2D Project 1, Week 6: Final

Hello my name is..

and I’m an adventure seeker

I love the idea of going out for an adventure, finding new and incredible things, and just being curious about the world. It has always been a dream of mine to want to travel to different parts of the world, experiencing new cultures, be it the city life or the countryside. I am inspired by the videos that I watch on Youtube almost everyday about how travelling brings new experiences that are never taught in classrooms. Finding adventure in a place is something I am working towards, going the extra mile to see places and do things I never thought of doing.

The items displayed in the photo above are some of the things that represent adventure to me. I included my feet as part of the photo because they are what I rely on to go for these adventures.

Hello my name is..

and i’m a tree hugger

I’ve always been passionate about nature and the environment since I was young. I enjoy going for walks in nature reserves, the parks and just being out and about. I included my hand as part of the photo as it resembles my idea of wanting to lend a helping hand for the environment in the future. I feel like right now, I am not doing much to help in the conservation of earth but I hope to be able to participate in conservation projects in the future. This is also in relation to my idea of seeking adventure.

Hello my name is..

and i’m observant

I’ve always been an observant person. I am quick to notice certain things in the environment. Sometimes, I just tend to notice things that people normally overlook and analyse them more in-depth in my head. The binoculars view implies the idea of using a binoculars as being observant, to look out and see things beyond what people actually see. It always amuses me sometimes at how I can remember small little details of people and objects around me that people don’t really take notice of. In addition, being observant feeds my habit of people watching. While waiting for my bus, I will sit down by the bench and just watch people go about in their daily activities. It is always interesting to see people’s reactions, how they walk, what they are carrying and I just wonder like where they are from, where are they going, who are they meeting etc.

Hello my name is..

and i’m a visual storyteller

I’ve always been fascinated about cameras and different tools of storytelling. I developed a strong interest in photography and videography since I entered polytechnic back in 2010. My interest amplified when my mom bought me a Canon DSLR as a birthday gift and up till today, I am still using it for different purposes. As the years went by, different cameras were introduced to me and I was intrigued at how each camera has its own way of defining itself and its delivery methods. Therefore, I am now using these tools as a way of telling my stories. I like to film and take photographs when I travel to different countries, and put up short videos on Youtube so I can share it with the rest of the world. It is one of my ultimate goals to travel around the world and film. Also, the reason I chose to photograph parts of my name in different polaroids and then combining it together because its with these different parts of my life, when brought together, becomes a whole picture.

Overall, I had a good learning experience from making each individual composition all the way from the thought process up to the execution process, facing certain problems along the way but eventually finding out the solution to it, as well as the generous feedbacks from my classmates during consultation and during my presentation 🙂

You can view how I did all of these compositions here, BEHIND THE SCENES!

2D Project 1, Week 5: Behind The Scenes

This is the behind the scenes of my final product for Project 1! If you’ll like to check it out, click HERE!

Adventure Seeker

For this piece, I had to go around the house finding objects and items that meant ‘adventure’ to me. Initially, I wanted to play around with the idea of negative space which was brought up by Daniel during the group consultation. However, after much consideration, I felt that the use of negative space would mean that I would have to find even more objects around the house and that was already a challenge to begin with. I decided to settle with my initial idea of using objects to make the typeface instead which require less work. Below are some the images that eventually led to the final output of this piece.

Setting the scene

Making sure the items are placed properly

Side perspective of the scene

Test shot #1

Test shot #2 (without shoes, tighter crop)

Tree Hugger

For this piece, there were a lot of hands-on work to be done prior to the execution.

Firstly, I browsed through the internet looking for a suitable font. This font is called ‘Cheddar Jack’, I typed it out on photoshop and printed it out to act as a template.

Once printed, I cut away all the white spaces to form my template.

I laid the template over a piece of cardboard to create a much more sturdy template as compared to paper.

Just like in step 1, I cut the negative spaces out.

Materials for the next step

Next, I used PVA glue and sprinkle the moss over the top.

Completed product

Next, I had the idea of placing it on my arm because it relates to my idea of wanting to lend a helping hand in conservation projects in the future. It took me several different shots and how its placed to get what I want. As the sun was setting, I had to make a quick decision of which composition that I want in order to get the best lighting possible. In the end, I managed to get exactly the perfect shot which is in the other OSS post.

