us using to speak to your audience?

This one stood out to me. I like this idea of thinking about the 'language' we use to communicate our ideas. I like to think that the language I usually use within my work is connected with colour and details. I love to use the power of mixing imagery alongside colour and considered placement to speak my story. In my final project I hope to explore a type of language to use in work that will be a clear representation of what I am saying to my audience.

At the end of the talk, we had a questions and answers session, where someone went to ask his options on 'Online Galleries' he went onto speak about 'Jpeg friendly artwork'. He went on about how his work has a three dimensional quality that needs to be touched and see in real life and he even joked about how 'shit his work looks on Jpeg'. This got me thinking about my own work and how I always think my work looks better on my instagram feed then it does in real life. Going back to what Helen Downie said about her paintings and how it manifests itself so much better on her instagram, then it does in real life, as most people anticipate her work to be grand in size, when in fact they are usually A4 or A3. I feel like my work does sometimes need that 'filter', that power of the camera phone to give it's worth. My plan is to not let my work to be only valued on a flat screen but instead, explore more textural elements that will speak in real life. Since our unit 7 has a chance to be manifested in the Lethaby Gallery, I feel like my work will need to have a three dimentional, texture quality to it. I want the viewer to be ablate to interact with my final work in real life. 

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Grayson Perry spoke about how he was so sick of seeing artwork about 'the plastic in the oceans' I thought this was so amusing because out of all this things he could have talked about in 'clique art' he mentioned exactly one of the areas that I am looking into for my Unit 7! Now it is interesting because I actually don't disagree with him, in fact I also feel strongly against clique, if the person is unaware that they are creating something clique then it not really good but when its been looked at but if a different way, then it is interesting. I remember him saying that nothing is original!, but its finding that 'different way' of saying something thousands of other have said before. I feel like with my work I am doing this by adding the element of looking into what I think represents the plastic rubbish in the oceans and how I feel like plastic swap created reflects the swamp of fictitious religious communities.

FINAL PROGRESS TUTORIAL

Today I had my very last Progress Tutorial. I felt like I hadn't prepared myself since it was the last proper tutorial I was to have for this course. I hadn't prepared myself in terms of having enough sketchbook work to show and put forth my ideas to Gail. Instead we spent most of the tutorial conversing about my ideas rather than me getting to show them in real life. I have quite disappointed with my lack of work for this tutorial as all my other ones I have had sufficient work to show, in which the tutor has helped me in think of ideas to develop my work, but since all my sketchbook work is still at early stages we didn't get to have this as much as in my previous tutorials.

I know I have been spending far too much time on researching and drafting my Project Proposal that it has taken away time from sketchbook and physical experimentation. I know that moving forward from this tutorial I must use more of my 'day time' in making and doing, along side reflection and mental evaluation but make sure I spend time with this more in the evening or on my weekends.

Gail marked my Project Proposal one final time, and here was only a few areas in which needed grooming. My bibliography was much better this time around as I had spent some good time really researching for this and making sure I had a variety of different sources. I will use her notes to edit my final proposal one last time to hand in next Monday.

Whilst covering about my project Gail told me about a story she had heard on the BBC website in which linked with my project. (30 feet wide disarray of plastic waste in the Caribbean ocean) in which she then went onto to desire as 'fucking discussing'. This hit hard for me, as made me remember why exactly I am doing this for my final personal project. In order to get back into making and doing I must bring back in my memory what I am doing this for. She prompted me to use the BBC website for real content about plastic waste.

In terms of physical creation she mentioned in using real forms of plastic within my sketchbook. I have been doing this but outside my sketchbook however I didn't bring this with me for the tutorial, or put in my sketchbook. I know that when I make something I must immediately upload to workflow or put in my sketchbook somehow or else I will forget about it and it would seem like I hadn't even done it.  :-(

She mentioned I should included more primary forms of research that don't need to be images, for example texts from news paper, regarding plastic waste or fictitious pastoral references. She looked back  at my first brainstorm about my Unit 7 and extracted the parts in which I mention to look at verses of the Bible for inspiration and mentioned that I should photocopy elements form the Holy text and develop sketchbook ideas from that. This would be quick and beneficial way to get my ideas down in my sketchbook.

