As I decided to lay my project out in stages rather then by week, I figured it would make more sense to put the weekly reflection on a separate blog post. Week OneThe first week went mostly to plan. I was able to generate three unique ideas for a project, and select the one I felt would best keep me engaged and challenge my artistic abilities. However despite these achievements I was not quite able to finish writing up everything on my blog yet, as it took me quite some time to come up with each idea. I don’t necessarily think this is a time management problem, more just a problem with me not being inspired by anything not covered by my first two ideas. Despite spring-boarding ideas off my peers. But ultimately, I did manage to come up with a third idea with a little help from my tutor. Next week I need to finish writing up my ideas on my blog, as well as doing research. Week TwoThis second week didn’t quite go to my initial plan as I was quite conscious of time. So I decided to instead start doing some sketches from my primary research of Shen Yun and flowers, in preparation of me designing/making my artwork. I specifically chose to draw from these two things as I knew for certain these were things I was going to include in my work. Given how they had themes of movement, narratives and naturalism, three topics I could link back to my research into Rococo art, whenever I actually got around to doing the said research. I also looked some design features of rococo patterns and fashion which I also knew I was going to include. Despite this not being to plan, I still think this week was pretty successful in terms of preparing to go forth with my ideas. I was also able to finish my generating ideas blog post which I didn’t from the week before. However, I am sensing the beginning a pattern here, whereby I’m always running out of time. Next week I will begin doing some sketches for my digital art alongside doing some research. Week ThreeDuring this week I conducted some research on illustration techniques, looking at various shading and sketching techniques. Specifically looking into the work of a few artists I knew I was going to draw inspiration from. I also sketched out some initial ideas. According to the my planner I should have been on the laser cutter workshop, however I was running out of time so I had to prioritise certain things over others. I also wasn’t entirely sure how I could fit laser cutting into my project so I elected to for-go it to save time. Next week I should write up my research, and begin sketching out ideas. Week FourThis is one of the few weeks that actually went according to my planner. As this week was primarily taken up with writing my essay, and doing some primary research such as going to Wolverhampton art gallery and Compton Verney. The first had some Georgian era paintings (same time period as rococo) and the second had Georgian and Baroque paintings and architecture. I also went to Attingham park, a national trust house and estate with baroque and rococo influences. While there I made sure to make a list of some paintings I thought might be useful for my essay, so I could refer to them at a later date. A slight constraint I faced this week was simply trying to find art that was firstly, the right time period and secondly, something I could actually use as evidence in my essay. Ultimately, I’m not sure if any of the art I saw will be applicable to my essay as I need specific evidence to support my points, evidence I’m more likely to find in France. But of course, going to France isn’t something that’s realistic going to happen. Next week I intent to make a start on generating outcomes. I also still need to catch up on the research. Week FiveThis week I started on my first outcome for my digital art section. As I was cautious of the time I decided to go with an illustration style that was by design messy. This would allow me to save time I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. Comparing this to my original planner, this is somewhat on schedule, even if it wasn’t what I originally had planned. But regardless, it is still progress. Again my major constraint I faced for this week was time, given how I knew I’d need more time at the end of the project to make more complex illustrations. Next week I should continue working on generating outcomes, trying to squeeze in writing up research whenever I can. Week SixDuring this week I created my second outcome, again having to change the illustration style and concept because of time constraints. I also still did not get a chance to write up the research as all of my time was taken up brain-storming, drawing and adjusting my second outcome. Comparing this to my planner, I am technically on track. I just need to remember to write up the research and update my blog with the progress I’ve made on my outcomes. Hopefully this is something I will be able to squeeze in next week in-between the making of my third design and screen printing, but honestly I’m not overly optimistic. Week SevenDuring this week I designed and made my screen prints, one the the few weeks that aligned with my planner. I also started on my third outcome, getting as far as the rending stage but not quite finishing it yet. This is something I intend to carry on into the next week. Again my main problem here is that I’m running out of time. A problem I think I can chase back to my habit of overthinking things, particularly in relation to my work. Which I pack the the brim with carefully considered symbolism, most of which isn’t even obvious without an explanation. A problem I don’t even necessarily know if I have a solution to, as that is just the way my brain works. Week EightSo with that in mind… as I said in the previous week, I began this week by finishing off rendering my third outcome. Once I had completed that I began work on my fourth outcome, however I was not quite able to finish it as finishing the previous outcome had set me back a bit. But with that being said, I managed to get as far beginning the first sections of the render. It also probably doesn’t help that this particular piece of work is a digital painting, recurring a lot of attention to detail and work hours. Comparing this week to my planner, it is clear that I greatly underestimated the amount of time I would need to make each individual outcome. As on my planner I have this week down as book binding, something that simply didn’t have time to do. With that in mind hopefully I can find another way to incorporate book making into a later week, perhaps when I consider presentation ideas for the exhibition. Next week, it is very possible I may just start on making my final piece even if my fourth outcome isn’t finished. As I need to prioritise it for the sake of the exhibition. Week NineAlthough I hadn’t finished my fourth outcome yet, I decided to move onto to making my final piece as I was running out time. Especially since I knew I needed to get the final piece done before the exhibition. And so this week was dedicated to making my final piece, specifically the planning phrase which including brainstorming, moodboard, sketching, rough colour and sketch refining. On my planner I have this week down as development but it is clear I greatly underestimated the amount of time it would take to create my final piece. Next week I intend to carrying on with my final piece, moving onto the rendering phrase of it. Week TenAs expected this week was entirely taken up with my continuing my final piece. Attempting to complete the complex rendering and lighting effects I need to add. Ultimately however, I was not quite able to completely finish it all during this week and so I will carrying on the with the finishing touches in the next week. When conferring with my planner, this week went very much to plan as I did indeed work on my final piece. I didn’t however print out my final like how I have intended, but this was because I changed my mind about how I was going to present my final at the exhibition. It was also partly because it wasn’t done yet. Again my major problem this week was time, especially as I knew I needed to give myself enough time to make a digital painting like this. Week ElevenThis week was a mad rush to get my final piece done in time for the exhibition, as I result of rushing I’m not entirely happy with my final piece as their after a couple of things that could’ve done with a little extra care such as some shadow mapping. But it is what it is. This week went in a similar direction to my planner, in that I was preparing for the exhibition. I just didn’t quite anticipate that I would still be working on my final piece during the beginning of the week. Over the next week (which happens to be a half term) I need to as much done as is physically possible, that includes writing up research, blog, evaluations, exhibition, everything. Week TwelveI spent the entirety of the half term doing as much of my blog as was physically possible, doing all the writing from blog post 2 up until the fourth outcome of blog post 4. At which point I had to stop writing so I could actually finish the fourth outcome, as I hadn’t had chance to yet. I then later went back and wrote up my fourth outcome, final piece, exhibition and anything else I had missed.
Though I am glad this week happened to fall on a week off, as it allowed me a little more time. I certainly didn’t feel like it made much difference, as I was still struggling and overworking myself. I also ended up losing two days to a migraine, a problem I seem to suffer from rather frequently, so that just delayed things further too. Ultimately, I did get everything done but not without an extreme level of stress I never want to repeat again.
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