Test shot #1

Test shot #2

Test shot #3

Test shot #4

Observant

My initial idea for this piece was that I wanted to feature myself holding a pair of binoculars looking out and fitting letters of my name in between the lens, but after the group consultation, they suggested that I can consider using the inside view of the binoculars, basically in the perspective of the user using the binoculars. Therefore, I resorted to the use of Photoshop to bring out the binoculars effect and create my typography from there.

I started out with an A5 sized blank canvas.

Next, I found the binoculars effect on google and decided to put it first as part of my composition.

Next, I used a photo from a photowalk about a month ago in Coney Island. I really love this photo as it fitted with my overall theme of having earth and nature tones.

Next, I typed out my name letter by letter and painstakingly placed it in different parts of the path/forest. I decided it was best if the letters were spaced out throughout the composition so it doesn’t look like its squeezing to one side. Then, I played with the opacity of the letters so it does not look as striking and bold to make it fit into the forest. I also erased parts of the letters so as to make it appear that the letters are sort of hiding behind the trees and leaves (gives more depth to the letters).

I went to look at more examples of how the view of a binoculars should look like and I added more details to it, giving it a measurement bars, making the whole binoculars effect more realistic.

Visual Storyteller

For this piece, there were a lot of preparation work to be done before actually getting to the final product. Firstly, I engaged the help of my friend who is good at doing typography to mimic a font called Edo SZ.

We first tried it on paper first to get the feel of how it is going to turned out.

As I wanted the ‘paint’ look, we used gauche paint and a thick paintbrush. After numerous tries on paper, we were confident enough to do it on the acrylic piece itself. The idea of painting it on an acrylic piece is so that I could manipulate the background easily. As it is transparent, I was able to hold it up to any background that I want with ease and took a polaroid photo of it. Below are the shots that I manage to take with my polaroids.

It wasn’t easy trying to frame the shots and getting the polaroid to come out the way I wanted. It took me a few wasted tries to finally perfect the form that I wanted. As it was taken with a polaroid, it felt like a surprise every time the photo comes out because even though you frame the shots, the outcome will be slightly different even with a slight change in lighting conditions.

The whole acrylic piece itself against the background.

Visualizing the outcome of the final typography with each picture combined

Putting it together.

Test shot #1

Test shot #2

Test shot #3

2D Project 1, Week 5: Work In Progress

Ever since the last update, the attributes has since then been brought down to 4 instead of 6. Therefore, the finalised 4 attributes I will be doing are as follows:

1) Adventure Seeker

2) Tree Hugger (Nature-Lover)

3) Observant

4) Visual Storyteller

After much deliberate thought and research about the main concept that links all 4 of my attributes together, I’ve decided to go with the idea of incorporating the use of body parts/senses for each attribute. The final outcome of the 4 attributes will be an A5 photograph of my executed idea.

Last week, we had a group consultation where we share the ideas that we wanted to execute and get feedback from our classmates. I believe the group liked my idea and were excited to see what the final outcome was going to be and there wasn’t really any major changes to my initial idea. Throughout the consultation, they had some interesting inputs and ideas to other people’s work that I could possibly incorporate to my own work as well.

Adventure Seeker

For this attribute, I want to play with the idea of using items I can find around my house that spells adventure. Using these items, I will then make out my name out of these items and surround the typography with other items to complement the whole idea of ‘adventure seeker’. I will feature my feet for this piece.

This is roughly the look that I’m going for.

Tree Hugger (Nature Lover)

For this attribute, I will be doing something similar like the image below where I will use moss to be placed on a typographic template of my name. This template will then be placed on my hand which will then be photographed on a tree.

An example of moss typography

Observant

For this piece, it will mainly be digitally manipulated. The letters of my name will ‘interact’ with the environment through the view of a binoculars.

This is one example of how I intend the final outcome to be

Visual Storyteller

The process for the final outcome of this attribute will be tedious.