We then got to an idea of using the images and texts from my book and mesh them with the distorted plastic and photography in my bath as if it where ink the ocean. Thinking about all these exciting ideas has got me wanted to just get on with doing things for my project, and when I start to just do it, the ideas will naturally flow, and develop in themselves.

Overall I found this final tutorial to be helpful because it powered me to realise that I need to do a lot more physical work to get my ideas and point across and I haven learnt that every time I have made something or have an idea I must get it done and down as quick as possible before is diss-areas from my mind or I forget about it! 

NOTES ON THE TRAIN:

Today was the first day concerning the Live Industry Project. We had a briefing in the afternoon, and were told the project is in conformity with Harrods. The project title is called 'Harrods & the Green Man'. At first I was slightly disappointed with the chosen industry. This is because I don't usually don't like to look at sources that are in connection to 'high fashion', or even high society. I felt a disconnection to this realm. However I must admit that the Harrods store is a beautifully magnificent one, and will be a subject to extract lots of interesting research from, having it be such a special store with so much history.

Having been working on my personal project for Unit 7 ' Jesus Wept.', I have had many ideas in connection to religious ideology floating through my mind. When I saw that the Harrods brief with facing in particular with 'The Green Man', who is known to be the man waiting at the front doors of the store,  instantly I made a connection to the figure with God; waiting at the doors of heaven. Although I would like to separate my personal project to this live one, I know I will make some connections to the both, as I know my brain will be meshing the two together absentmindedly throughout the next two weeks.

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 My initial thoughts when referring to Harrods were as follows...

• Harrods are famous for their tea section. Wealthy people from all over the world would fly in from anywhere to come to Harrods to buy particular 'English tea'.
• The only place the Queen would shop! "A visit to Harrods means stepping into the same store frequented by Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, A.A. Milan, and various members of the royal family." (https://www.luxos.com/london/spend/7682-where-the-royal-family-shops)
• Harrods founded by Charles Henry Harrod - it started as a small grocery shop and tea merchants!
• This idea of the only store in the UK with the highest quality and highest value items for sale! - Remembering when they would literally sell live animals in Harrods in 1950s and 1960s.
• It's the kind of store you would find in a fairytale book. Filled with wonder and almost magic.

Looking at these quick initial ideas of what Harrods are to me personally, I start to consider how it contrasts incredibly with the store in which I work on Saturdays, which is a small stationary franchise. The fact that the most expensive time in our store is a £200 pen, in contrast with the few thousand pounds items in which Harrods has to offer. This separation of class between the two is interesting because it dives into the idea of current class and society. Hence the fact Harrods isn't a store I would particularly step into to do my 'weekly shopping' I actually haven't  visited it since I was little. Therefore in the preparation for this project I must plan to visit! It will be very interesting to compare the contrast of store I would usually enter with Harrods and analyse and evaluate my experience.

Whist doing initial research for the Live Project I imaged searched 'green man harrods' and whilst the images where loading I screen shot all the different tones of green that appeared one my screen. I was inspired by how google extracted the most predominant shade of green form each image. I love this array of green on my screen, which made me think about researching the different shades of green and their meanings. I am highly interested in that PARTICULAR SHADE OF GREEN in which the world associates with Harrods, as a starting point for my project.

Watching the news today I saw that influential world-wide preacher Billy Graham had passed away. I decided to listen to some of his sermons from the 1950s. I cam across one 'The Meaning of the Cross.' 

"Our country is in great need of spiritual awakening. As I go from city to city I see how far people have wandered from God. Of all the things I’ve seen and hear there is only one message that can change people’s lives and hearts.

I want to tell people about the meaning of the cross. Not the cross that hangs on someone’s wall or around someone’s neck, but the real cross of Christ. It’s scared and blood stained, his was a rugged cross. I know that many will react to this message, but it is the truth. And with all of my heart I want to leave you with the truth.

He loves you, willing to forgive you of all of your sins.”

