Step 9: eye tutorial

This was a bonus work to do. It has a positive effect when the teacher is thinking of our grades. We had a paper, in which was a tutorial of how to draw an eye. Only one instruction was given: copy it. Or in other words. just draw an eye. And so we did. The tutorial was this:

 

I didn't pursue to implement exactly same eye as the photo. I wanted the eye lashes to be more natural, haha. I like it and I think it goes to the eye. And it only took me about one and a half an hour! Enough with the speeches, here's my eye.

This was the last post to this blog. The course is finished and I had a great time. I learnt well and I think I've found some inner artist inside of me I never knew existed. Once more, thank you Leena.

-Tuulia

Step 8: a work of art inside a work of art

How funny does the name of the next project sound like. At least to my ears. The photo below describes the following project we were working on the past few weeks. It's an eye, in which has been included a clock. Can you see it?

Before we were given the instructions, the teacher presented us some compositions which are being used when working in art.

COMPOSITION

In generally, what does that word mean? It means a work of art, in which the ensemble matters and where all the shapes and colors have been defined into a groups. Here's an example of one composition, where the shapes and colors have all the attention.

There are different kinds of compositions. That is just one way to do it. You can make your work of art to follow the horizontal composition. The horizontal composition can be longitudinally or transversely (pitkittäin tai poikittain). It's peaceful and it highlights (korostaa) distance and space. In this following work of art below, can you see how your eye lie when watching it. Brilliant, right the one for me, I'd say.

 

The next composition was vertical composition. It sticks still and it has its upward (kohoava) power. It can be lofty and solemn (ylevä ja juhlallinen). Like this. It looks beautiful, but not my thing to do..

Next we had a diagonal composition. It's full of lines, going from point A to point B and it doesn't always even make any sense. It's lively, effective and dramatic. In the works of art are movement and tension. You might lose your eyes when watching it.

Triangle composition is where the most important thing has been caught in a triangle. A circular composition has the same prerequisite (edellytys) as the triangle composition. I found these two pictures to describe my point in case. As you can see, in religious art these two compositions have been very useful and common.

One more composition left to introduce. The golden section. It follows the rule of third. I found it easy to be used in art.

Now to the main point, our final project. We had to apply all learned in this. 

INSTRUCTIONS:

that we were given to this project

★ Design your own "the work of art inside a work of art" selected on the basis of image

★ Use one or more compositions in it

★ Implementation (toteutus): big paper, pencil, acrylic colors, water colors etc.

★  Try to hide the image as invisibly as possible

MY WORK OF ART INSIDE A WORK OF ART

I admit that I didn't succeed as I had hoped. The picture I chose doesn't merge (sulautua) inside the ensemble. Not that it bothers me much because I like all the other thing where I succeeded in my work. The colors, the flower. My work was so simple to implement. I used the golden section and diagonal composition. Maybe I used the triangle composition too.. It's your decision. 

I wanted to use pink. So I made the wallpaper gradient (liukuvärjätty). And that's one of the things I like and succeeded in. What I see in my work of art, is a room, in which is one basic black table and on the table is a vase full of sunflowers. The table is in front of, or actually under the blackboard, in which is "hidden" the picture, as you can see. What I wanted, was that when you look the work, your eyes can rest. Your eyes don't have to search for details, because there isn't one. My symmetrical skills you can see clearly. The table is straight, the vase is straight compared to the table leg and the blackboard.The blackboard is in straight position compared to the room but the frames aren't that symmetrical. Guess there is the diagonal composition which doesn't follow any rules.

In the vase and in the flowers I wanted to learn three-dimensionality. And I learnt. I think I have nothing to add to this report. Hope you liked it!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that this course has been completed now. I have done all the compulsory works now and even few bonuses, and in my next post I will reveal my latest work. Thank you, Leena, the course was pleasent to me. :)

In here I give you the links to the posts of my earlier works. Here's the summary of the course.

1. zentangle (finished)

2.  rhythm in art

3. photo collage

4. sculpture

5. a work of art inside a work of art

One more post is about to come, so yet don't abandon my blog!

Step 7: frost painting

The idea to this was given by our teacher. I mentioned the frost painting in my earlier post (which you can read in here). The frost painting I made was implemented (toteutettu) by using a buttermilk (piimä). Yes, I really mean the buttermilk. And nonfat. And of course you need a paintbrush and a bowl where you put the buttermilk.

The implemention was easy, just paint whatever is in your mind. I chose ordinary curls to there and there. Then I tried to be creative so I painted a flower, if you can recognize it to be one. If I was any taller, the painting would have filled the whole windowarea but luckily I have drapes that cover the top. The painting took me only half an hour and this is how the result looked like. 

I liked it and I'm going to keep it in the window for some time. Can't wait until tomorrow to see how it looks like in a daylight! I recommend this kind of home art to everyone who has buttermilk and a paintbrush in their house and a boring day with a boring window. This really makes your day and there's no way you could fail it. Even I didn't fail it! 

Buenas noches.

