Friday 28 January 2011

Workshop with Richard Sweeney...

we started off with a piece of white paper

                                    
we had to cut/fold/crease/rip ect to make 3D forms,

using the same sized paper each time.. creating different shapes.

 I chose to take photos against a white background with a light shining on them to create shadow. I also photographed them in black and white as it looks more effective and helps to enhance the shadow.


 by looking at an image from a different angle makes it look like a slightly different  shape all together...

It's also good to look at the shapes from all different angles, as this shows different shadows. Above are a few of my favourite shapes, and the best photographs.

 For this one, I just cut slits in from each corner. As you can see there are five strips from each side.
 I held the strips in place towards the middle by cutting little slits where I wanted them to stay, and just pushed the ends in a slight bit. I really like how you can curl paper and it looks so smooth, almost like a wave.
 I decided to try scoring the paper slightly to help it find shape and bend more easily. I just went for a few random long curves to see how it would work. It folded quite nicely, so I cut two little slits to slot into each other where I thought it was a good place to join each side together.
 And this is the shape it made! (above) I really love how the curves looks so smooth, and a messy little experiment can actually make a really lovely. actually quite neat shape!
 Starting to look at repeating, but also alternation. This is extremely simple, but in a way I like how it's mainly flat, but has bits raising out of it, almost like the locness monster poking out of water!
 Now this one I was really exploring repeat, I tried to do all the strips at equal width, and folded them all the same way. this shape was interesting as there were several ways that I could manipulate it after putting it together. Here are some photos of the different ways I was looking at it.
 It wasn't quite completely round, which I would of preferred to it to be, but that is something I could look into. Why isn't it? And how would I make it?

I think this way up it almost looks a bit like a chef's hat! (image from google images)
Or even a bit like a flower?
Although I did not leave space to attach each end to each other and had to hold in it place for this photograph, I do think it looks the best this way up. If I was to do it again I would make a tab to connect and hold it in place. I love how the loops look, and think this would make some great shadows.