Week 1 (13/08)
Colour Theorynrduction
Introduction
Description
Learned the basics of colour theory, including notes on colour rules and colour harmony. There are also notes on tint, shade, and tones.
Activity: Demonstrate colour theory after using Adobe Colour
Description
Pictures that I took around the school for the exercise! I tried to take pictures of objects with interesting colour schemes.
Process:
Reflection
Being the first DMA lesson, I was still very shocked by the freedom to explore. I was not used to this freedom and was frankly stunned on what to do. In addition, I was using gouache, a medium I only touched once. I was more comfortable with watercolours but I wanted to challenge myself to use a new medium, also to celebrate the beginning of school. Therefore, I did not do very well in this class, showing a lack of exploration and understanding.
When asked to present the colour palette generated, i stuck to the book and created colour strips instead of expanding my horizons and creating something more creative and illustrative. I felt a little bit of imposter syndrome during this, watching my peers create beautiful things while I was struggling with little colour strips.
In a moment of panic, I diluted the gouache paints I previously mixed, using them as watercolours instead. I created a few patterns using the colours from the activity, keeping in mind the ‘60 30 10’ rule. As I was much more used to the consistency and rules of watercolour, I was able to create things quicker and in a style I enjoyed more.
At the end of the lesson, I told myself to be more lax and free with the work I create during class, and to let go of any previous limitations and fears.
Week 1 (15/08)
Mark Making
Introduction
Tools Gathered
- Leftover lego pieces from figurine building
- Leftover decorative pieces from figurine building
- Cotton Buds/Q Tips
- Paper Clips
- Bobby Pins
- Leaf from sewer plant (sorry!)
Activity 1: Mark Make (Personal)
Activity Brief
Using the tools and paint brought to class, use them to create interesting marks onto a piece of white A4 paper.
(Top) Wheel (?) tool, created by sticking pieces of the leftover decorative pieces on the ends of a cotton bud, then pushing it using my finger, letting it roll and make marks on the paper
(Bottom) Fluffed out cotton bud, wanted to create a looser and cloudlike texture, but due to the small size, the marks formed were not obvious enough to be fluffy.
Reflection
I tried to go out of my comfort zone, creating more interesting marks using organic materials, not afraid to get my hands dirty. For example, I used a piece of scrunched up tissue and dipped it onto the acrylic paint, creating a texture that I wanted from the fluffed out cotton bud. Additionally, I used many different colours of paint, creating a more ‘messy’ and colourful piece. For example, I painted the faces of the paper clips using 2 coloured paints, creating a gradient. When stamped, it created a rather seamless blend of colours.
I also tried to think outside the box when it came to usage of tools, bending paper clips, destroying cotton buds, combining tools together to form a whole new different piece, and more. My main objective for this lesson was to just be more free with my approach, different from the colour theory session.
I tried to go out of my comfort zone, creating more interesting marks using organic materials, not afraid to get my hands dirty. For example, I used a piece of scrunched up tissue and dipped it onto the acrylic paint, creating a texture that I wanted from the fluffed out cotton bud. Additionally, I used many different colours of paint, creating a more ‘messy’ and colourful piece. For example, I painted the faces of the paper clips using 2 coloured paints, creating a gradient. When stamped, it created a rather seamless blend of colours.
I also tried to think outside the box when it came to usage of tools, bending paper clips, destroying cotton buds, combining tools together to form a whole new different piece, and more. My main objective for this lesson was to just be more free with my approach, different from the colour theory session.
Activity 2: Mark Make (Group)
Activity Brief
Similar to the last activity, but create larger marks on a piece of mahjong paper, collaborating in a group of more than 2 people.
(Top to down, left to right)
Some stems from a large dried plant, piece of cardboard with a piece of paper taped onto it, stick with a piece of folded paper taped to the end, taped up small bunch of dried branches, cardboard to scrape paint, opened origami paper box, piece of cardboard to scrape more paint, folded origami box to dip and spread paint, cotton bud wheel creation, bent paper clip, large piece of cardboard with cut up paper taped to the end used to scrape and spread paint.