Step 6: sculpture

James Kelsey

Sculpture, alias plastic composition is traditionally three-dimensional (kolmiulotteinen) sculpture which is made by carving and using as a material marble, wood, gypsum (kipsi), clay (savi) or granade. Nowadays the term includes also other materials like paper, plastic, trash etc.

No matter which angle you look the sculpture, it should look harmony and beautiful looked from every sight so it's a plastic composition. - Unto Pusa

SCULPTURE VOCUBULARY

Statue = a sculpture standing free 

Bas-relief sculpture = interest sculpture (korkokuvaveisto)

Monument = a largish memorial

Installation = an object ensemble designed specially to be placed to a certain space

 

The Statue of Liberty 

Scottdale's Art School - Portrait 

 

Easter Island

Matchstickmen by Wolfgang Stiller

In plastic composition you try to reach a certain thrill in your spectator. The movement is also an important element in the sculpture. It should be handled in many different sights in which case we can talk about tasteful plastic status. The emptiness in the sculpture is as important as the shape and the mass in the sculpture. The sculpture needs space to its surroundings to get to its rights. (Dialogue with the space.)

Henry Moore 

Our next project has something to do with an artist Henry Moore, so I'm gonna give you a short introduction of him.

HENRY MOORE (30. July 1898-31. August 1986)

★ English sculptor

★ Favorite topics half-abstracts and surrealistic sculptures

★ Influences aot. mayas and Toltecs (Chac Mool)

★ Click here to get more information about him 

The assignment we were given, was supposed to be executed in pairs. We were supposed to do a sculpture of a couple (veistospari) with Henry Moore's spirit in it. My pair was Jenni Korteniemi.

INSTRUCTIONS:

that we were given to this project

★ Design with your pair a sculpture of a couple

★ Implementation (toteutus): use clay and the opposite of the word couple (vastakohtainen sanapari) 

(for instance: happiness — sadness)

★  Notice in your work the meaning of the negative space!

★ Make your sculpture abstract or half-abstract

★ The finished sculptures can be painted after drainage (kuivatus) and clay combustion (polttaminen)

OUR SCULPTURE OF A COUPLE

On the blackboard were 10 pairs of opposite of the word couples. Method was "fast eat the slow". So when the words were on the blackboard, we decided fast our theme to the next project. We ended up choosing abundance  — scarcity (runsaus — niukkuus). 

I had never before worked with clay so everything about it was new for me. We were given a glimp of clay (weight about 1-2 kilos). First we had to squeeze the air bubbles in the clay. The clay was stiff that you actually had to have some power in your arms to squeeze the clay. But it was fun and before long the clay warmed and was easily customizable (muotoiltavissa). 

We had planned the whole ensemble before we stained our hands in clay. Jenni did a bunch of grapes (viinirypäleterttu) which symbolized the abundance. To me there was left to do something that symbolized scarcity. So I worked out to do a bowl which contained only one fruit, an apple. Quite empty, hah? Because we had a sure-fire (vuorenvarma) plan, we had actually done the work to its halfway. All there was left to do was the main execution which didn't take long from us. 

When working with clay you must remember that it can't be too thin. In clay combustion the work can be ruined, it can burst for example. And you must hollow out the sculpture. In the bunch of grapes you can hollow out the sculpture from the bottom, like Jenni did. My bowl was already hollow.. but my apple?

I hollowed out the small apple and then I added it to the bowl. It was kinda cute. :D Thank God I had plenty of time to finalize my work. (A word of caution! Never use water when smoothing your clay sculpture. It's a minute relief (hetken helpotus) until it turns out to be a huge mistake!)

While I was waiting for Jenni to get her sculpture done, Leena asked me if I wanted to paint to the windows with BUTTERMILK (piimä) !? Could you believe it? Well, I said yes and it was awesome! I am so gonna try it at home too. I had never thought that you could do something so beautiful with buttermilk. I will post about the window paintings some day in here in my blog. 

In here you can see the size of the sculptures. They fit into her hands and didn't weight much.

This picture, as well as all the other pictures, was taken with Snapchat (Application available on the Appstore and Play Store). With the application I added the colorful symbols of the bunch of grapes and the apple to visualize what the sculptures presented. Funny, I'd say.

All in all, this was so nice work to do. My attitude to this was once again like this: "I am so skilless at this kind of things". I outdid myself (ylitin itseni) with this again and I am so proud of it. The work totally met my expectations and I am so proud of the result, we both are. It was totally a pleasure to me to work with Jenni. Our teamwork was first class. We did the work on schedule and were ready to lend a helping hand to each other if it was needed. 

Ladys and gentlemen:

ABUNDANCE — SCARCITY

by Tuulia Salmi and Jenni Korteniemi

Step 5: photo collage

Photo collage is an ensemble where you put together ready images cut off for example from magazines, newspapers, posters, handbills (mainoslehtinen) or printed from the net. 

The material can be processed manually with computer or copy printer. If you use the cut off images, you can form your ensemble using paper glue and your mind. Let your imagination flow free. Before sticking the images to their final places, plan the outlines (hahmotelma) so that you'll have a ready plan in your head. All there's left to do is to unite the material.