I will be writing out my name on a piece of acrylic sheet using white paint. This gives me the ability to manipulate the background to whatever I want because it is transparent. White paint is used because the colour stands out on any background.
Next, I will be taking photos of different parts of my name placed on different backgrounds using a polaroid camera.
Once the polaroids are developed, I will then rearrange them to make out my name again. I will then take a photo of the arranged pieces and will be accompanied with items that I use to visually tell my stories. 🙂

Rough idea

As of now all the works are currently in the progression stage. The final outcome will compose of just A5 photographs with those 4 attributes. Hopefully, everything will turn out as planned and I’m looking forward to see the works of my other classmates!

2D Project 1, Week 4: Conceptualisation Of Idea

Attributes selected:

Adventure Seeker
Embracing nature (Nature-Lover)
Organised
Attention To Detail (Observant)
Determined
Resourceful

I started out wanting to do 3D typography, where I place objects relating to that specific character trait in a form of my name. However, after much consideration, I tried my hands on Photoshop to get the basic idea of roughly what I wanted my end goal to be.

This was an attempt at finding images around the web relating to the idea of ‘Adventure’ and using these images to form letters of my name.

Next, I moved on to the character trait of ‘Observant’.

Change of Ideas

After consulting with Joy, she suggested I look into the concept of how I can better create the character traits to be more interconnected with each other. To have a central idea that revolves around these 6 traits instead of painstakingly doing each separate trait with a different idea.

After much consideration, I decided to change the idea and take photos surrounding the theme of how my journey in the wild brings out the characteristics listed. Basically, it is like a movie where it is a journey through each character trait listed above.

As of now, I will keep exploring and do more research to see what suits me best for this project.

2D Pre-project 1, Week 1: Typographic Portrait

The Dada Movement

Arrangement of words and images, mixing letterforms, ornaments and ready-images in order to shock.

Dadaism was an ‘anti art’ stance as it was intent on destroying the artistic values of the past. The aim of Dada was to create a climate in which art was alive to the moment and not paralysed by the corrupted traditions of the established order.

‘Tatlin at Home’, 1920 (collage)

Dada Seigt, 1920

Hannah Hoch

Photomontage became the preferred medium for her shrewd social and political critiques of the 1920s.

Hoch incorporated lace and handiwork patterns into her montages, thus combining the traditional language of women’s crafts with that of modern mass culture.

German, 1889–1978

Das schöne Mädchen (The Beautiful Girl), 1919–1920

photomontage and collage

35 x 29 cm (13 3/4 x 11 7/16 in.)

Hannah Höch with her Dada Dolls, 1920

Das schöne Mädchen [The Beautiful Girl], 1920

Comment: I really like how Hannah Hoch uses photo collages to create an entirely new photo with a different meaning. The use of photos from different places and piecing it together to form a whole new meaning is really intriguing.

Handmade Typography

I love the idea of incorporating literal objects and materials into the typography in order to bring out the meaning behind the word. The use of materials will have a great emphasis on the word and it speaks for itself as a whole. Here are some examples of typography that incorporates these elements into the word itself.

Kegs with legs

Maricor Maricar

Sometimes, a simple medium such as paper can create such a wonderful effect if done right. I love the use of folds on the paper with different lengths to create such a composition, added with a good spectrum of colours.

Lavanya Naidoo

Abelina by Six & Five Studio

I’m interested to explore in doing something similar to this. I want to use different materials to bring out my attribute and potentially make it 3D, if the space allows. I like how these type of typography brings out a 3D sense to it, allowing people to touch and feel and bringing out the sensory elements to the artwork. It also makes me want to experiment and try out different materials and seeing what works and what doesn’t because different materials evoke different sets of emotion towards the artwork.

List Of Attributes

Adventure Seeker
Nature-lover
Observant
Organised
Determined
Imaginative
Resourceful
Passionate
Curious
Easygoing

Hello my name is..

and I’m an adventure seeker

Hello my name is..

and i’m a tree hugger

Hello my name is..

and i’m observant

Hello my name is..

and i’m a visual storyteller

Adventure Seeker

Tree Hugger

Observant

Visual Storyteller

Adventure Seeker

Tree Hugger (Nature Lover)

Observant

Visual Storyteller

Change of Ideas

The Dada Movement

Hannah Hoch

Handmade Typography

List Of Attributes

Adventure Seeker

Nature-lover

Observant

Organised

Determined

Imaginative

Resourceful

Passionate

Curious

Easygoing