This quote really spoke to me, in terms of explaining how I feel about fictitious Christianity. Graham knows that the true meaning for Jesus dying on the cross was for Love, and no for religionism. The cross is not a symbol of ornament for people to hang in their home or wear on their neck as self-glorification, but instead a symbol of humble Love and life choice, which we 

Today I started to write my first draft for my final project proposal. I wanted to start thinking about the areas of Part 2 in which I feel I have excelled on and areas in which I need to improve.

I feel that throughout Part 2, I have been able to discover which areas of Fashion and Textiles I am most passionate about and most successful at. I found that the areas that I am most excited about tend to be the areas in which I excel because, it is in these areas that I find myself getting lost in my imagination and put my all into. I now know where my strengths lie and I would like to focus on developing and bettering them throughout this final project. My knowledge in visual skills has vastly improved over the time in this course and I feel like towards the end of Part 2 is where I grew most confident in my work and ideas.

My choice of the Textiles pathway have encouraged my project proposal because I know I want to focus on Print designs, but also experimenting with other three dimensional ways of sample making. I feel like I wanted to find a theme and strong starting point for my project on the basis of strong imagery references and historical background. This is because I feel with Print design and even Textile Design in general, you need a good body of references and personal exploration to create exquisite work. In terms of longterm, aspirations I feel this final project will be a cornerstone for me to discover my style of work and how I want to stand out from other artists and designers with my moral choices in materials and the unique message In want to convey.

Today was my last interview for my BA applications. I thought I would take use of the library since I was at Central Saint Martins for my interview. After some reflection I decided to note briefly down the areas/themes and concepts in which I want to explore. I started to think about a theme that I've always wanted to explore during the course of my foundation, which is my personal beliefs in God and my relationship with my faith. I think this is an interesting topic to explore for fashion and textiles as its one that doesn't provide much room for comfort or mediocrity. It is a subject in which the whole world has some level of attentiveness to and one in which I have a lot of connection to, being a strong believer in Christ. However just the topic of religion or even Christianity at a whole is far to vast to research into for my unit seven. I would have to find an area in this subject to investigate in depth and one that would take my project in a conceptually  and visually interesting direction.

Another area in which I have been deprived to do during my foundation is to use solely recycled materials for sketchbook experimentation, sample making, and final garment. I personally have a strong contempt against single use plastic which is made to be thrown away. With this in mind combined with the fact that this final unit will, be the longest one of the course; in which we have the most time to experiment and sample create before the final, I have decided to predominantly focus on single use plastics for for project.

Going back to my last project ' Corduroy' where I was experimenting with weaving with plastic bags and creating samples from stretched plastic mailer bags, I realised that these plastic materials have such potential. If carefully considered and played around with, they can make for extraordinary strong and malleable textiles. They are also a perfect material for experimentation as they are already deemed for disposal, which makes it less wasteful to playa round with. For my personal project, I would like to take the use of these plastic materials further by manipulating with heat, textile process and binding together different plastic materials.

I am excited about my choice of material and concept because I feel they both have such a personal connection to my beliefs, and by being in touch with this, I know I will be driven to exploring this project in depth, creating impelling works.

Today I visited the national gallery, as I wanted to research into Christian art in historical paintings. As soon as I walk in I ask 'Where are your paintings about Christianity?' to the man at the door. To which he replies 'they are everywhere'. I then asked for 'okay, where's Raffael?' In which he directed me to room 2.

This amusing but short conversation made me realised how Christianity is so significant and has always been so important in the art world since art was formed. Jesus is so culpable for inspiration to so many of the most important artist of all time.

Observing the art works displayed I started to look at how the artists captured their view on Jesus, through his expression and body language, alongside those that accompanied Jesus in the paintings. I would like to use this to inspire my own illustrations and in my forth coming project, as I find it highly interesting for me to dig deep into my personal view on capturing Jesus through my work. 

