FMP Journal

Week 1

This week is the beginning of our FMP. We have been asked to think about possible ideas we could do for our project. This week we are to come up with a rough copy of our proposal.

My initial idea has come from listening to the song 'Beauty of the End' by Paloma Faith. I want my project to be based on death, but instead of looking at it from a depressing and morbid point of view, look at it from a more positive and celebratory point of view. This idea came from a fascination with the Mexican Day of the Dead, and think combining the two will make for an interesting project, different to any we have done this year.    

Week 2

This is our week off, and we have been asked to research possible artists that would support our project.  I have looked at artist Jose Guadalupe Posada who's art is now closely linked to the Day of the Dead. I want to also look at the artist Damien Hurst, as his controversial pieces have similar ideas to my project, such as his crystal skull, and preserved animals.  

Week 3

Not much has got done this week, as we had a trip to London Wednesday and Thursday. Monday and Friday was spent working on research and writing up our proposals. I have finished my rough draft and will be writing up the proper one next week. I have also managed to start some drawings from my research and will use these to make extended samples next week to fit in my sketchbook.  

Week 4

This week i have wrote up my final proposal and this will be sent off to the examining board. I have also been experimenting in the ceramics workshop Monday, and created two clay skulls. These should be ready for next Monday and I plan on painting these.

Week 5

I have begun my research sheet this week, but i need to get this finished at some point. I have mostly been looking in to research this week, and creating drawings. My skulls were ready for me this week too and I began to paint one of my skulls as a sugar skull. I still need to keep working on my fabric sketchbook.

Week 6

Not a lot got done this week, due to situations outside college. I managed to finish painting my clay skull though. I mostly focused on research this week and over the Easter break plan to catch up with my sketch book.

Week7

Easter Break.

This week I have focused on my sketch book. Having decided to scrap the idea of a fabric sketch book, i have bought myself a sketch book and I am now working into it. I have already completed three pages  which contain research into the Day of the Dead.

I will next be working on artist research and continue filling my sketchbook.

Week 8

Easter Break.

This week i haven't had chance to do as much as i would have liked, due to other commitments and situations. I have started a few more pages in my sketchbook but these are yet to be finished.

When we go back to college, I hope to continue with my research and sketchbook whilst at home, and concentrate on sheets whilst at college.

Week 9

Over half way through our FMP and I am beginning to worry about my time management. I have made a start on my sketchbook over the Easter Break but it is not as full as i would have liked at this stage. I have started one of my development/visual sheets this week and hope to get this finished next week.

Week 10

I finished my visual sheet and started another. I am worried about sketchbook, at the moment there is little time for me to work on it outside college but hope to really get in to it next week.

Week 11

I finished my other visual sheet this week and started my third. By now i should be working on final designs, and realise i am slightly behind. I have been working on things at home in order to try and catch up the things i am behind on (mostly sketchbook) and hopefully will continue to do this.

Week 12

This week i have finished my visual sheets and have made a start on one of my final design sheets. I am finding it hard to work on this project outside college due to other commitments such as work, and struggling to find time to do it.

I have started coming in on my days off to catch up and managed to get my tracing for my screen done. This is a kaleidoscope pattern, which i have made by drawing my own sugar skull, taking a photo and using an app to make kaleidoscope patterns of it. I have chosen two patterns which i thought were the best, and turned these into a repeat pattern with help of the graphic design tutor, by scanning the images in to the computer and playing around with them until they were the right size and the pattern repeated.

Week 13

I have been working back into my sheets whilst waiting for my screen to be ready. On Friday my screen was finished and i got in the print room and started to create samples. I am trying to create samples that have experimentation, such as free machining and hand stitch beads.

Week 14

This week was spent in the print room making more samples. I am really happy with how these are turning out and next week I hope to start my final piece.

Week 15

This week I have finished my final piece and been trying to catch up with the work i still have left to do. I worked really hard on my sketch book and tried to catch up the best i can, but there is still a lot to get done before next Friday. I realise now that i have been working backwards throughout this project and made myself a lot of work to do at the end. Hopefully this will all get finished.

Week 16

 This is our last week, and Friday is our deadline. I still have a lot I need  to get finished and as a result, I am working on it every second that I can to catch up. I am really disappointed in myself for my poor time management and will evaluate this in my evaluation.

I have finished my creative business cards so that is one thing to tick off the long list of things still left to do and will be working hard to make sure i have all my sheets and blog up to date.