Alifevest

Back to Sculpture, a second day on carving my Life vest from stone.

Look, here is the intermediate result...



Life vest in the make

I'd like to bring in an additional material that would go with the idea of a life vest. I am thinking about SEAWEED.

Seeing the life vest and the seaweed would - to my humble opinion - open up a world of imagination; what happened? where is the sailor? where is the ship? where is the beach, this life vest was found on? etc...

The important aspect though is that the seaweed would also have to be carved, not glued together. Therefore, I have to think of a material that lends itself to be carved / reduced to the shape of seaweed. The color might play an important part as does the texture. Got any ideas, oh dear Bloggers?



Courtesy www.fotografik.com

Seaweed, but what to make it of?

PROGRESS REPORT - TERM TWO [Block 3 of 4]

The jury at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) has judged again my performance and works from January 2006 onwards and has come to the following scores:

PROGRESS REPORT - TERM TWO

Block 3 of 4

Subject	Work (subset)	Comments	Grade
Core Drawing for Sculpture, Arran Ross		Because of previous lack of experience, this block has been difficult for Willem. It has been a very steep learning curve. He is an eager and aware student and also articulates what he is learning. The understanding is there but it is not yet materialising in an end result. It is considerable progress though. Especially in relation to the start. Well done for the perseverence.	D = the work is of an ACCEPTABLE standard
Digital Imaging, Joanna Kane		Technically very well handled work, well controlled selections, layering and adjustments, and very methodical approach to learning. Exploring interesting ideas around repetition which have potential for future development. Some work perhaps a little constrained by working with Photoshop as an illustrative graphic tool, rather than a more flexible communicative or expressive medium.	B = the work is of a HIGH standard
Graphic Design, Zoe Patterson / Colleen Pugh		A quirky, imaginative project with many levels and mediums. Use of materials was funny yet well thought through. Willem set a high standard for himself, was engaging in class and a pleasure to teach. Well done.	B = the work is of a HIGH standard
Tapestry, Loren Slater		During this project, Willem produced work that showed a high level of artistic development over the 5 days. He is committed and has a good level of creativity. He produced a very successful site-specific piece that was well made, interesting and well presented. He demonstrated excellent making skills and a high level of understanding of the subject.	A = the work is of an EXCELLENT standard
Sculpture, Paul Carter		Showed a high level of commitment during the construction project and produced an interesting and well-executed sculpture. The choice to 'play out' an act of protection between a number of sculptures led to a positive quality of object-base performance which was inherently dynamic, especially due to the kinetic nature of many of the individual elements. The mixed-media elements were well chosen and well used with attention paid to their qualities, both aesthetic and functional. The final sculpture was 'alive' in a number of ways and the level of humanity was evident through the fact that it 'died' when the power ran out. Very good work.	B = the work is of a HIGH standard

In addition I have had to hand-in my Choice-sheet of which two subjects I would like to study in the Second Year. It will be either (1) Film & TV or (2) Graphic Design for me. Animation has fallen back to (3)rd choice, as I found out it is very individualistic, less of a team activity.



My choice, King first, Queen second

Chances are I do NOT get into either of them, because of the vast number of students that apply and the limited number of available seats.

Then.... I would have to steer towards another College or University. Likely candidates are Glasgow School of Art or University of Dundee.

Can did Camera

A fresh start of yet another subject, taught to me at the College of Art; Video, an Introduction to the moving image.

After seeing some really good samples of videos made by others (including a beautiful opening of the series "Six feet under") our tutor Rob Page introduced us to video-making terms like:

ES - Estabishing Shot
WS - Wide Shot
MCU - medium Close Up
CU - Close Up
ECU - Extreme Close Up
CA - Cut Away
EXT - Exterior
INT - Interior

Next we were to play with a semi-professional camera (Canon XM1) and tripod (Manfrotto).



Canon XM1 worth ca 1600 GBP



Manfrotto Tripod worth ca 200 GBP

Presented with a blank High Definition video tape (miniDV) my group (Samantha Whyte, Malcolm Watts and Willem van Heemstra) imagined the following story to record:

DO NOT SHAKE

This story is actually something taken from personal experience, 
when I (Willem) had my interview at the College of Art, 
presenting them with my portfolio of work.

A girl (Samantha) has her acceptance interview at an Art College 
and is bringing her portfolio (read: bag with art work) along with her. 
When she enters the waiting room she meets another interviewee, 
a guy (Malcolm). 

They wait for them to be called into the examining room. 

Malcolm seems enthusiastic and is convinced of passing the test in the interview. 
Sam is not sure at all, she is nervous. Malcolm is called inside by the interviewer (Willem). 
Sam has to wait... and wait... and wait. Her patience is not under her control 
and she starts fidging with her hair, biting her nails, watching her watch, moving her feet. 

She then decides to move one seat closer to the office, where Malcolm had sat. 
This gives her some reassurance. We as the audience hear her rethinking all the encouraging comments 
she had received before going to the interview. Friends saying that she would surely pass 
as her work was so nice and delicately painted. 
She calms down. 

Then Malcolm comes out of the office... devastated. His head down, 
his mind set to leave the place as soon as possible. 
The interviewer asks Sam to wait yet another five minutes before entering, 
in the meantime she could drink her coffee. 

Wrecked from nerves after seeing Malcolm fail the test she is trembling and shaking 
... and so is her can of coffee.

The interviewer tries to catch her attention, but Sam is paralyzed. 
She is shaking her can of coffee forcefully and just about when she is knocked on her shoulder, 
her portfolio with all her work open on the chair, 
she breaks the lid of the can ... WHOOOOOSHH.

A close-up of the can 'Do Not Shake'.

This can does exist and it has smudged me on more than one occassion.



Kenco, Cappio iced cappuccino



Read the warning on the back! DO NOT SHAKE

And this is what the manufacturer says about their product:

Kenco Ice Cappio is the perfect indulgent treat for your customers. It’s an exciting taste experience for the summer months as it is served straight from the chiller.

Kenco Ice Cappio is presented in a 200ml can using the world’s first ‘widget’ in a non-alcoholic drink. Your customers will love the distinctive ‘whoooooshhh’ sound on opening and the rich, creamy, coffee aroma which gets the senses tingling the moment the can is opened.

As the drink is poured and allowed to settle, two distinct layers are formed with a smooth velvety texture beneath a soft frothy top.

Source: Kraft Foods - Away from Home

The storyboard and shooting is due tomorrow... I got four cans, just in case ;o)

+++ Six Feet Under +++
source: http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/credits/index.shtml#

watch it



=== Six Feet Under ===