Photo collage's meaning is to form an ensemble with either an aesthetic or position taking (kantaaottava) theme. Here's an example of an aesthethic ensemble:

The ensemble is created from random pictures which are cut off randomly. You can see human's faces in the ensemble and other random stuff if you look closely to it.

The position taking theme stands for something, for example human's rights, racism or animal's rights. What I see, is that photo collages which take position against human racism or animal abuse have actually influence on people and their attitude to the things collages stand against. 

What I stand for is: "Racism is always wrong." God has created us to be one unite species, not separeted race classified as "white" and "black" people.

Help change the world. Stop the animal abuse. We are one step closer to create a better world, if you are the one to take the first step.

Oh, how I got lost from  the main subject when I was talking about things I stand for. But now let's take a step to the main topic: our assignment. 

INSTRUCTIONS:

that we were given to this project

★ This work will be executed by using the application (available on the Appstore and Play store) BAZAART

★ Desing either your own photo collage or position taking collage by using "cut and glue" technique. The position taking collage should stand for animals rights.

★ Use the options of the application versatile (monipuolisesti)

★ Send the finished work to this email: leena.nykanen@roiedu.fi

MY OWN PHOTO COLLAGE

I chose to do an own photo collage. So it's about my life. I joined together, in one picture, some of my passions (so there are many of them). I didn't take screen captures while processing this work so here's the whole work in its entirety (kokonaisuudessaan).

To my opinion, in this ensemble you can see clearly some passions in my life. Just some things I enjoy in my life. The background symbolizes my passion for travelling and the girl in the bikini, (doing an aerial [ilmassa tehtävä akrobaattinen liike]) symbolizes my passion for exercise (fit shape). To be able to do things like that, you must have the required strength training for it. 

The two gymnastics in the wing (I copied the other one) symbolizes my passion for teamgym, my main hobby. If you are likely to know more about gymnastics, check out this link! The food in the other hand... It symbolizes my love to food! Though it's not fitness food like salads and fruits... Whatever. 

The earphones, looking like notes, symbolizes my passion, and now I really mean passion, for music. I couldn't life without music. Singing and listening to music reaches so many emotions in me. It holds memories and it holds athmosphere for instance in parties.

And the hands right above symbolizes my passion for nailart and manicure. It is, if anything, that requires a steady hand, because it's so penalty for the exact (pilkuntarkkaa). But I enjoy it and the result is always a good motivation. You get pretty nails at least for one week.

So, just some things in my life in one picture. 

I'm contented to this work. The editing process was slow. I had to remove all the spare around the pictures' details I wanted to be cut off in my photo collage. For example, I removed all the spare from this pic so that I got only the "flying" girl to my ensemble.

photo from instagram.com/tuulia28

PS. Today's left 93 days until summer holiday begins!

Step 4: rhythm in art

Rhythm. What does that word mean to you? To me it means the joy of life. Rhythm is everywhere, in everything you do, see or are. You breath with rhytm, either fast or slow (if you're running or walking), your heart beats to the rhythm and your days go by with rhythm, first is Monday, then comes Tuesday etc. And music! It's all about the rhythm. Sheets in your bed probably have a some kind of regular pattern so it follows rhythm as well. 

In art rhythm is finging bounded or free rhythm. You can find both for instance in a wooden sculpture (veistos). Bounded rhythm means it follows regularity, like this piece of art. 

Free rhythm follows its own instincts. It's like every single snow flake; you can't find a perfect match because they are all unique. Here's a picture of free rhythm. I think the necklace I chose to illustriate the free rhythm is wonderful. I must have it!

A good example of the mix both bounded and free rhythm piece of art is this sculpture.

This sculpture is named as "Sibelius Monument". The bounded rhythm in the sculpture is how all the pipes go the same direction, longitudinally (pitkittäin). The free rhythm in the sculpture is how the pipes are all different length as you can see in the picture.

How to bring out more the rhythm? You can use lights, colors, different shapes or changing shadows and it brings out its personal look. 

Our assignment was to do our own sculpture of "rhythm".

INSTRUCTIONS:

that we were given to this project

★ Design your own sculpture with the headline "Rhythm" by using wooden sticks and blocks. Fasten (kiinnitä) them by using a hot glue gun.

★ When the sculpture is ready, it can be painted with acrylic paint

★ The sculpture must include both bounded and free rhythm

MY RHYTHM

Once again, when the assignment was given, my very first thought was like "oh crap, I have no idea of what I should do with these wooden sticks and blocks.. not to mention the hot glue gun." I had never before used a hot glue gun but luckily I learnt it very quickly! The second thought was that instead of waisting time and thinking what I should do, I decided to go with the flow and I started to think the diamond in my ring. So, I started to build a diamond of the sticks. The picture above is the first step in my project, just a draft (luonnostelma).

By Friday I had visualized the whole sculpture in my head so I just had to put the puzzles together. It only took me an hour. 

Half way there... only colors missing and about dozen sticks.

Now it's done! I photoshooted it from different angles. It looks good whether you look it above or straight. I like it and it was just what I wanted. The pedestal is high lighting the main sculpture. It's there to "lifting" the sculpture above to its rights and that idea was given by our teacher. :)