We got started straight away this week on taking our digital self portraits from last week into ‘z brush’ a 3D modelling programme. Chris Carter, sculpture technician, led club members through the process using a generic face, which they ‘wrapped’ their own images on to. These will be developed into an ‘analogue’ 3D model next session.
In contrast to the digital portraits the other half of the session explored basic collage techniques using found imagery and text from magazines and newspapers. Georgia De Buriatte, third year Fine Art student and Saturday Club assistant, showed us examples of her books and zines where she uses simple collage techniques, letter press, risograph printing and photocopying to develop imagery and ideas. We discussed the role of zines to create networks of people with common interests in the pre internet days and how artists often use this cheap and easily reproducible format as a way of getting their work out to a wider audience. Georgia showed us a range of different artists’ zines and bookbinding methods and then demonstrated a simple fold and cut technique which we used to create our own format to work on. Using the materials given we developed ground papers and created text and imagery; exploring the theme of portrait in a very loose, playful way.
Everyone got cutting and sticking; the finished zines were graphic and direct, exploring the possibilities for a process that could be extended further in all kinds of directions. The group embraced this approach of letting the materials and the methods lead the outcomes, rather than planning what to make at the outset. Reflecting on unexpected results and intuitive ways of working that show what you are naturally drawn to and how you like to make.
