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At last, I have finished cutting that stencil! I did a much smaller (and quicker!) one when I got bored of the cutting the big one. The larger stencil is intended to be turned into a 3D shape with the posibility of recording a body moving around the shape capturing the words moving and warping shape as the surface moves. I have taken a few photos of the ‘lampshade’ however, I need to fix it onto some sort of stand over the light and possibly make the shade sturdier. 

For the next few weeks, I will be continuing with my experipents-particulary with light. Im going to create more stencils, try using different shaped lampshades for stencils and possibly making my own. During tutorial today, we also discussed the possibility of filming some outcomes to document how the letters change as the body moves. At the moment it seems, I am taking a few different directions in my work. Other than what I have just discussed, I am also continuing to look at using ink but more specifically, ink fist or slap prints on the body with words appearing in them by vaseline. This will be a message about domestic violence and I think would look quite shocking and effective. I would like to try this although I am unsure whether it would be something to take further. I would also like to try a recreation of Edward Mucha’s (art nouveau) JOB cigarettes advertisment but with ‘JOBLESS’ instead across the girls’ chest. My model will be young and the overall statement will be about students and young people finding it difficult to get work in these times.
What I want to say is something I have been thinking hard about. Normally, I quite often write random words or phrases in work or doodles but now that I have to think of something, I am finding it difficult. If it was my own body however, I know the type of things that I would want to express on it….so, I have decided to offer my models the chance to choose what they would like to say on their bodies so that we will see a projection of their inner selves on the outside. I think this is going to work really well with the whole notion of typography on skin as it’s already I think, a bold statement already to have words on your skin (though not permanent!…of course). Im also hoping that I will get a good variety of words and phrases and maybe they will feel more relaxed about having it done as as i have found with the experiments, it is getting very up close and personal with them which can be a little awkward for the both of us. Having something they want said on them might make it more relaxed and enjoyable.

A mix of black face paint and ink watered down and dripped down the arm. The word test was painted on with waxy vaseline. It worked well although I had to fill in the gaps with the black as it hadn’t ran down the arm as expected.

Same again but under the eye. It hasn’t came out as well, possibly because it is too small although I am wondering whether thick black eyeliner and mascara then splashing water into it would be more effective than the watered ink.

The one I was looking forward to doing…and it worked! This was painted in reverse across the back and then printed onto the sheet. It is a little messy as I had to quickly go back over it in wetter paint as it had started to dry and wouldn’t have printed. However now looking back on it, I think I could have done it in stages (carefully). My idea for this shot is to have the person with the writing still on leant over the person they’re in bed with. This print is starting to make me rethink about my outcome for this. As originally I had a stop motion in mind, I have ideas of lots of smaller, gradual shots. Although now I am thinking that maybe a could have a fuller, possibly single photograph of a print like this but with the whole body, so that you could see a body shape on the sheets but made out of type.

Rubber stamps, face paint. Seems to work better going down the fingers rather than across.

Had not worked quite as well, needed to start ‘be down’ higher up so that the end of the word curl up at the elbow. I’m expecting lots of little things like this to crop up. Need to buy some good make up wipes in order for these mistakes!

This idea came about with the stop motion in mind-each word popping up and finally the two thumbs. It doesn’t really make sense anymore unless I do photograph the stages with a possible part flip book in mind?

Buy smaller paint brushes!

After a group discussion yesterday, I expressed my concerns about making several animations for my outcome and my ideas of perhaps making a series of books for each emotion instead. Phil also pointed out that stop motion would be very difficult with type moving on bodies-any slight movement could really change the letterforms also that you’d have to match certain letters each time. Talking further about the idea of books, suggestions came up about perhaps making them tactile, boxes with other objects, bind my own books etc. This was an eye opener as I had only imagined professional, glossy books. I think as I dig deeper through the project, the outcome for each emotion will become apparant…I hope! I think worrying about the final, polished outcomes has clouded my thoughts about what the possibilities might be. Definately a beneficial group discussion.

So plans for this week are:
Draw up larger (and neater!) storyboard for Jealousy with a few alternate options for certain shots to explore and find the most striking visual
Explore ideas for other emotions.
Look into different types of books.
Flick through arty/graphics books for any inspiration!
Get models sorted.

By the end of next week:
Shoot Jealousy.

Bang! Bang!

After discussing my initial ideas with the group today (you guys!) I’ve decided to go on the advice to expand my idea further by looking into other emotions other than jealousy. Jealousy is a strong emotion which may make us act physically in a certain way which we cannot control which is where the idea of type on bodies became relevent as it shows the physical effect it can have over us. Not the only emotion to do so and so can be easily adapted into the project. I will of course focus on the stronger ones-perhaps lust, fear, anxiety….these are bad aren’t they? Maybe love can go in there too…is lust bad? Something you can’t really control anyway. What do you think?

Now that I have broadened the horizons, other things I had somewhat set on need to be re-worked and thought more about. My original intention was that the outcome would be an animation. Now I am considering whether it would be better as still images. This doesn’t cause too much of a problem as the type of animation I was planning to do would have been stop motion from photographs so I suppose it doesn’t really matter as it gives me the option to do both (whichever I think contributes more to the work at the time). If I do decide to use stills then obviously I will then have to think about how I am going to present it-album, book, series across a wall etc.
Another question has popped up now that I am considering other emotions is what those emotions will say. My jealousy ideas all use lyrics from Mr Brightside by The Killers, so do I use other lyrics for the words in my other emotions-or perhaps poetry? I’m not sure whether it really matters if it’s lyrics or not, as long as it’s something poignant.

Any comments would be lovely and a great help.

Put the kettle on love, I might be here a while…