I have come up with the idea of creating the '100' in 3D shapes with a cut out pattern on the back and cut out part of the front so you are able to see the design on the back and this is what I created below...

I decided to experiment and take photos of the 3D numbers in a park near to where I live.

Luckily I finally managed to catch a nice sunny day after many unlucky attempts on many rainy windy days. Although it was quite a still day the numbers kept turning around so it was hard to get a capture when all shapes were facing right way at the same time. However, this flaw could be a positive thing as it does create a bit of interest and movement to the photos.

This photo above is quite interesting, it has a very calm feel to it and fits in well with the background and I like the central composition.

These two images are examples of when I started to change the angle when photographing- aiming upwards, both very similar photos in respect to the composition however, the lighting when captured is different, I think I prefer the one below. (All of these photos are not edited on photoshop, I was tempted to experiment but I felt they were better left untouched.)

I like the idea of the 3D numbers hanging from the trees however, I don't feel it would be suitable for a poster, the background it too much of a distraction and I want to focus mainly on the '100', and add some more lighting to create shadow and emphasise the 3D shapes. So thats when I decided to experiment and capture the numbers on a white background.

...So I then took them inside and these are experimental photos. I changed the setting on my camera so the first few had warmer tones to the photographs like this one below.

I think I prefer this tone below though, as I think the colouring looks a lot more professional and suitable for a poster.

I decided to edit this photo and enhance the colour to make the shadows and shapes stand out more.

Using the feathered lights makes it look quite interesting however, I think I might keep it quite simple and photograph the '100' on it's own so you are not distracted by anything else.

Again, the contrast in lighting has been edited to create a dramatic effect.

Now it's time to add the text, I wasn't sure to keep the text small or continuing following the large style of the '100' numbers.

Task 2

As the task is to create a poster for 100 years of GF Smith paper, I want it to be striking and show off the interesting forms that paper can be made into.

One idea was the subject of 'trees'- I thought this could be a potentially good starting point and theme, after all, paper does come from trees!...

instead of actually constructing a paper tree I thought I could create a series of cuttings of patterns and words- which include the information needed in the poster; I would then physically attach the pieces to a tree outside, the paper could almost 'swoop' from branch to branch. The lighting aspect would be quite a challenge, however, I was thinking if I photographed the work on a sunny day and if I chose a certain location, that the sun could shine through onto the words and patterns- although this is a very ambitious idea, I want to give it ago. To include a 3D aspect to the piece I could include the 3D ball I made in task 1 hanging from a branch.

If this idea fails, a back up idea would still be the shapes, patterns and words carved out 2D however, I would try and add a few 3d shapes, it would then be photographed behind a white background with affective lighting. Another I idea would be to hang the piece in a window and let the natural light be a source to create shadow.

First of all, I will need to do some research on existing designers to get some inspiration; as I want to move away from the circular theme I was going for in task 1, I want to start looking at designers such as Helen Musslewhite's work; I love the use of colour and strong individual designs are very refreshing.

Here she has used numbers on patterned paper- I might use some sort of design on the lettering or even the '100' to make a dramatic statement.

Rob Ryan is a designer who makes very precise cuttings and intricate designs from paper.  

I love the use of colour in this piece; limiting it to just black white and a few dots of orange compliment each other well. 

Again, this is just black and white but with the amount of detail, no colour is needed.

As I am interested in making a few patterns cut out from paper as part of my design, I chose to have a look at the designer 'Shepard Fairey'; his designs are very bold and strong and the patterns are not too small in some of his designs, so would be a great source and inspiration to start working from.

Here are a few pattern designs I came up with in my sketchbook and I feel pretty confident as to which sort of style and design I will work towards in my final

Task 1

From making the previous shape, I like the concept of making a circular object for task 1 and perhaps using similar techniques. First of all i think I need to do a bit of research.

The last couple of days I have been keeping my eyes peeled for any structure or design that has a circular nature or pattern. I found this lamp shade(above) in Weatherspoons (quality not so good as it was taken on my camera phone). I love the exaggerated use of circles and the spiral design.

I have also been browsing on the internet to see if anything caught my eye, I have mainly been looking at light fixtures such as this one designed by 'Sukmo Koo and Young Taek Oh'. It looks to me as though this has been made out of card. It almost looks like a sea creature.

I then came across this birdcage by 'Kelly Lamp' designs. I love the simple design and the one triangle thats left.


Richard Sweeney:
Richard's work is a great inspiration to me, I love how he just uses white paper in all is work and it looks so effect and dramatic. He uses many different folds and scores to create fascinating shapes. For example the image below...

He has scored the shape in the middle to make the outline of the hole shapes go inwards, which is very similar to the technique I used in my previous shape, I plan to continuing using this technique in my final piece for task 1.

