FRANCE, adventures in travel and art: March 2013

A French student very kindly gave us a map with recommended places to visit in Lyon. We arrived in Lyon at 11.30 and our train home was at 6.30, there was too much to do and too little time!

Botanical gardens in Parc de la tete d'or

We then visited the Museum of contemporary art was really interesting, varied ideas about art and a mix of media...

Pretty slack the exhibition staff didn't even mind this kid running in the middle of one of the art pieces!

Over the river and up a million stairs. view from Croix Rousse.

Found an English pub called 'the Dogs Bollocks'
But they still didn't serve a normal cup of tea!

Lyons old town, over the river Saone

There is a lot of street art in Lyon including graffiti in places you have no idea how they got there.

But most of all the beautiful building high murals.

I am hoping to go back to Lyon soon as there is a lot more I want to explore...

Drawing class jeudi 14 Mars.

The class was based on repetition, everyone in the class did something different, from doodles, abstracts, repeating pattern, mark making, scribbles, and drawing from life to drawing cats with crabs legs...

I based my drawings on pattern taking inspiration from maps.

Painting class lundi 18 Mars
Linear abstract painting

Book Binding

voilà!
after trimming the book it looks great.
Time consuming but enjoyable.

Photography

Today we were experimenting with taking photos with different depths of field. Its funny being in a photography class and a French class at the same time. Learning about the cameras in French then translating it all into English and back to French. These lessons are great though, learning a lot.

We then went into the dark room and experimented-

adding items on top of photo paper.
exposing the image using the enlarger
- developing the negatives
in these images there is-
plastic bag
cup
wire
toy bike
tablet packet
tea tags
plastic label
netting
film
light bulb
felt shapes
tea strainer
string

This image was an accident. While I was placing my items to expose, the door was opened letting the light in. (approx 20 seconds through a small space in the door) this meant that the image started to develop. I then moved some of the items and exposed the image properly.
This meant that it was double exposed. so the light parts of this image are where the light didn't get to the photo paper either times it was exposed to light.
I found this interesting and it gave me a few ideas of how to develop this technique...

create a more layered effect by placing heavy items down first (less translucent) to create a background, patterned paper, fabric, written note book pages etc. expose this for a short amount of time (5seconds approx) then place four-ground items on top of this and expose again for a short amount of time. wherever the photo-paper is covered with something for both exposures this will be the lightest part of the piece, some of the background pattern will show through and create interesting texture. I want to experiment with this idea further...
It would be interesting to move an item across the photo paper while it is being exposed. to do this I would have to fix the paper down first then use something thin to push the object (otherwise my hand would clock the exposure)

items to use-

learning french note book paper
crossword paper
patterned fabric
tissue paper
photocopys of maps and houses
treacing paper drawings and text
origami
leaves, flowers
food pacaging
tickets
recipts
more items linked with theme

Dessiner

we went to an artist conference instead of a lesson today but we did go through the drawing brief with Geraldine
We have to finish work for an exhibition on the 2nd of May!!!

Project ideas...

Present as photography

Make a set up in the photography room and exhibit the photos.

Maps drawn on faces, places we have been

Would be good if it was us 4. as my idea is to resemble the difficulties of direction and understanding.

Don't think it would be feasible to include myself as I want to take the photos!

Could be origami/folding techniques using houses and roads as inspiration.

Head dress/ neck piece maps and paper...

I want to include text in the piece also.