Laser cutting technology lark...

After showing my idea of what could possibly be my end piece, I was advised that maybe using a laser cutting machines would really finish the piece off and avoid the drawn lines, uneven slices and odd shapes, due to human error. This machine would be able to cut each piece the exact same! Genius.....

So as I attended the laser cutting session (first entry of my blog) I had a rough idea of how to go about the make the template. So I drew up the template in Adobe Illustrator (if I am completely honest it was the most difficult part in the making seen as I am not that confident in using that program as yet) so I ended up with this.....

This was then opened up into Corel Draw X4 software, where I changed the lines to a 'hairline' width so the laser cutting machine would recognise it as a 'cut' line and the score lines would be thicker than 0.25mm to indicate the software to 'score' the line. I ran a test sheet, to see whether the laser was set correctly and it was however..... there was only one slight problem....

The cut was perfect, a nice crisp edge, no burnt edges just that...

I didn't set up the machine properly, I thought the page on the screen was indicating the A4 paper, but unknown to my knowledge it was actually the bed of the laser cutting machine. So they were too large and only half the size. EPIC FAIL. However after I set the machine up again (properly) I was on a roll and nothing was stopping me. A couple of cheeky JPEGS and movie of the process in action....

The novelty quickly wore off seen as I did 50 A4 pages of templates.

What a co-inky dink?

I was in Meadowhall the other week, just for a walkabout to take a break from work. As I looked across the place, what was I too see. Monsoon's shop window which was decorated using paper! Even when I was trying to get away from my projects for a bit, they were still there haunting me! Nice bit of research. Blogged.

What were the chances of that?

In the third workshop which was led by Richard Sweeney, we were concentrating on his techniques of creating paper sculptures using modular shapes. He showed us a technique of cutting out shapes with tabs to create a net.  much like this image below.

However I started to make a modular form in a different way, some of Sweeny's work much like these images below really inspired me and I challenged myself to see if I could create one of my own.

To create these kind of models, you have to consider basic geometry and tessellation, and possibly symmetry  so you can make the model look balanced and equal no matter what angle it is photographed.  A lot of his works base from ahexagon or square so he can build on them further, avoiding from his sculptures becoming restricted. 

For my template, I just decided to base mine on a circle (probably the most difficult shape to tessellate) but it was worth a try, when I thought of this idea I didn't really expect much seen as I didn't plan out what I wanted to do. Anywho, this is the template...

To make is more 3 dimensional, I scored from the centre out and down each prong so I could fold them to make it create an edge. 

Then, I started bending and pushing the shape to it's limits. Then I simply folded shape in half, I was able to that because of the circle at the base (so maybe that circle wasn't as useless as first anticipated). This shape made it much more easier to tessallate. So lets see how far I could push the boar out till the point I could not tessellate it....

This was the result of tessellating the shape, a skeletal flower? Perhaps. The beginnings of a snowflake, perhaps? But I could see that this was a good interpretation of a human egg cell. I could only tell if it would be appropriate if I carry on adding more...

However, I though how am I going to create a spherical model? Nevermind, I will cross that hurdle when the time came to it. Another thought that sprung to mind was the fact that not only the pattern off the model is repetitive but the actual method of putting the model together was also repetitive. The cutting out of the template, then scoring, folding, stapling, over and over again. My model fitted into the brief without realising and without the intention. Result. 

I carried on and here are some photographs to show the result....

Just simply passing light through the shape and photographing them resulted in some quirky photographs of the shadow. 

Looking at these images, and showing them to peers, tutors and family, they instantly asked is this a snowflake? "NO." I would answer, "A human egg cell." Then I would have a few blank faces looking at me. I don't care, the human egg cell is a far more interesting idea than a silly snowflake. 

There is another problem now that I need to overcome, I would I make it spherical? Wire? Possibly... 

As I took my model down from it's hanging position on the side, I held it from the top, the sides droop down. As if Isaac Newton was looking over my shoulder, the natural presence of gravity created a more spherical shape! Happy days.... (although a little bit of wire would do the trick!)

So it just goes to show you that the risks that you can take can be the start of an idea which really works for you... What were the chances of that?! 