Surrounded by this galore of Chistian artwork reminded me of the AteneumI gallery in which I visited in Finland. My friend who lives there and studies art history mentioned that Jesus and Christianity are the most painted about subjects of all time. And to this day religious identity still reminds the most painted about subject is fine art. This is incredibly interesting for me because by embarking such a talked about, and controversial subject, I will need to get my opinion straight and make sure I have something unique to say about the subject, as its one that viewers can see as monotonous as it has been overused by so many artists.

After brainstorming some ideas based on my project proposal, I decided to change my project title to 'Jesus Weapt', instead of 'Litter Latter'. This is because I have chosen to abandon looking in the 'Latter' side of my project, which was to look into the idea of the end of the world (Latter of Nature) and Heaven and Hell. This is because I feel like I already have such a strong point in looking at Idolisation in Christianity and all the news that surrounds that.

I have deiced on 'Jesus Wept' because I wanted to use an extract from the bible to be the title of my project. At first I thought about, and realised it needed to be short and punchy. Knowing some bible verses related to my project are long and complicated, I sort noted down the shortest one in the whole bible, which is 'Jesus Wept'. At first this was sort of a joke title, something I never thought I would use, but after some contemplation, I realised this actually accompanied my project well. It reminded me of the image 'Larmes' by Man Ray, in which I have researched. This image of Jesus crying into the ocean, like rain fall cleaning the oceans, came into my mind. Crying in a from of disappointment, hurt from mankind actions to the environment.

'Jesus Wept' is also one of the strongest verses of the bible, and is used often by artists who like to depict him. I have seen many studies of Mother Mary and painted images of Jesus, often weeping and I'd love to use this strong images as a stimulus for my project.

I have found that working on my reflection and research in a room alone can be quite discouraging. I decided today to go to my friend Chandani's house to work solely on workflow, touching up my personal project proposal and  bibliography. She studies Art History and had a long essay to write about so I knew she wouldn't be distracting, also. We discussed about my project and she told me about her essay on 'Mars and Venus' by Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. She mentioned that I should plan a visit the National Gallery for research on historical Christian paintings. And that she thought the colours and frames would inspire my work. She almost mentioned to look into Italian painter of the High Renaissance Raffaellos work. It is always beneficial to continually get other peoples opinions on your ideas and concepts as they can enrich you thought process, let you know areas in which you are falling short on and give you objective that can become an immense source of inspiration.

Today I decided to head to the library in search for secondary research and books that could enrich my conceptual ideas. I feel that going to the Central Saint Martins library and gathering research from books has become a interesting way to gather ideas you wouldn't have found searching the Internet. Although also a considerably excellent form of searching for secondary research, I feel that when you take your ideas solely form internets resources, you actually limit yourself to what you have searched yourself in the search bar. Although vastly wide, the area of google image searches have its limits in terms of you only see exactly what you are searching for. When I search in the library, I find that as I am looking for a particular book, or genre of book, sometime I find that the one beside it, actually has more interesting ideas than the one I was originally looking for. This naturally also sparks up other ideas.

In terms of research imagery I also find that books from the library have almost hidden gems waiting to be found. Like when you come across an old literary book that just has the perfect phrase, or a photography in an 'unknown' photographers book, which just encompasses your idea completely.

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BOOKS I FOUND...

• Lost in the post. - Boniface, K. (2008). London: Old Street.

• Hymns ancient and modern for use in the services of the church. - (1982). Norwich: Canterbury Press.

• Common sense. - Parr, M. (2003). Stockport: Dewi Lewis.

• Cindy Sherman. - Burton, J., Respini, E., Sherman, C. and Waters, J. (2012). München: Schirmer Mosel.

• Salvation. - Serrano, A. (n.d.). Bajac, Q., Smets, I. and Meeus, W. (2016). Andres Serrano. Milano: SilvanaEditoriale.

• Body and soul. - Serrano, A., Hooks, b. and Wallis, B. (1995). New York: Takarajima Books.

Looking back I realised that I solely found books and imagery based on the religious side of my project and didn't look for any related to the recycling or materials side. Since I have planned so many other things to do for the rest of this week at home, I wish I would have separated the time to look for material processes and information on how to manipulate plastic for creating. To fix this I will research some plastic manipulations online when I get home, to make up for not finding any books today. 