Above is an interesting shape, all the cut outs are all different sizes and shapes, the light inside enables the circular cut outs to create great shadows in the background.

Here are a few designs I made in my sketchbook before I went ahead with making...

After making a few sketches and designs in my sketchbook I decided to use the same technique as the circular shape I made before; however, this time I wanted to make more of a statement and make the shape look more complex. I decided to cut a circle in the middle of each piece and apply them all together to form a ball like the previous shape. Here you can see that I have used a stapler to hold the pieces together, however I am going to try and use glue and remove the staples as it was have a neater finish for when it hangs in the Atrium.

I think the use of lighting really helps capture the amount of circles used in this piece. The light in this photo below is quite bright and makes it look as if its a light fixture.

Here i wanted to capture the inside, the contrast of the big close up circles to the smaller ones looks quite effective.

I feel that this task was completed successfully and I achieved what I planned to do however, there can always be improvements with anything. I could have also managed my time slightly better and gone for a more complex design or even made more of these shapes in different sizes to be arranged together.

WORKSHOP 3!:
The next task was to.....

I achieved this shape by cutting individual circles, scoring a smaller circle in the centre and then making a cut to the centre of the circle to enable the shape to curve inwards; Making a total of 11 of these, I created a ball. I aim to create more of these 3D balls, larger and smaller in scale and have them hanging from a height.

Following the same technique, I decided to make smaller circles and use coloured paper- because the circles were smaller, I had to make a lot more to create the 3D ball.

Although I like this technique, I feel the finished product always seems to look untidy and unfinished. I want to make another 3D shape similar to this in respect to the circular shape, but using a different technique. Looking at examples of architecture and existing designs will help. Once I have made these 3D objects, I still wish to produce at least 3 or 4, all different sizes and hang them.

Jen Shark:

I love the use of bright colours in her work; the use of repetitive shapes and lines create illusional effects in some pieces. Shark's work reminds me of the artist 'Bridget Riley' who also uses geometric patterns and similar colours.

Taking inspiration from Jen Spark's work, I have experimented using similar shades of coloured paper. 

The technique I used was quite a long process; I created 30 of these 3D shapes, it was very hard trying to keep the shapes together as I didn't use an glue or tape, so it fell apart on many occasions!.

I started to make each shape with a 14cm by 14cm square of coloured paper and followed a Origami technique I had come across while browsing on the internet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kr0Og_HR7Q

I find this  very effective technique however, I want to explore more natural looking shapes and perhaps using colours that are more neutral......

Paper Engineering- Task 1

'Paper Engineering' was a subject quite new to me, especially the 3D aspect. However, I was very open minded and when Richard Sweeney introduced himself and his spectacular work, I was inspired and eager to give it a go myself.

With the themed topic 'Repeat', I have firstly experimented with a single sheet of paper, exploring as many different ways of folding and cutting shapes as I could. Messing around with the paper like this was a good starting point as it enabled me to figure out what shapes and techniques I could discover myself through exploration and imagination.

FIRST WORKSHOP: 

I decided to cut a series of strips along the paper, firstly cutting to the end of the paper, then gradually cutting further down, cutting a little slit above each strip, each one was then curled back and tucked into the cut slits.

The large hoops gradually get small which looks quite effective, especially when viewing through the 'tunnel' like in this photo below.

I then decided to develop this shape further by cutting more strips and adding the loops on the other side using the same technique.

 Adding this simple technique to the other side, it looks more complex. The use of lighting enables you to really appreciate the large number delicate hoops used. I really like the use of shadows in this photo below. I want to try and create more complicated shapes as the ones I have produced are very simple and are very far from the standards of Richard Sweeney's work!

After making these shapes, they have similar characteristics as waves, or shells; below are some secondary images I have researched to develop this idea further, it will hopefully give me some inspiration to create some new shapes!

To achieve this shell look, I have began to experiment using folds making a concertina.

I experimented and designed a few ideas in my sketchbook, exploring this 'shell' theme.

I produced this idea, which is a series of strips of paper, attached with pins at the top and bottom which enabled the shape to twist into many forms.

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SECOND WORKSHOP:

Another task was to cut a series of lines on a piece of paper and then produce our own individual shapes.

Here I decided to make folds on each single strip of paper, make the folds go up and gradually down each time to form a zig-zag effect.

Then with the same technique, I decided to then make the folds at random which produced a interesting outcome, the folds create the strips of paper to almost represent piano keys.

I want to explore these techniques further to create a more 3D effect also explore the photography aspects, particularly using different lighting to create dramatic shadows and affects.

With the theme 'line' and use of cut out strips I had been using, I decided to develop this idea more. Using a single piece of paper, I cut a series of strips down the centre of the paper (not cutting to the edge). I made each line a different length. The make a fold down the centre I pulled the individual strips up to create triangle shapes.