COURSE COMPARISONS

Course Briefs:

The briefs that I have had, course briefs and live briefs, for the University course have been different to my previous course as the current ones can relate to jobs that may be required in the future by companies.

Correspondence  received to date has been frequent and very informative as both my lecturer and Staffordshire University keep me informed, by email, of course requirements, useful information and advice. Last year, groups were given briefs at different times and I was in a group where at one point only one part of the brief was given to achieve the module. My group was only aware of this after the module had been handed in and marked. So far, I feel that, because of the very frequent emails, everything that I need to do to complete my module will be sent to me in plenty of time.

Support:

Prior to starting my course, I received an email from the Additional Support team at the University and I have found the team to be very helpful and supportive. This help may have been available during the length of my previous course but I was never made aware of it.

This aside I really enjoyed my previous two years at College and I know I am going to continue to enjoy my studies throughout this course at University.

DESIGNING & PRINTING MY T SHIRT TECHNIQUES

Techniques that can be used:

Heat Press

Screen Print

Negative Imagery 

Printing:

Vinyl

Ink

Shiny

Used Corel Draw Graphics, imported 

Bit mat  take bits away

Reflects afterwards

Print to the required size

STAFFORD WELCOME EVENT

The HE Welcome Event, based at Staffordshire University's Stafford Campus, gave the students more in depth detail as to what the course contained, what was expected of us, and what support was available.

There were different speakers for the various topics which made it more interesting and I took a lot of notes. They spoke about the library based at the University's Stoke Campus and I felt this was not required as our lecturers had already arranged a visit to the Library, which I had attended prior to this event.. and found extremely informative.

MEDIA CITY UK & MAGMA BOOK STORE, MANCHESTER

Visited Media City 

   

After the Manchester Craft Fair, I bought some books from the Magma Book Shop then visited the Media City UK. That’s where I met the fearsome Daleks guarding the entrance of the Media City UK building. I took a few snap pictures of the outside building and some of the inside. Around the area I  took a number of photos as there were billboards and signs using different typography. Taking the photos was enjoyable,but there wasn’t much else to take there except for the BBC and the Media city,which were really interesting. I think next time before I go I will research what there is around the BBC location to be able to gather more research and go on the tour.      

See images below

The BBC 's new building 

Met the Daleks 

Seen the BBC




MAGMA BOOK STORE

Manchester - Street Sculpturing

Manchester -Street Art

MANCHESTER CRAFT FAIR

http://www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/

I really enjoyed visiting the Craft Fair, seeing different artists and discussing with them how they advertise their work and what techniques they use. Before I went to the Fair I researched the exhibitors and I emailed Hannah Sawtell as I particularly liked her designs-in fact I bought two of them whilst I was there and was lucky enough to meet her in person and have a nice talk with her.


Artists that I have viewed and have seen .These are some websites that will link in with the great northern fair and there work .

http://www.hannanielsen.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.annelaycockceramics.com/

http://www.hannahsawtell.co.uk/
http://mesyme.blogspot.co.uk

NOTES:CHERYL

    The activities that Cheryl gives the class are different to the ones I used to get in my previous years college course. There is a lot more class discussion and interactions within the group. We are encouraged to work in groups and take turns to discuss our findings to the rest of the group. One of the tasks we were given was to make a poster of A3 or A4 size about how much sleep a person has.  Part of my group created a bed and the rest created two posters.

NOTES

4^th October

Notes

·       Exploring creative ways of project management

·       Aims and objects

·       
Work placements

·        

·       Clients

·       Going on – outside – university

·       Staffs

 

·       Help –tune

   Range – techniques and strategies

·       Where does the time go?

·       Method you tried

·       Planner- Calendar = staffs planner

·       Notes

·       Diary

·       Keep update with my work load

·       Email that I could check regular

·       Yearly planner /Calendar

·       Reminders everywhere

·       Remember /Memory

·       Phone=Notes /Calendar

·       
Back up everything

·      

Mole skin Diary

·       Apps

·       Files

·       Post it notes = Visual

·       Timelines

·       Mind Maps

·       To do lists

·       Print calendar

·       That Richard gave us (minimise it down and put it in diary)

·       May be small

·       You tube – Mole Skin

Animation for drawing

·       
Find out about the apps

·       Applying this as a study skill

·      Own methods

·       Reflect

·         Time circle = notes

·       On managing time

·       Effectively = work to improve on

·       Send CV’S to companies

·       At least 100 of companies

·       Dialogue =communication  

     Creative and independent approach to learning 

     Reflective processes means evaluating performance 

     Efficient and effective explore

      Goal setting 

      (Stella Cottrell)   

      

         Creative 

       How you think?