Reflection
I worked on this big piece with Ray, my seat partner and friend! Ray was more of an experimental person, so working with her helped bring out my ‘messy’ side and I dared to go beyond what I would usually create. Together, we combined what we had in order to create larger tools, to fill this paper.
Initially, I wanted to go into things with an outcome in mind because I was afraid to make mistakes. However, as Ray and I discussed how to start and what to do, I realised that in mark making, there was no way to predict how things would go, nor is it possible to make things go exactly the way we want them to. Therefore, we decided to let the materials speak, turn off our brains and just move, no matter how impulsive.
Firstly, we experimented with the large amounts of cardboard at the back of the class, cutting and tearing them down till inspiration struck. I also went out of the class to tear down a bunch of dried plants, intending to use them as a brush or just to print their shapes onto the mahjong paper. We also made a little mechanism - a stick with a piece of folded paper taped to the end. When you spun it, the paint collected by the paper at the end of the stick would splatter and create interesting ink splatters. Additionally, we cut up a large piece of cardboard and taped cut up paper at the end of it, using to scrape and spread large amounts of paint onto the paper at the same time.
We dunk the dried plants into a cup of diluted blue acrylic paint, intending to splatter the paint onto the paper using flicking motions. Using another piece of folded up cardboard and black paint, we also dragged it across the paper, creating a sort of calligraphy effect. We ended up not really using the smaller tools due to the size of the final piece and how long it would take us to fill the paper. To create the circle, we painted the opening of the origami paper box, opened it in an ‘X’ shape, then spun it. For the other colourful stripes, it was created by painting and dragging cardboard across the paper.
Overall, I was more relaxed during this mark making class, after being too ‘to the books’ during the colour theory class. It was also definitely more fun to me as it was more hands on, and I got to try new things. Also working as a duo with Ray opened me up as we bounced ideas off each other. I also learned to work on a bigger scale, having to come up with new tools to make the process more efficient.
I worked on this big piece with Ray, my seat partner and friend! Ray was more of an experimental person, so working with her helped bring out my ‘messy’ side and I dared to go beyond what I would usually create. Together, we combined what we had in order to create larger tools, to fill this paper.
Initially, I wanted to go into things with an outcome in mind because I was afraid to make mistakes. However, as Ray and I discussed how to start and what to do, I realised that in mark making, there was no way to predict how things would go, nor is it possible to make things go exactly the way we want them to. Therefore, we decided to let the materials speak, turn off our brains and just move, no matter how impulsive.
Firstly, we experimented with the large amounts of cardboard at the back of the class, cutting and tearing them down till inspiration struck. I also went out of the class to tear down a bunch of dried plants, intending to use them as a brush or just to print their shapes onto the mahjong paper. We also made a little mechanism - a stick with a piece of folded paper taped to the end. When you spun it, the paint collected by the paper at the end of the stick would splatter and create interesting ink splatters. Additionally, we cut up a large piece of cardboard and taped cut up paper at the end of it, using to scrape and spread large amounts of paint onto the paper at the same time.
We dunk the dried plants into a cup of diluted blue acrylic paint, intending to splatter the paint onto the paper using flicking motions. Using another piece of folded up cardboard and black paint, we also dragged it across the paper, creating a sort of calligraphy effect. We ended up not really using the smaller tools due to the size of the final piece and how long it would take us to fill the paper. To create the circle, we painted the opening of the origami paper box, opened it in an ‘X’ shape, then spun it. For the other colourful stripes, it was created by painting and dragging cardboard across the paper.
Overall, I was more relaxed during this mark making class, after being too ‘to the books’ during the colour theory class. It was also definitely more fun to me as it was more hands on, and I got to try new things. Also working as a duo with Ray opened me up as we bounced ideas off each other. I also learned to work on a bigger scale, having to come up with new tools to make the process more efficient.