At the moment I have found more books and images that I need to to start creating in my sketchbook, although I have not yet. At this stage of the project, harnessing lots of information is okay, because we are still exploring pockets of ideas and there is rooms of mistakes and to maneuver our ideas. However I know I must start putting these ideas down on paper and in creation before they escape my mind.

Toy Jesus from the collection - ‘Common Sense’ by MARTIN PARR

Scan of play scrip book - ‘Love's Sacrifice’ by ...

I found many images which are inspiring my aesthetic and theme for this project. Images and extracts that are strong starting points for sketchbook ideas and ideas from materials, colours and shapes. What stood out most for me in todays research was this image by photographer Martin Parr and this scan from an old play scrip from a former CSM theatre student many years ago. This image of a 'Plastic Toy Jesus' among all the typically cheap one pound store items, is an incredible starting point for my project. It illustrates all that my project is about, and I am more than ecstatic for finding it. I love this scan of the play and its title because the layers of the folded, stained pink paper I find just beautiful alongside the tile relating to Jesus' mission on Earth.

My plans for starting the sketchbook as as follows. I plan to use the research imagery and information from today, alongside my own images to start collaging and extracting shapes. Techniques and colours found in my images will inspire sample making and mark making, such as ripped posters, folded paper, and plastic colours.

Today on my commute home, I decided to note down some ideas I had flying through my mind. After doing some research and rooted thinking, I have decided to make my research into 'Rubbish' more purposeful but concentrating on an area in which I feel I have most interest for and is one of the most adverse forms of 'rubbish' to the planet: PLASTIC WASTE. Principally ONE USE PLASTIC ITEMS. I have always had antagonistic feelings towards one use plastics, such as packaging, straws and cheap 'throw away' items, and I feel strongly that I must use this final project to experiment with creating with these plastics, to find a new way to reuse and recreate with them.

NOTES ON THE TRAIN

I like these contrasting qualities of plastic waste with religious imagery and spiritual context. I feel like this mix of themes makes for a colossal body of research and will be awe inspiring for sample ideas, print deigns and essentially garment design. I can almost image the colour combinations and textures in my mind by just noting down the different ideas in my head. I find this quick note-taking-on-the-go idea to be very useful as because I am in a, I guess, 'non-traditional' work environment, such as the train, I don't feel so constraint to think about 'the right things', instead this allows me mind to travel and wonder. Resulting in my imagination opening to new ideas and finding inspiration from what is around around and my experiences from that day.

Today I have started to reflect on my work from Part 2, in terms of conceptual thinking and actual physical outcomes from sketchbook and outside work. By thinking about my previous work, I am able to reflect on the positives and negatives that have occurred during the course of Part 2. This allows me to reflect on improvements for the forth coming project and continue to develop in the areas in which I feel I have excelled on.

I have realised that my strengths lie in profound experimentation with materials and processes. I have found a real passion for creating prints and samples in unconventional ways. I like that a viewer can look at my work and they may be puzzled as to how I have created it. This almost reminds me of when I would view Andy Warhol's work as a young girl. I remember thinking to myself and regarding his work as being just 'paintings' of people or photos growing up. That was because, I had no idea what screen printing was at the time. I have realised that we don't really consider the beauty that is the process and media of an artist's work in comparison to the visible end result. Now that I consider myself as an artist, I see how the process and media play an extensive part in any body of work.

Along the course so far, I personally feel that my strengths have lied in exploring the process and media of my work extensively, alongside playing around with a theme/mood of my project through colour concentration and image/print design. For my final project my aim is to continue this journey into intransigent experimentation rather than focusing on a definitive visual end result.

         As for improving in the forth coming project, I feel like I need to immerse into compelling research much earlier in the project, as this will allow me to collect my theme and mood easier, which will give me more time to experiment and make. I also feel as though previously I have fallen short of Artist referencing and research as I tend to rely on primary research. I know primary research is important but before I leap into this I know I should investigate secondary sources too as these could inspire and inform my primary research.