       Find 3 things (3 minute that are open, round) 

      

       Reflective journal 

       Practice is vital 

       Evolve and develop 

         > learning experiences 

      Produce learning journal > diary 

       

       Effective 

            

       How well you are planning your study time 

       Employ strategies 

       Utilise for research in the library 

       Recognise opportunities for learning 

          

        Library > Staffs campus 

        Go to the Staffs campus library

      Select books that look interesting > look for everything > sells      everything > art shop across     the road of library 

       Structured

       Use colours 

       Paper/digital 

       Prioritise into urgent 

       Non urgent > deadlines dates 

       Prioritise > long-term 

        Effort to try out new ways of working

        Adapt and try out 

        Read through and discuss 

        Tried a method and it hasn't worked before would you try it again?

        I.R.E. FILE 

       Anything you do put in > art activity wise 

       3d, fine art, textiles, graphics 

       Think about what you could do with the information > drawings for   example 

       Silk screen and put back into macs original art work 

       Apply to situation all ready now 

           Live work > top up years 

                               Professional development 

           Colour samples >anything to get off your work 

       Motivation 

       

  Time out 

       Need the support 

       Reward 

       Complete a task

       Strategies 

       Organise your spare time

       Achieve something big or something small 

        Environment is right for you to work in 

SCREEN PRINTING ( NOTES )

SCREEN PRINTING 

We went to the screen printing room and were shown how to screen print.

We took a lot of notes to help us later on with screen printing .

The first time I inked the silk screen canvas it didn't go as planned but as it was my first time ever at this technique I thought I didn't do bad. It took me a couple of tries at covering the whole of the canvas. As the canvas is exposed to the light you need to work quickly at covering it, something I need to practice. This was a new learning experience for me at University as the closest I have ever come to doing screen printing was my mono-prints from last year.

NOTES:

SILK SCREEN PRINTING

CLIP IN SCREEN > SCREEN VACUUM BASED

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE LID DOWN OR IT WILL BLIND YOU

EXPOSURE >0-5 SECONDS

DRY CABINET > 20MINS /30MINS

SPRAY WASH

HEALTH AND SAFETY

BLINDNESS ON MACHINES (EXPOSURE)

CHEMICALS

CARDBOARD WINDOWS

COAT > WITH BLACK TUB > GREEN INSIDE > STIR IT WELL WITH SOMETHING THIN (MAYBE A PIECE OF THIN WOOD).

MIROLINOSE LIGHT INTO IT

MIXES > LOSES EFFECT > WORK QUICK

CARDBOARD ON FLOOR SO YOU DON'T SLIP

GET DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

45 DEGREES > HORIZONTAL > NOT TOO MUCH

FLIP SIDE > ANGLE TOUCH THE SCREEN > PUT PRESSURE > AND THEN LIFT OFF AT THE END > BUT NOT TO CLOSE THE EDGES

DON'T GO RIGHT UP TO THE EDGES.

AFTER WE HAVE FINISHED THAT > GET AS MUCH INK AS POSSIBLE BACK INTO THE POT AS POSSIBLE.

PRINTER

A4 SECTION >PORTRAIT DRAW> LOGIN PHOTOCOPYING IT > UNPLUG IT A4 PORTRAIT > 2 COPIES WINDOW LIGHT BOX

(USING ACETATE, SELLOTAPE, PHOTOCOPY A5 PHOTO)

GLOSSY SIDE BOTH FACING ME.

FRAME UP WITH SCREEN PRINTS UNDERNEATH .FRAME THEM UP WITH THE LAST DESIGNS BUT NOT TOO MUCH THAT OURS DON'T SHOW AND OVERLAP EACH OVERS AS WELL

PUT THEM UNDERNEATH THE SCREEN > AND THE SCREEN UPSIDE DOWN

For my first time doing screen printing I thought I did okay. It took me a couple of times but other than that it was good.

See Photos:

STAFFORDSHIRE LIBRARY TRIP

We visited Staffordshire University Library in the afternoon.The reason for the visit was to get reacquainted with the library and what resources that would be available to us during all hours. For me the most meaningful aspect of the trip was that I was reintroduced to the whole building and was told where I could find the art books. The lady also gave some good advice, which I didn't know before about Staffs University and what’s on their website including the survival kit and where you can the find the artist / books. I think this tour and talks were easier to understand as when I came for the first tour, at the open evening, I wasn't told much about the art books - where I would find them and about the website.

Before we left the University we continued working on Illustrator. I’m not used to Illustrator as I haven't worked with it before so it was totally new to me. As I did not learn Illustrator from the beginning, I am going to find some tutorial lessons and purchase the CS6 book to guide me through the tool bar and how to use it at home. The resources at University will also help. Afterwards, we did some of a Typography lesson and we were then given a little task to complete on the Internet.

See below for link 

http://type.method.ac/

It was an enjoyable activity. I had a few attempts at it and these were my scores below. 