Isn't the human anatomy, amazing?

I have experimented different techniques just so I could get to grips with the actual material and how it works. Each method whether it be scoring, slicing, pleating etc. the paper, they all result in a very different outcome. Some methods like slice and bending work hand in hand together and allow the paper to over come it's own restrictions.

Now I feel that I am more comfortable with working with the paper I need to knuckle down to a theme so I can experiment further.....

I have always been interested in the human anatomy, how it works, how it grows etc. The parts that interest me the most are the heart, obviously one of the most important organs in the body. This organ relates the main theme of the project of  repeat by the action it plays in a human body. The repeatitive pumping motion that keeps the blood flowing through the body.

Another one is the lungs, this links back to the theme of repeat because of there process in the body, they expand and deflate constantly with a repeating process of gases being exchanged within the space. Also the actual formation of the lungs, when the alveoli is put under a powerful microscope, the images are amazing....

Microscopy of the human lung shows the small passages for the air to pass through. Under a powerful microscope I can see great potential for the paper sculptures because if the repetitive nature of the surface pattern. It's just a matter of sampling which technique would be best to recreate this in paper. 

Another part or process of the human body which is interesting is the moment where conception occurs. I have found some images on the internet of the human egg under a powerful microscope. This is related to the theme of  'repetition' not only because of the psychical appearance the hexagonal structure but, theoretically. The menstrual cycle is repetitive in the way the process as in lasts for 28days, the process repeats of the release of the egg. The fact that your reproductive system repeats a regular pattern of events.

As you can see from the images, the best way to recreate this form would either be in the repetition of modular shapes, or cut offs. I will experiment this within my next blog. 

Untitled - The Video explains it all....

Mia Pearlman

Patience is certainly not my forté....

Just carrying on experimenting with methods and techniques of scoring, bending, folding, slicing and joining of the paper....

Sweeney's workshop 2...

In this worshop we were working on the using larger sheets of paper and using Richards method of slicing the paper in regular intervals of 1.5 cm, so when the paper folds, the paper is less restricted an curves.

Paper has NO limitations.... Research. 31/01/11

M/E/E/T T/H/E/ M/A/K/E/R/S

We all use paper, card, canvas to paint, draw onto, but artists are quickly devising stunning methods of making art out of paper. Origami has always been a traditional method, the folding of paper...

Examples of origami........

Not only Richard Sweeney creates beautiful sculptures but I've come across a bunch of paper engineers....
Firstly....

J/E/N/ S/T/A/R/K

Colour, especially the rainbow prism colour scale is involved in her work.

Shapes which are very angular and precise.

However there is a fun element to her work and the word 'SURPRISE' always spring to mind seen as they appear to 'jumping' out of open books and cracks in the wall.

Jen Stark uses a mixed media of foam and paper. She alternates her method of cutting the paper, sometimes she handcuts it or other times she uses a laser cutter for precision and efficiency. Her work inspires from sliced anatomy and microscopy to form abstract pieces. 

It's too say the least that her work is somewhat, mesmerising....

R/O/B R/Y/A/N/

Love is illustrated via using the deep red colour.

He uses a lot of birds, flowers and flowing lines in his works.

Rob Ryan's work is delicate, not only as a subject but contextually, he explores the themes of love and loneliness and his method of working really reflects on these themes. So much attention has been made to the detail. Writing a sentence from a poem to go along with the picture to illustrate the shortest story. 

His work normally consists of two contrasting colours.

Y/U/L/I/A  B/R/O/D/S/K/Y/A

This illustrator truly inspires me, every element about her work whether it be colour, the shapes, the way she works the material, I love. I find typography rather dull, but her work really makes type exciting and some  unique. Intricacy plays a part in her work as she forms each letter, shape with a tightly rolled cartridge paper or a traditional method called quilling.

Definately, one of my inspirations.

“Typography is my second love, after paper and I’m really happy that I’ve found a way of combining the two. Having said that, I don’t want to exclude non-typobased designs, I’d like to work on different projects.”  - (Computer Arts projects issue 133, p87