SCORES: 73/100, 74/100, 79/100, 83/100, 84/100, 87/100

When we arrived at the library, we were taken to the first floor for an introduction about the library -what they offer, what they can do, support etc.

It was interesting to know what Staffs’ Uni library has to offer and what the Staff’s Uni. website does as well. We were then given a tour around the building and then told about the journals and the different type of books that they get. They also told us that we just need to ask them if you need anything.

I asked a couple of questions.

Such as:  If we wanted to renew our book and it was booked out by someone else so we couldn't renew them again, they would let us know when it would be due back, what fees are charged.

Then we were given a task to gather research (photos /photocopies) if we could of 4 journals with as many articles as possible.

ILLUSTRATOR SESSION

ILLUSTRATOR SESSION

The negative thing that happened throughout this session would be that i have never used Illustrator before . Because I am not yet certain of  Adobe Illustrator I will reference certain books and courses to help learn these tools.

Notes to show that I am showing that I am keeping the next step up to date .

Alt  > Shift 

Reflect > Draw a rectangle  

Window pathfinder  > Ungroup  

Change colour > Shift holds line 

• Illustrator  Adobe  > Practise  
• Vector 
• Full colour process  > CMYK
• Industry
• Visits 
• CMYK > large scale out points 
• > Life bow > Four colours process print > Create plates > Create four plate's  
• See it where it goes wrong  

• Colours not laying up quite right  
• 500 -3000 > Cheaper to do it 
• 500 of print it takes sometimes  

CMYK plates > It runs really quick 

Cost > Using small plates  

£40 a plate > CMYK 

£160 > before printing  

Line fame > Just set up  

Print when using vector >emend in> no crosses 

Bleed > doesn't go over the page ink > Cut it plus 3 mm- 5 mm Image 

Crop marks > Where?

A2 size we want 

• Bleed > Top 3mm  all the way to the right 3mm 
• Quite boards > Can’t put on print 
• Folder files  
• Safe zone  > Video term 
• Keeping things away from the edge of the page >5mm 
• Text not up to the edge 
• Window > Links>Embed 
• Live trace > Is messy at work > complicated 
• Unless for a particular part 

Cmd 2 > Lock

Z-the Cmd Sign 2 > Unlock

Window type > Character > 150 > 0> Auto > Highlight 

(Hold down Alt and Click either the left or the right  

Kern type 

Scores: 73/100, 74/100, 83/100, 84/100, 87/100

http://type.method.ac/

TOUR OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

I have had a tour of the Photography studio during my previous year but it was good to have a refresh on what is available to the students, also recapping on the Health and Safety procedures.

Photography Notes:

Photography Studio

• Smaller Studios > Passport Photos
• Flash heads >£600-£700
• Soft box

Plastic Surface > Photography

Give you the same effect as an inside studio

£4000> Studio Room

Lot of access

Dangerous in studios > Hazards

Flash > is very powerful > long term can cause damage

Careful > about the boxes

Trip hazards and bumping into things etc. paper, boxes and tables.

Power supplied > Electricity > Main Hazard >Circuit Breaker

No drink / food in the studio

Electrocute yourself > you could (can) die

Flash head > Power into it beam of power > is a copasetic> fires the flash

DON'T TAKE THE FLASH APART > two bulbs

Don't mess about in the studio.

If something breaks in the studio or you’re not sure what has happened tell someone.

Light table> breaks if anything heavy goes onto it > only for objects

£ 200 to replace

Studio 2 > 5 flash heads here.

Paper curve / Paper scoop

Two shades of colour

Black and white

Limiting > Studio area 3 > 3 flash heads

One shoot at a time

Maximum of 6 in a studio

Completely available to us Friday morning

Photos flash setting into the middle

Plenty of light > little photo cell waiting > flash goes off > boom > there is a delay > so fast you cannot see the delay

Flash sync unit

Put onto your camera (sits on top)> little charge goes through to the little boxes > hook up wires.

Settings

(F11-1-5 )

100> 125

Charged > 1-5         is different

               > 250    > 1/2 second      even shorter

                            320 second

See's shutter > photography its own shutter

Shutter too quick for its own camera

Using the correct sync speed

Accidents happen tell someone

Portable equipment > use that from the techs

Update flash kit > charge up

Carrying flash around could be dangerous

• Get your vision?
• What you want?
• What you done?

Cheryl

www.Alexenderrem.com

Advertising> made of

 Duffy jewellery

• Studio at home
• Transport at home ( bike)
• Modern day Artists
• Antics
• Inspired > materials precious
• Always been part of modern technology. Been a big part of it

Fashion Houses and other people making something new and fresh

Salvage company

After we came out of the studio tour I felt like I couldn't stand the flashing lights up close if I have to come in contact with them. I love taking photos but I always take the flash off as I don't really use the flash as I find it blinding. These notes here show that I taken them for future reference.